Michael Irvin: "Wes Welker is the best WR in the NFL. PERIOD!!!!"

[MrNathanDrake]

NFL Videos: Irvin: 'Welker is the best WR in the NFL'

Welker is #1 in yards with 740 and has over 200 more yards than the guy in 3rd place. He's also #1 in catches, #1 in yards after the catch, and #1 in first downs.

He took a dump on Revis Island last week with a 70+ yard BOMB that left Revis confused and angry


He isnt as flashy/primmadonna as a Brandon Marshall or DeSean Jackson, he doesnt have the size and speed of Megatron or Fitzgerald, but he's outplaying those guys every week. The numbers speak for themself.

 

[Observer]

Wes Welker is the Lionel Messi of American football.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

The most impressive thing about Welker IMO, is how he's evolved from a possession slot receiver, to now being a big play threat from the slot with catches of 99 yards and 72 yards this year. He's catching a deep ball here and there, and isnt as predictable as he once was. Teams would be happy to let him have a 5 yard catch, but now they have to be worried about him going deep as well.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Wes Welker is the Lionel Messi of American football.

That is a great comparison. If anyone here has watched Messi play it is very true.

 

[Keegs]

Wes Welker is the Lionel Messi of American football.

He's also the Lionel Richie of American Football

 

[letekro]

Wes is playing out of his mind right now, but come now, every GM in the league (including our own) would take both Johnsons and Fitzgerald over Welker in a heartbeat, even without taking age into account. Welker is probably the best slot receiver of his generation, but I think we're getting a little carried away here. And we can we stop suggesting that he "burned" Revis on the long pass--Revis clearly passed him off to the safety once Welker went inside.

I would be wary about adopting any opinion espoused by Michael Irvin.

 

[Username]

I read a comment on another site this morning which sums up my opinion on Irvins comments pretty well.

As a deep threat Welker needs an accurate QB, not necessarily an elite one like Brady, just someone who can deliver the ball accurately. Because unlike the bigger WR's you can't just throw it up there and hope Welker will come down with it, he's too small. That's where the likes of Larry Fitz, AJ and CJ have an advantage. However Welker can do things as a slot receiver that the other 3 can't, because of his route running and elusiveness.

So is he elite? Definitely. Is he the best? Depends on if you value an excellent deep threat higher than an unstoppable slot receiver.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Back in 2007 he was a one-dimensional slot receiver. People bashed him saying he was only doing well because defenses were focused on Moss and the long ball.

What can critics say now? Absolutely NOTHING.

I dont see any part of Welkers game THIS year that can be bashed. He has catches of 99 yards and 72 yards this year. Both were only 15-20 yard passes that he turned into massive gains.

 

[condon84]

LOL. Jamie Dukes screamikng "WHAAT?!" in the background after Irvin said he'd take Welker over any WR if he needed a TD drive was hilarious.

The greatness of Tom Brady has made Wes the best WR in the NFL!

 

[Sivy]

Michael irvin has just spoken the truth.

 

[patfanken]

Wes is playing out of his mind right now, but come now, every GM in the league (including our own) would take both Johnsons and Fitzgerald over Welker in a heartbeat, even without taking age into account. Welker is probably the best slot receiver of his generation, but I think we're getting a little carried away here. And we can we stop suggesting that he "burned" Revis on the long pass--Revis clearly passed him off to the safety once Welker went inside.

I would be wary about adopting any opinion espoused by Michael Irvin.

Yes he's the most effective slot receiver in the history of the game, but THIS year, he's been just as effective on the outside. He's had several long gains after lining up on the outside. (the Revis catch, he back shoulder catch, etc) Not only that, he's turned into a red zone THREAT. Only Megatron has more WR TDs than Wes

However IMHO, the most interesting stat about Welker is his DURABILITY. Given his size its almost incomprehensible to believe that since 2004 Welker has missed only THREE games due to injury! That's even more amazing given the devastating ACL/MCL he had in 2009. I can't think of a single guy his size who can match that kind of Durability.

The most interesting tidbit Irvin gave, which was surprisingly insightful given the source, was his comment on Welker changing the entire perception of the slot receiver Rather than just being a short yardage, middle of the field, secondary receiver, the Pats and Welker have made the slot receiver, the primary guy.

As to who you would pick if you were starting a WR corp, I don't think you can pick Wes over the likes of Fitzgerald, CJohnson, or AJohnson, not if you are thinking long term. However if you are asking who is the most dominant WR to this point THIS year....then it HAS to be Wes Welker

 

[zoostation]

..........................

 

[ausbacker]

About time someone in the mass media said what we already knew through 5 games this season.

 

[FCB02062]

Wes Welker is the Lionel Messi of American football.

Does Wes Welker SUCK when he plays for his country in the World Cup, too?

 

[Sivy]

..........................

Looks clear as day to me that he beat Revis.

 

[Observer]

Does Wes Welker SUCK when he plays for his country in the World Cup, too?

Hehehe, nice one; good to know that there are many people here who get the comparison. We will never get the chance to know, but yeah, his play for Argentina vs. Barcelona are worlds apart. You can't argue, though, against the fact that the Messi that plays for Barcelona is truly extraordinary.

 

[Raymond]

Wes is playing out of his mind right now, but come now, every GM in the league (including our own) would take both Johnsons and Fitzgerald over Welker in a heartbeat, even without taking age into account. Welker is probably the best slot receiver of his generation, but I think we're getting a little carried away here.

I probably agree here. People comparing Wes to those others are not being honest in their assessment. It really is a case of "Apples and Oranges".

But Wes does have one ability none of the others have and it's not even close.

He is a "Moving the chains" machine that makes this O unstoppable.

 

[Kid~Brady]

LOL. Jamie Dukes screamikng "WHAAT?!" in the background after Irvin said he'd take Welker over any WR if he needed a TD drive was hilarious.

The greatness of Tom Brady has made Wes the best WR in the NFL!

This made me laugh as well.

I knew once Irvin said that, there would be a thread up too.

 

[NEPatriot]

unlike some posters on this board, I'm a big Michael Irvin fan. He's one of my favorite analyst. That said, I think he's off base here. I do think Wes is a top 5 receiver, but he's not number 1.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Looks clear as day to me that he beat Revis.

And should have finished into the end zone lol...