Bold Statement: 2014 receiving corps is the best in franchise history

By receiving corps I'm referring to all weapons in the passing game, not just WRs.

Many people will disagree and claim that either the 2007 or 2012 receiving corps are better. If you enjoy gaudy regular season stats then I can see why you'd prefer those receiving corps.

My criteria is the following:

1. Versatility, which allows the coaching staff to game plan from week to week based on the strengths/weaknesses of the opponent.
2. Diversity. A good mix of speed (Edelman, Amendola, Vereen out of the backfield) and size (Gronk, Lafell, Wright.)
3. Physical/mental toughness.
4. Clutch factor. Executing in big moments allows the team to succeed in the postseason.

It's true that the defense played a large part this season. But the offense averaged nearly 29 PPG in the regular season and 36 PPG in the postseason. Granted, only 3 games in the postseason isn't a big sample size, but I believe that's by far the best offensive postseason output we've had. This against two very good defenses and without much help from the run game.

2007 and not close

mgteich said:

2007 and not close

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Moss was great. Other than that, Edelman > Welker, and any other 2014 WR/TE > any 2007 WR/TE.

Are you phucking kidding me? JE/LaFell/DA/Tyms VS Moss/Welker/Stallworth/Gaffney?

FourierSeries said:

Moss was great. Other than that, Edelman > Welker, and any other 2014 WR/TE > any 2007 WR/TE.

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Sheer comedy

"Moss was Great" LMAO. Yeah I guess having the best season EVER for a WR is great.

No its "ALL PHUKCING PLANET"

JE better than WW that year? Comical.

Even if you throw in Gronk - Moss and him even out. That leaves WW/Stalworth/Gaff/Watson VS JE/DA/Lafell/and Tyms.

The homersism on this board has reached new levels.

Only a legit argument if TE is included. Even then, not much of a case.

07 randy > all of our wr's.

I said receiving corps (not wide receiving corps) which includes any weapon in the passing game.

Sure if you make a new criteria by which to define 'best', you can make any year's WR corps the 'best'. Now, if you want to go by the actual definition of 'best', then no, 2014 was not close to 2007.

Stanley Morgan, Irving Fryar and Randy Vataha say hi!

I think you're forgetting about 2006. Reche "the beast" Caldwell, and..... ughh. Damn that was a crap of hot garbage at WR

It begs the question, if you have an at their best Randy Moss or Rob Gronkowski, who would you choose?

Gronk's flexibility and run blocking is awfully tempting.

2006 was stunningly bad.

ausbacker said:

It begs the question, if you have an at their best Randy Moss or Rob Gronkowski, who would you choose?

Gronk's flexibility and run blocking is awfully tempting.

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Moss. The greatest WR ever. You can't even double him in his prime if Brady is throwing. At minimum you double, if not a triple team. He is a homerun threat from any yard line on the field. But there's no moss in the nfl now. So Gronk over any offensive weapon in the league now.

ausbacker said:

It begs the question, if you have an at their best Randy Moss or Rob Gronkowski, who would you choose?

Gronk's flexibility and run blocking is awfully tempting.

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Gronk. Moss was that flashy wr. Gronk is someone who is more valuable, because he can come from the back field, TE spot, slot or out wide. Moss is strictly outside.

Gronk is someone who is a matchup nightmare. You either triple or double him, and you don't even know if he is goin out or blockin. Gronk also is MR. Consistent in the RZ and moving the chains.

Gronk no doubt. Moss is the flashy wr everyone wants, gronk is one key to a championship no one has.

ausbacker said:

It begs the question, if you have an at their best Randy Moss or Rob Gronkowski, who would you choose?

Gronk's flexibility and run blocking is awfully tempting.

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That's a tough call. I think I go Gronk.

That's two all-time greats right there. You can't really make a 'wrong' choice.

Despite Gronk's resume being short, doesn't it feel like he already has the Hall on lock? It's so rare to have someone so completely dominant at their position. I don't know if there's another player in the NFL right now who dominates their position like Gronk. JJ Watt may be the only other.

nabwong said:

Moss. The greatest WR ever. You can't even double him in his prime if Brady is throwing. At minimum you double, if not a triple team. He is a homerun threat from any yard line on the field. But there's no moss in the nfl now. So Gronk over any offensive weapon in the league now.

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Moss is undoubtedly, one of the single most talented players to ever grace a football field however, I can't rid myself of the notion that Gronk provides Brady with a mismatch target and a player who affords the Patriots scheme versatility.

Moss was flashy is just not accurate. When you can completely change the landscape of the field by opening it up vertically, you give the D a whole new dynamic to think about and defend against.

Moss was just "flashy" is such crap.

Having either one on the field changes how the defense plays the game. You can make the argument for both, I think.

JJDChE said:

Having either one on the field changes how the defense plays the game. You can make the argument for both, I think.

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Sure it does. Both are awesome. But saying moss was just "flashy" is like saying gronk is just big

Its stupid