NFL – Are Receiver Divas Worth the Drama?

I’ve been considering the fact that Marvin Harrison remains unsigned, and the bevy of rookie wideouts that remain unsigned by their respective teams. Michael Crabtree and Darrius Heyward-Bey, the two top drafted receivers this year, haven’t suited up yet for their bayside teams because – yep – they’re still in negotiations with their teams. Now, before we pretend like these guys are the next wave of divas. We’re still enjoying the current crop we already have!

The reason I bring up Harrison is simple. He was the class-act amongst the latest generation of receivers. Do you remember when Manning and Harrison connected for their record-setting touchdown that made them most prolific receiver-quarterback duo in league history? Manning tried to share the ball with Harrison after the touchdown and Marvin gave him the “nah you take it” shrug-off. He was that assuming.

Harrison may never play another snap in the NFL. He injured his knee in 2007 against the Denver Broncos and never fully recovered. In the wake of Reggie Wayne’s emergence, the need for Harrison became unnecessary. But also in his wake comes the steadying rise of drama queens at the position. Between Plaxico Burress, The Artist Formerly Known As “Chad Johnson” and guys like Terrell Owens, there’s a bevy of divas taking over the position. The question remains: which ones are worth it?

Terrell Owens – Buffalo Bills

T.O. has always been a polarizing topic in the NFL. From his tiff with Jeff Garcia in San Francisco, to his meltdown with Donavan McNabb following a Superbowl loss, along with his infamous “Driveway Workout”, Owens have been considered a malcontent.

What other people forget is that Owens is the guy who ran Jerry Rice out of town and set an all-time record with 20 receptions in a single game. They also tend to consider the fact that he drops the ball so much over the fact that has averaged 14.9 yards per catch over his past 13 NFL betting seasons. He has 139 touchdowns, and is in the elite company of Jimmy Smith, Cris Carter and others in holding 8 or more seasons of 1,000 yards receiving.

The Bills got Owens at a premium for just $6.5 million. He’s still one of the best receivers in the game, and once the ball is in his hands, almost all defensive backs and players have noted at how hard he is to tackle. That is – of course – when he actually gets the ball in his hands.

Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals

Entering his ninth year as an NFL, and having played in five Pro Bowls, Chad Ochocinco is becoming the biggest of the drama queens. His recent uStream appearance is proving just how starved for attention the guy is. I’m not going to get in to a huge debate over this guy. Owens is a guy who wants to win and can’t keep his mouth shut. Ochocinco is a guy who wants attention and won’t keep his mouth shut. There’s a distinct difference. At his current paces, Chad Johnson isn’t even close to approaching any significant NFL receiving records. That should tell you what you need to know about this guy. And no, he hasn’t had a significant injury in his career. The only excuse he has are his own self-righteous blabberings.

Brandon Marshall – Denver Broncos

They refer to B-Marsh as “Baby T.O.” because he’s impossible to tackle after the catch. He’s a rough and tumble customer, whose 6-foot-4, 230 pound frame is designed to inflict pain on defenders. He’s crested 100+ receptions and 1250+ yards, along with 13 total touchdowns in the past two season. He’s a monster, which is why he’s worth all the headaches in Denver. The question is whether Marshall will succeed with Kyle Orton throwing him the ball. The second question is if he can stop from becoming a cancer should Orton’s failures surface again in the Mile High State.

Perhaps the only saving grace in Marshall’s court is the fact that he’s so young. Plus he’ll get to see the generation ahead of him screw things up for themselves. Will Josh McDaniels be able to dispense all that Randy Moss learned in New England upon Marshall before it’s too late? The Denver betting faithful sure as hell hope so.

Antonio Bryant – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stunning everyone in the NFL who’d tracked him, Bryant finished eighth in receiving last year with 1,248 yards, complimented by 7 touchdowns. It was the “breakout” season we’d been waiting for from Bryant who has never had more than 70 catches in a season, and only broken the 1,000 yard barrier once. Last year, with a personal best 83 catches, the most touchdown in a season, and a penchant for reliability, Bryant emerged as a scary force for the Bucs. But what’s scarier for him is playing without a long-term deal. The reason is simple: he’s been wildly inconsistent.

But with a 15.3 yards per catch average, and a career season behind him, momentum and maturity have to keep progressing for Bryant. If he can help a young Joshua Freeman develop at quarterback, he’ll have his guy for the next few years, along with a long-term contract. But Bryant is far from an exemplary leader or locker room presence. The Bucs are smart to not dish the bank at Bryant, and Bryant will definitely have to prove himself.

Randy Moss – New England Patriots

Something happened to Moss in Oakland. During his tenure there, Moss went from a championship caliber team in Minnesota, to an absolute mess in Raider nation. He tried to be a leader, and he tried to pull them from the depths. But it all failed miserably. Transplant him to New England and BOOM, you have the receiver who’s scoring double-digit touchdowns and gaining over 1,000 yards in a season. Moss has learned a valuable lesson in New England, but he learned an even bigger one in Oakland: nobody is bigger than the game.