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Drinen rambles about something having to do with:
Chris Chambers
Introduction to these player comments
Chris Chambers showed a lot of promise in his rookie year. Instead of regaling you with the gushing accounts of his physical talent -- you can get that anywhere -- I'll just say that I am indeed among the rubes who will be on the bandwagon this year. The guy has some amazing jets. I'll leave it at that. But in addition to the flashes of raw talent, Chambers also put up the best numbers of any rookie receiver in 2001. Which leads to the question: How often does the best rookie WR actually turn out to have the best career? The answer: very, very rarely. Randy Moss had the top rookie season in 1998 and will certainly turn in the best career of all the rookies from his class. But before Moss, you have to go all the way back to 1981 to find a year where the best rookie actually turned into the best receiver over the long haul. That was Cris Collinsworth. Between 1981 and 2000, the WRs with the best rookie seasons ended up with careers that varied from non-existent (Rae Carruth) to mediocre (Darnay Scott) to pretty good (Joey Galloway), but none of them turned into the best WR in their class. Some of those guys are still working on their careers, of course, so this could change (it's possible that Peter Warrick could get his act together, for instance), but if you look through the list, it's clear that the best rookie hardly ever turns in the best career. All that said, I still like Chambers a lot. I'd put my money on him before I'd put it on any other individual from this rookie class. But against the whole field, he'd be a lousy bet. Below you'll find lists of each year's rookie crop from 1970-2001, ranked both in terms of their rookie year production and their career (to-date) value. See the LaDainian Tomlinson comment for a similar look at RBs.
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2001
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Chris Chambers 129
2. Rod Gardner 99
3. David Terrell 65
4. Koren Robinson 60
5. Quincy Morgan 57
6. Marvin Minnis 57
7. Drew Bennett 38
8. Chad Johnson 38
9. Reggie Wayne 34
10. Freddie Mitchell 33
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2000
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Peter Warrick 110 1. Darrell Jackson 27
2. Darrell Jackson 107 2. Laveranues Coles 10
3. Sylvester Morris 85 3. Plaxico Burress 7
4. Jeremy McDaniel 81
5. Travis Taylor 46
6. Dennis Northcutt 45
7. Laveranues Coles 44
8. Plaxico Burress 28
9. Danny Farmer 26
10. Larry Foster 26
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1999
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Kevin Johnson 146 1. Torry Holt 138
2. Torry Holt 117 2. David Boston 129
3. Troy Edwards 101 3. Kevin Johnson 60
4. Terrence Wilkins 80 4. Marty Booker 34
5. Darrin Chiaverini 72 5. Peerless Price 12
6. David Boston 59
7. Jason Tucker 56
8. Peerless Price 56
9. Marty Booker 40
10. Na Brown 24
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1998
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Randy Moss 233 1. Randy Moss 384
2. Oronde Gadsden 113 2. Marcus Robinson 73
3. Germane Crowell 67 3. Germane Crowell 59
4. Tony Simmons 65 4. Oronde Gadsden 4
5. Jerome Pathon 56 5. Hines Ward 3
6. Damon Gibson 44
7. Az-zahir Hakim 39
8. Kevin Dyson 38
9. Jacquez Green 38
10. Ryan Thelwell 32
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1997
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Rae Carruth 80 1. Derrick Mason 46
2. Reidel Anthony 77 2. Bill Schroeder 46
3. David Patten 34 3. Albert Connell 35
4. Dedric Ward 29 4. Ike Hilliard 18
5. Albert Connell 26 5. James Thrash 7
6. Will Blackwell 24
7. Keith Poole 21
8. Derrick Mason 17
9. Tommie Boyd 14
10. James Roe 12
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1996
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Terry Glenn 153 1. Marvin Harrison 370
2. Eddie Kennison 146 2. Terrell Owens 331
3. Marvin Harrison 133 3. Keyshawn Johnson 163
4. Keyshawn Johnson 132 4. Eric Moulds 143
5. Charlie Jones 76 5. Joe Horn 124
6. Terrell Owens 76 6. Muhsin Muhammad 105
7. Bobby Engram 74 7. Amani Toomer 97
8. Muhsin Muhammad 46 8. Terry Glenn 81
9. Eric Moulds 44 9. Patrick Jeffers 61
10. Karl Williams 24 10. Eddie Kennison 30
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1995
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Joey Galloway 167 1. Rod Smith 310
2. Chris Sanders 134 2. Antonio Freeman 275
3. Frank Sanders 100 3. Joey Galloway 197
4. Wayne Chrebet 96 4. Wayne Chrebet 62
5. J.J. Stokes 75 5. Michael Westbrook 56
6. Michael Westbrook 75 6. Frank Sanders 20
7. Will Moore 56 7. Chris Sanders 14
8. Justin Armour 47 8. J.J. Stokes 1
9. Tamarick Vanover 38
10. Hason Graham 27
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1994
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Darnay Scott 127 1. Isaac Bruce 381
2. Derrick Alexander 98 2. Derrick Alexander 180
3. Bert Emanuel 89 3. Bert Emanuel 64
4. Charles Johnson 75 4. Johnnie Morton 63
5. Lake Dawson 68 5. Darnay Scott 44
6. Tydus Winans 46 6. Leslie Shepherd 11
7. Isaac Bruce 45 7. Willie Jackson 5
8. Bryan Reeves 26 8. Charles Johnson 3
9. Ryan Yarborough 10
10. Johnnie Morton 9
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1993
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. James Jett 95 1. Curtis Conway 136
2. Horace Copeland 90 2. Raghib Ismail 74
3. Vincent Brisby 74 3. O.J. McDuffie 60
4. Victor Bailey 60 4. Qadry Ismail 45
5. Sean Dawkins 49 5. Troy Brown 42
6. Kevin Williams 41 6. James Jett 38
7. Raghib Ismail 40 7. Sean Dawkins 21
8. Curtis Conway 39 8. Vincent Brisby 11
9. Ray Crittenden 35 9. Andre Hastings 1
10. Lamar Thomas 30
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1992
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Arthur Marshall 60 1. Jimmy Smith 328
2. Torrance Small 45 2. Carl Pickens 260
3. Courtney Hawkins 45 3. Robert Brooks 139
4. Carl Pickens 38 4. Keenan McCardell 106
5. Cedric Tillman 27 5. Courtney Hawkins 17
6. Tony Hargain 20
7. Robert Brooks 20
8. Tyji Armstrong 19
9. Brad Lamb 13
10. Charles Davenport 13
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1991
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Lawrence Dawsey 106 1. Herman Moore 393
2. Willie Green 101 2. Jake Reed 176
3. Tim Barnett 86 3. Ed McCaffrey 140
4. Mike Pritchard 74 4. Michael Jackson 138
5. Randall Hill 55 5. Yancey Thigpen 107
6. Michael Jackson 38 6. Jeff Graham 48
7. Alvin Harper 38 7. Mike Pritchard 33
8. Derek Russell 37 8. Willie Davis 30
9. Anthony Morgan 34 9. Alvin Harper 22
10. Wesley Carroll 24 10. Randall Hill 12
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1990
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Fred Barnett 121 1. Terance Mathis 210
2. Calvin Williams 114 2. Tony Martin 199
3. Rob Moore 104 3. Rob Moore 165
4. Ricky Proehl 104 4. Fred Barnett 111
5. Tony Jones 76 5. Calvin Williams 40
6. J.J. Birden 53 6. Ricky Proehl 25
7. Tony Martin 51 7. Chris Calloway 17
8. Jeff Campbell 35
9. Nate Lewis 33
10. Terance Mathis 25
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1989
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. HartLee Dykes 109 1. Andre Rison 413
2. Andre Rison 107 2. Eric Metcalf 182
3. Shawn Collins 104 3. Floyd Turner 36
4. Andre Brown 71 4. Michael Timpson 3
5. James Dixon 62 5. HartLee Dykes 0
6. Derek Hill 51
7. Jeff Query 47
8. Wayne Walker 46
9. Don Beebe 43
10. Jason Phillips 41
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1988
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Brian Blades 118 1. Tim Brown 534
2. Tim Brown 113 2. Sterling Sharpe 496
3. Michael Irvin 95 3. Michael Irvin 462
4. Aaron Cox 89 4. Anthony Miller 318
5. Sterling Sharpe 84 5. Michael Haynes 146
6. Anthony Miller 75 6. Brett Perriman 117
7. Quinn Early 67 7. Flipper Anderson 93
8. Ernie Jones 67 8. Brian Blades 91
9. Michael Haynes 47 9. Quinn Early 42
10. Brett Perriman 35 10. Wendell Davis 26
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1987
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Ricky Nattiel 76 1. Cris Carter 623
2. Mark Carrier 60 2. Haywood Jeffires 163
3. Curtis Duncan 53 3. John Taylor 137
4. Bruce Hill 52 4. Mark Carrier 107
5. Ron Morris 43 5. Mervyn Fernandez 59
6. Lonzell Hill 43 6. Richard Johnson 52
7. Stephen Baker 41 7. Bruce Hill 48
8. Glen Kozlowski 37 8. Robert Clark 30
9. Perry Kemp 34 9. Curtis Duncan 8
10. Gary Lee 30 10. Lonzell Hill 4
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1986
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Billy Brooks 161 1. Ernest Givins 256
2. Ernest Givins 145 2. Webster Slaughter 116
3. Mike Sherrard 105 3. Ricky Sanders 110
4. Hassan Jones 82 4. Billy Brooks 104
5. Webster Slaughter 81 5. Tim McGee 64
6. Mark Jackson 80 6. Mark Jackson 59
7. Floyd Dixon 80 7. Hassan Jones 13
8. Rod Barksdale 55 8. Mike Sherrard 12
9. Ricky Sanders 40 9. Floyd Dixon 0
10. James Pruitt 35
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1985
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Eddie Brown 155 1. Jerry Rice 1561
2. Anthony Carter 130 2. Gary Clark 424
3. Gary Clark 123 3. Andre Reed 410
4. Jerry Rice 119 4. Anthony Carter 213
5. Jessie Hester 97 5. Eric Martin 192
6. Vance Johnson 93 6. Eddie Brown 164
7. Andre Reed 93 7. Al Toon 146
8. Al Toon 84 8. Vance Johnson 81
9. Eric Martin 76 9. Reggie Langhorne 29
10. Chris Burkett 37 10. Jessie Hester 21
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1984
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Louis Lipps 153 1. Irving Fryar 277
2. Daryl Turner 131 2. Louis Lipps 216
3. Bobby Johnson 121 3. Daryl Turner 65
4. Lionel Manuel 86 4. Pete Mandley 33
5. Ron Brown 74 5. Brian Brennan 29
6. Brian Brennan 63 6. Lionel Manuel 29
7. Weegie Thompson 47 7. Bobby Johnson 19
8. Kenny Jackson 45 8. Ray Alexander 6
9. Mitch Brookins 40
10. Irving Fryar 21
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1983
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Willie Gault 134 1. Mark Clayton 488
2. Stephone Paige 88 2. Henry Ellard 332
3. Jeff Chadwick 85 3. Stephone Paige 148
4. Eugene Goodlow 61 4. Willie Gault 102
5. Clarence Weather 58 5. Dokie Williams 47
6. Dennis McKinnon 56 6. Jeff Chadwick 27
7. Stephen Starring 50
8. Dokie Williams 43
9. Byron Williams 40
10. Herkie Walls 38
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1982
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Charlie Brown 117 1. Mike Quick 387
2. George Farmer 46 2. Mark Duper 327
3. Phil Epps 34 3. Charlie Brown 212
4. Kenny Duckett 31 4. Stacey Bailey 80
5. Floyd Eddings 28
6. Byron Walker 27
7. Lindsay Scott 24
8. Renaldo Nehemiah 22
9. Mike Quick 21
10. Anthony Hancock 17
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1981
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Cris Collinsworth 148 1. Cris Collinsworth 268
2. Ken Margerum 65 2. Matt Bouza 12
3. Virgil Seay 65 3. Byron Franklin 7
4. Mike Holston 54 4. Leo Lewis 5
5. Mark Nichols 33
6. David Verser 29
7. Malcolm Barnwell 25
8. Paul Johns 19
9. Mike Wilson 18
10. John Mistler 17
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1980
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Art Monk 97 1. Art Monk 317
2. Kevin House 86 2. Carlos Carson 216
3. Ray Butler 69 3. Kevin House 125
4. Lam Jones 66 4. Tim Smith 100
5. Mike Friede 37 5. Ray Butler 40
6. Calvin Sweeney 34 6. Gerald Carter 10
7. Danny Pittman 30 7. Lam Jones 7
8. Rod Parker 20
9. Alvin Garrett 16
10. Carlos Carson 10
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1979
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Jerry Butler 108 1. Roy Green 335
2. Earnest Gray 77 2. Drew Hill 315
3. Rickey Watts 59 3. Dwight Clark 294
4. Rich Martini 37 4. Steve Watson 253
5. Dwight Clark 23 5. Earnest Gray 113
6. John Floyd 21 6. Jerry Butler 71
7. Scott Fitzkee 16
8. Drew Hill 15
9. Gordon Jones 15
10. Ron Cassidy 10
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1978
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. John Jefferson 178 1. James Lofton 609
2. James Lofton 119 2. Wes Chandler 432
3. Derrick Gaffney 86 3. John Jefferson 311
4. Dave Stief 70 4. JT Smith 152
5. Don Bass 68 5. Mike Renfro 36
6. Alfred Jackson 64 6. Preston Dennard 15
7. Wes Chandler 60 7. Derrick Gaffney 2
8. Mike Renfro 46
9. Jesse Thompson 42
10. Jimmy Cefalo 32
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1977
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Wesley Walker 94 1. Stanley Morgan 344
2. Stanley Morgan 63 2. Wesley Walker 331
3. Duke Fergerson 49 3. Tony Hill 284
4. Billy Waddy 44 4. Jim Smith 43
5. John Kimbrough 32 5. Johnny Perkins 27
6. Johnny Perkins 27
7. Johnny Rodgers 23
8. Eddie Foster 20
9. Luther Blue 14
10. Jim Smith 8
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1976
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Sammy White 149 1. Steve Largent 756
2. Steve Largent 93 2. Sammy White 293
3. James Scott 86 3. Pat Tilley 134
4. Henry Marshall 72 4. Henry Marshall 93
5. Pat Tilley 46 5. James Scott 67
6. Duriel Harris 43 6. Dave Logan 45
7. John McKay 36 7. Billy Brooks 33
8. Jim Robinson 30 8. Duriel Harris 26
9. Tinker Owens 30 9. Ricky Feacher 9
10. Ernest Pough 22
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1975
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Alfred Jenkins 112 1. Alfred Jenkins 267
2. Rick Upchurch 71 2. Freddie Solomon 152
3. Jack Dolbin 67 3. Rick Upchurch 45
4. Freddie Solomon 54 4. Leonard Thompson 34
5. Dwight McDonald 47 5. Morris Owens 24
6. Larry Burton 43 6. Willie Miller 21
7. Ike Harris 26 7. Ike Harris 18
8. Marshall Johnson 23
9. Steve Burks 15
10. Dennis Franklin 10
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1974
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Nat Moore 74 1. John Stallworth 399
2. Charlie Wade 72 2. Lynn Swann 241
3. Joel Parker 69 3. Nat Moore 238
4. Billy Johnson 65 4. Roger Carr 153
5. Harrison Davis 54 5. Freddie Scott 83
6. Larry Brunson 46 6. Charlie Smith 30
7. Steve Odom 43 7. Sam McCullum 23
8. Roger Carr 40 8. Billy Johnson 23
9. Lynn Swann 34 9. Ray Rhodes 19
10. Freddie Scott 32 10. Charlie Wade 11
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1973
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Isaac Curtis 137 1. Isaac Curtis 294
2. Jubilee Dunbar 69 2. Drew Pearson 285
3. Darryl Stingley 52 3. Frank Grant 110
4. Drew Pearson 50 4. Wally Francis 79
5. Barry Pearson 49 5. Darryl Stingley 38
6. Don Zimmerman 40 6. David Knight 21
7. Barry Smith 35 7. Golden Richards 14
8. Tom Geredine 28 8. Bo Rather 12
9. Ron Holliday 25 9. Barry Pearson 7
10. Louis Neal 19 10. Jubilee Dunbar 6
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1972
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Mike Siani 79 1. Cliff Branch 483
2. Ahmad Rashad 72 2. Ahmad Rashad 216
3. Jerome Barkum 42 3. Jerome Barkum 94
4. Leland Glass 33 4. Glenn Doughty 77
5. Robert West 28 5. Mike Siani 47
6. Tom Reynolds 27
7. Jim Krieg 16
8. Rhett Dawson 13
9. Al Barnes 11
10. Cotton Speyrer 11
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1971
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Randy Vataha 141 1. Harold Carmichael 513
2. Ken Burrow 110 2. Mel Gray 294
3. Billy Parks 92 3. Bob Chandler 216
4. Mel Gray 83 4. Randy Vataha 136
5. Elmo Wright 69 5. J.D. Hill 121
6. J.D. Hill 33 6. Frank Lewis 117
7. Bob Newland 31 7. Ron Jessie 111
8. Harold Carmichael 28 8. Ken Burrow 101
9. Wes Chesson 22 9. Ray Jarvis 46
10. Chuck Dicus 14 10. Billy Parks 25
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1970
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Rookie Year Overall Career
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Name Fant Pt Name Car. VBD
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1. Ron Shanklin 93 1. Ken Burrough 285
2. George Farmer 61 2. Rich Caster 222
3. Dave Smith 58 3. Reggie Rucker 203
4. Rich Caster 57 4. Ron Shanklin 153
5. Todd Snyder 43 5. George Farmer 38
6. Jim Seymour 38 6. Dave Smith 27
7. Eddie Bell 35 7. Eddie Bell 8
8. Ken Burrough 32 8. Jon Staggers 5
9. Reggie Rucker 26 9. Walker Gillette 1
10. Hubie Bryant 17
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