Steve Largent

[JD074]

On the Sports List show about wide receivers, they had Steve Largent ranked second (behind Rice, of course.) Predictably, they had plenty of disparaging remarks about him: he was small, "a slow white guy like me" (Dean Cain said that,) and he did nothing remarkable that you would remember him by, except his stats. It was amazing that they had him number two given all the insults. One guy said something that was very true though; if he were around today he'd be a possession receiver. I think he was referring to his size, but it's about much more than his size, as we all know.

I just did a google search and here is what they wrote about him on profootballhof.com: "Steve Largent, a 5-11, 187-pound wide receiver with only average size and speed but armed with exceptional determination and concentration, became one of history's most outstanding pass catchers during his 14-season, 200-game career with the Seattle Seahawks from 1976 to 1989." It's always something insulting to go with the compliments, no matter how good the white player is/ was.

Of course, it makes me wonder: if all a white receiver needs to be one of the greatest receivers to ever play the game is average size, average speed, determination, and concentration, why aren't there more white stars? Why aren't white players given more opportunities to play? Hmm.... It seems like the Caste System wants it both ways: they say that a white player's success is due to attributes other than athleticism, but then they deny opportunities to white players because they're supposedly not athletic!

Read the rest of that page and notice how little things have changed for white players:

http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=123

He was drafted 117th in the draft and was traded for an eighth round draft pick!

Edited by: JD074

 

[whiteCB]

Why is it that white people, like Dean Cain, always put themseleves down. It's like they think they're funny when they say disparaging remarks about themselves. I never hear black people saying humbeling albeit put down remarks about themselves. I swear at times black people will be the ones to say a positive comment about a white player, while some idiot white announcer will just disparage the white player. Why is it that white people find it necessary to promote how bad they are and not how good they are?

 

[Kaptain]

Largent also played in an era when the WR position was just starting to follow strict caste system rules. At the start of his career the reciever position was more than half black and almost all black by the end of his career. Still Largent held every recieving record by the of his career. I have never heard of anyone claiming he was the greatest of all-time - although he technically was. Its strange that in the mid-eighties Largent was ending his career as the greatest WR and Riggins was the league's best running-back - Yet in just a couple more years white RB's and WR's were an endangered species in the NFL. Why didn't anyone look at them and say "Hey we need some more white guys like them on our team". What happened? How did the entire nation get brainwashed into black athletic superiority?

 

[whiteCB]

Good point Kaptain Poop. It is interesting to ask yourself the points you brought up about how Riggins and Largent were so good yet nobody cared. Its almost as if those two were seen as exceptions instead of the norm. Also Craig James was a Pro Bowler in 1985 and you would hope that that too would help people see that whites can carry the rock. If James would have stayed healthy and had a great career into the 90s maybe guys like Alstott and Hoover would be featured backs.Edited by: whiteCB

 

[JD074]

Its strange that in the mid-eighties Largent was ending his career as the greatest WR and Riggins was the league's best running-back - Yet in just a couple more years white RB's and WR's were an endangered species in the NFL. Why didn't anyone look at them and say "Hey we need some more white guys like them on our team". What happened? How did the entire nation get brainwashed into black athletic superiority?

It's like an entire generation of white athletes has been denied the opportunity to become the next Largent, or Riggins- or for that matter, Jerome Bettis or Tim Brown. Except white, of course.

 

[Lord_Lugdreg]

He was drafted 117th in the draft and was traded for an eighth round draft pick!

Hey this is my first post on this site! A friend of mine recommended it.

Anyhow that is interesting that Largent was traded for a draft pick in a round that doesn't even exist anymore! (they stop at the 6th or 7th round now. )

Most of the time the Caste System can't accurately gauge a players talents (because of their hostility to White Athletes and favoritism towards black Athletes) and that is a big factor in why there are players selected in the 1st round who then leave the NFL in a few years (Akili Smith) whereas some White players go to the CFL or Arena League before getting even a chance to be successful (Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme come to mind)

 

[devans]

Why is it that white people, like Dean Cain, always put themseleves down. It's like they think they're funny when they say disparaging remarks about themselves. I never hear black people saying humbeling albeit put down remarks about themselves. I swear at times black people will be the ones to say a positive comment about a white player, while some idiot white announcer will just disparage the white player. Why is it that white people find it necessary to promote how bad they are and not how good they are?

It's simple really and we all know the answer. It's true that black pundits and media people are often more appreciative of white athletes. This is because it is safe for them to do so. They can't be accused of racism or discrimination. I'm not knocking their contributions - they are welcome. White pundits and announcers have to watch what they say. Some may actually be biassed towards some white athletes and be over-compensating, but most are just playing the safe game knowing they can't get sacked for sl*gging off White people, and showing off how "enlightened" and unbiased they are. And the worst of the lot are those who actually believe the crap they are saying and think white athletes can't compete (probably just because they never could)

 

[Don Wassall]

Why is it that white people, like Dean Cain, always put themseleves down. It's like they think they're funny when they say disparaging remarks about themselves. I never hear black people saying humbeling albeit put down remarks about themselves. I swear at times black people will be the ones to say a positive comment about a white player, while some idiot white announcer will just disparage the white player. Why is it that white people find it necessary to promote how bad they are and not how good they are?

It's simple really and we all know the answer. It's true that black pundits and media people are often more appreciative of white athletes. This is because it is safe for them to do so. They can't be accused of racism or discrimination. I'm not knocking their contributions - they are welcome. White pundits and announcers have to watch what they say. Some may actually be biassed towards some white athletes and be over-compensating, but most are just playing the safe game knowing they can't get sacked for sl*gging off White people, and showing off how "enlightened" and unbiased they are. And the worst of the lot are those who actually believe the crap they are saying and think white athletes can't compete (probably just because they never could)

Deep down most white people are filled with self-loathing because of the way their psyches have been exploited and manipulated and programmed by the media and the "education" system. Whites love to make fun of other whites -- poor whites, rural whites, Southern whites, rich whites, religious whites, "nerdy" whites, blue-collar whites, you name it. It's replaced baseball as the national pastime. It's a hardly a surprise that they are also quick to make fun of and criticize white athletes.


The observation about blacks never being self-deprecating is an important one. It's a sign that blacks, no matter their many dysfunctions and problems, have a healthy amount of racial pride. American whites act like a conquered people, full of guilt, shame and self-hate.

 

[white is right]

Largent was hated by the "brothers". Near the end of his career Steve was the only real allstar white wideout and to get burned by him was a loss of face I remember reading about some team putting a bounty on his head. I remember Seattle actually never published his 40 yard dash times to freak out the opposing corners. People compare Largent to Chrebet, but that's an insult to Largent as he was full level above Wayne speed wise. Pattern running ability they played similar though. Also when Steve got behind a corner he didn't get caught....

 

[backrow]

hopefully in 12 seasons we can all draw parallels between Largent and Mike Hass in terms of their NFL production and careers.

 

[whiteCB]

Does anyone know what Largent's 40 time was coming out of college and what college did Steve go to?

 

[white is right]

He went to Tulsa, I really don't think his 40 was that great. Back when he graduated college the 40 wasn't as empahsized as it is now.

 

[sport historian]

I have Joel Buschbaum's "Scout's Guide to the NFL for 1978." He gives Steve Largent's 40 time as 4.7 and describes Largent as, "a young Biletnikoff with great hands, body control, leaping ability, and cunning routes."

I recall a piece by a Seattle writer in Pro Football Weekly about that time. He wrote that "Largent is always compared to Fred Biletnikoff because he is white. Largent is faster than Biletnikoff."

By the way, Bum Phillips drafted Steve Largent in 1976, but traded him to Seattle.

 

[Don Wassall]

Largent played at the tail end of the NFL's integrated era (1960-'85), before the league's policy of "whites need not apply" was applied to WR, RB and defense in general. Mike Hass's measurables (size, speed, etc.) are superior to Largent's, plus he was the Biletnikoff winner, yet he barely was drafted. If he hadn't put up the unbelievable stats he did, say "merely" have 1,000 yards receiving as a junior and senior, he most surely wouldn't have been drafted.


Largent not only wouldn't be drafted today, he probably wouldn't even be signed as a free agent.


How many talented white receivers have been denied a fair opportunity in I-A and the NFL since Largent played? Hundreds would be a fair estimate. There's not one element involved in receiving where whites don't have the advantage over blacks except for speed, and even there Caste Football has documented that there is no shortage whatsoever of fast white receivers in spite of all the barriers placed in their way. Anyone who watches the black receivers at the Combine, the supposed "elite," as balls repeatedly clang off their hands and their oftenmediocre production in college is flashed on the screen can see first-hand how rigged the NFL is racially.

 

[surfsider]

Largent was a good high school RB before moving to receiver. Most people were surprised that Largent went with a football offer when baseball was considered his best sport. He was a catcher and one of his pitchers was ML'er Bob Shirley. NFL QB Pat Ryan was one of their teammates. Come basketball season they were joined by Alvin Adams! Needless to say Putnam City high school enjoyed success in sports in the early '70's.

 

[white is right]

Largent would at least get a free agent look today. There is no way a guy as productive as he was in college couldn't get a free agent try out. Chrebet got one from the Jets. Would he be a top pick today, not a chance.......

 

[whiteCB]

So what does everbody think would Steve Largent be drafted in today's 7 Rd format or would he have to go the undrafted free agent route? If you think he would get drafted what Rd? I'd say he had too much production in college to not get drafted but as long as he ran at least a 4.6 flat I'd say 7th RD. or higher if he could run a blistering 40 time.

 

[Don Wassall]

I was exaggerating to make a point about no one signing Largent as a FA today. He could hook on with a team going that route, as many white receivers do each year, but the odds against free agent white WRs are overwhelming. Chrebet and Drew Bennett are the only two in the last 20 years that have played much. The Titans showed very rare patience in developing Bennett, while Chrebet came out of nowhere and got a chance because Richie Kotite decided he deserved a shot, an extremely rare occurrence where a white receiver was given an opportunity right from the get-go.


Others like Boerigter, Furrey, Looker, Horn, Farris and others have been buried on the depth chart. Well, Boerigter played a fair amount in '02 and put up superb stats, then was rewarded by being buried on the depth chart. The vast majority of the capable ones never make a regular season roster. If guys like Chris Samp and Aaron Hosack aren't allowed to play in the NFL, what chance would Largent, with his lack of "measurables,"have today? Slim and none.Edited by: Don Wassall

 

[sport historian]

We should remember that Bum Phillips didn't think Largent could play in 1976. He was fortunate in going to Seattle, an expansion team at the time, who didn't have anybody else. Without expansion that year, Largent might well have never got a chance.

 

[white is right]

No he was a castoff, obviously if Bum thought he could play he would have protected him. Maybe with Largent and Cambell the Oilers would have had the deadly 1-2 punch that could have defeated the Steelers........