NFL Network Top 10 Greatest Hands

[sport historian]

I might have posted this previously, but the NFL Network ran it again Sunday night.

1. Cris Carter
2. Raymond Berry
3. Steve Largent
4. Larry Fitzgerald
5. Fred Biletnikoff
6. Kellen Winslow
7. Jerry Rice
8. Sterling Sharpe
9. Lynn Swann
10. Marvin Harrison

None of the "expert" commentators mentioned the fact that many on this list, Carter in particular, wore gloves. Biletnikoff, Berry, and Largent (who played until 1989) did not.

 

[Don Wassall]

Good to see Largent get recognized; Winslow and Sharpe being on there is pure pandering. Seems like a typical list from a corporate media obsessed with lists, well thought out only in the sense of not offending the current CM-imposed paradigm.

 

[white is right]

Good to see Largent get recognized; Winslow and Sharpe being on there is pure pandering. Seems like a typical list from a corporate media obsessed with lists, well thought out only in the sense of not offending the current CM-imposed paradigm.

I recall seeing Largent drop one ball literally in his career. Also Ray Berry was known for never dropping any ball that was a reasonable catch. What is a bigger aid the gloves that players currently use or stickem that Biletnikoff and others used in the 70's.?

 

[sport historian]

I recall seeing Largent drop one ball literally in his career. Also Ray Berry was known for never dropping any ball that was a reasonable catch. What is a bigger aid the gloves that players currently use or stickem that Biletnikoff and others used in the 70's.?

Yes, Biletnikoff used stickum which Berry and Largent didn't. I was struck by the films of Carter making catches with tailor-made gloves while the announcer said he had the best "hands" of all time.

 

[dwid]

I recall seeing Largent drop one ball literally in his career. Also Ray Berry was known for never dropping any ball that was a reasonable catch. What is a bigger aid the gloves that players currently use or stickem that Biletnikoff and others used in the 70's.?

From everything that Ive heard, the gloves are much better than the stick um that Biletnikoff used (especially the top of the line ones that the pros use).
http://www.profootballweekly.com/story/permalink/30880

""These guys, they want the gloves all the time, because it does help them catch the ball, and they feel good, and it's consistent, no matter what the weather," said Dungy, who coached the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl title and will be part of NBC's broadcasting crew next weekend. "I do wonder sometimes how Biletnikoff and (Hall of Famer Lynn) Swann and those guys, if they had some of this technology now — I don't know they ever would have dropped a ball."


What about Lance Alworth? Ive read that he dropped 3 passes in one game and never dropped another pass. Is that correct?

 

[sport historian]

From everything that Ive heard, the gloves are much better than the stick um that Biletnikoff used (especially the top of the line ones that the pros use).
http://www.profootballweekly.com/story/permalink/30880

""These guys, they want the gloves all the time, because it does help them catch the ball, and they feel good, and it's consistent, no matter what the weather," said Dungy, who coached the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl title and will be part of NBC's broadcasting crew next weekend. "I do wonder sometimes how Biletnikoff and (Hall of Famer Lynn) Swann and those guys, if they had some of this technology now — I don't know they ever would have dropped a ball."


What about Lance Alworth? Ive read that he dropped 3 passes in one game and never dropped another pass. Is that correct?

I saw an interview with Alworth a year or so ago. He said he dropped 3 passes in a game in his rookie year and didn't do it again.

Yes, stickum wouldn't help near as much as the gloves receivers use now, which are specially made for the job.

 

[jaxvid]

Isn't that a list of the top 20 hands?