DMN Blog: Terrell Owens record watch
by Albert Breer
With a new three-year extension in place, and his future secure, Terrell Owens has a serious chance to rise into a historic stratosphere among receivers that only ex-teammate Jerry Rice has blown past.
Right now, he's ninth all-time in receptions (882), 10th in yardage (13,070) and third in touchdown catches (129). He's also tied for fifth all-time with 131 total touchdowns.
Here's a breakdown of where he could be headed in the fall ...
RECEPTIONS
Should-be Hall-of-Famer Andre Reed is currently fifth all-time, with 951 catches, and Owens should be able to get the 70 grabs needed to pass him. Marvin Harrison is in fourth, and out of reach for this year, even if he doesn't play in a single game, with 1,042 catches. Two active players -- Isaac Bruce (942) and Keenan McCardell (883) -- are between Owens and Reed. My guess is that he passes Reed, but Bruce does too, and T.O. finishes 2008 at sixth all-time.
YARDAGE
Owens also could hit the Top 5 here. Harrison is now fifth with 13,944 yards, and a 1,000-yard season would put him in the Top 3. Owens is within 1,000 yards of James Lofton, now in fourth place with 14,004 yards. I'll say T.O. passes Lofton, but Harrison and Bruce (14,109) do enough to stay ahead of him, leaving the Original 81 at fifth all-time at the end of 2008.
TOUCHDOWN CATCHES
Owens is only one TD catch behind Cris Carter, who is now in second with 130, so that one should be academic. The trouble is that Randy Moss isn't far behind T.O., with 124 catches, nor is Harrison (123). I say T.O. holds them both off this season, and climbs to second all-time behind Jerry Rice (197). But Moss, who had eight more touchdowns than Owens last year, could make it close.
TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS
One touchdown breaks T.O.'s tie with Carter at 131, and 15 (like he had last year) would push him past Marshall Faulk (136) and Marcus Allen (145). The trouble with this is that LaDainian Tomlinson (129), who has averaged 20 touchdowns a season over the last six years, has a good chance to pass both of them and Owens alike into third all-time. Rice (201) and Emmitt Smith (175) are out of reach, for now. I say Owens winds up in fourth place at the end of the year, behind Tomlinson, Smith and Rice.
And one more thing ... so you know, all these predictions are based on T.O. being healthy. But I'm guessing you knew that.
With a new three-year extension in place, and his future secure, Terrell Owens has a serious chance to rise into a historic stratosphere among receivers that only ex-teammate Jerry Rice has blown past.
Right now, he's ninth all-time in receptions (882), 10th in yardage (13,070) and third in touchdown catches (129). He's also tied for fifth all-time with 131 total touchdowns.
Here's a breakdown of where he could be headed in the fall ...
RECEPTIONS
Should-be Hall-of-Famer Andre Reed is currently fifth all-time, with 951 catches, and Owens should be able to get the 70 grabs needed to pass him. Marvin Harrison is in fourth, and out of reach for this year, even if he doesn't play in a single game, with 1,042 catches. Two active players -- Isaac Bruce (942) and Keenan McCardell (883) -- are between Owens and Reed. My guess is that he passes Reed, but Bruce does too, and T.O. finishes 2008 at sixth all-time.
YARDAGE
Owens also could hit the Top 5 here. Harrison is now fifth with 13,944 yards, and a 1,000-yard season would put him in the Top 3. Owens is within 1,000 yards of James Lofton, now in fourth place with 14,004 yards. I'll say T.O. passes Lofton, but Harrison and Bruce (14,109) do enough to stay ahead of him, leaving the Original 81 at fifth all-time at the end of 2008.
TOUCHDOWN CATCHES
Owens is only one TD catch behind Cris Carter, who is now in second with 130, so that one should be academic. The trouble is that Randy Moss isn't far behind T.O., with 124 catches, nor is Harrison (123). I say T.O. holds them both off this season, and climbs to second all-time behind Jerry Rice (197). But Moss, who had eight more touchdowns than Owens last year, could make it close.
TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS
One touchdown breaks T.O.'s tie with Carter at 131, and 15 (like he had last year) would push him past Marshall Faulk (136) and Marcus Allen (145). The trouble with this is that LaDainian Tomlinson (129), who has averaged 20 touchdowns a season over the last six years, has a good chance to pass both of them and Owens alike into third all-time. Rice (201) and Emmitt Smith (175) are out of reach, for now. I say Owens winds up in fourth place at the end of the year, behind Tomlinson, Smith and Rice.
And one more thing ... so you know, all these predictions are based on T.O. being healthy. But I'm guessing you knew that.
posted by The Gryphon at 12:57 PM
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