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NFL Top Ten Return Aces

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  • It is more than a little goofy that Cribbs isn't on the list. Is there a way to tell what year that list was assembled?

  • First, here is the list of the NFL Networks top ten return men:

    10. Dante Hall

    9. Desmond Howard

    8. Eric Metcalf

    7. Gale Sayers

    6. Rick Upchurch

    5. Mel Gray

    4. Deion Sanders

    3. Billy Johnson

    2. Brian Mitchell

    1. Devin Hester

    Ok, how the hell does JC not make the list? He is better than any one of those guys and has broken all of their records. It can't be because he is still in the league because so is Devin Hester. Im outraged! Help me out here.

    @theclevelandsound said:

    First, here is the list of the NFL Networks top ten return men:

    Ok, how the hell does JC not make the list? He is better than any one of those guys and has broken all of their records. It can't be because he is still in the league because so is Devin Hester. Im outraged! Help me out here.

    Well, Josh hasn't broken all of their records. 🙂 A lot of the guys on that list are on it due to longevity, Like Mitchell, who probably put the # of kickoff returns out of reach. Heavily skewed to punt returns too, and if you factor that in Josh is good, but not in the top 25 (PRs). Metcalf's on the list because of his 10 punt return TDs. Gayle Sayers had an incredible 30+ yards per return on KOs, so that's why he rates. Yeah, I'm old enough to have seen him play, and he was an earlier version of Eric Metcalf with his moves.

    But I agree, to put Hester #1, and not even have Josh on the list is an insult.

  • First, here is the list of the NFL Networks top ten return men:

    10. Dante Hall

    9. Desmond Howard

    8. Eric Metcalf

    7. Gale Sayers

    6. Rick Upchurch

    5. Mel Gray

    4. Deion Sanders

    3. Billy Johnson

    2. Brian Mitchell

    1. Devin Hester

    Ok, how the hell does JC not make the list? He is better than any one of those guys and has broken all of their records. It can't be because he is still in the league because so is Devin Hester. Im outraged! Help me out here.

    @theclevelandsound said:

    First, here is the list of the NFL Networks top ten return men:

    10. Dante Hall

    9. Desmond Howard

    8. Eric Metcalf

    7. Gale Sayers

    6. Rick Upchurch

    5. Mel Gray

    4. Deion Sanders

    3. Billy Johnson

    2. Brian Mitchell

    1. Devin Hester

    Ok, how the hell does JC not make the list? He is better than any one of those guys and has broken all of their records. It can't be because he is still in the league because so is Devin Hester. Im outraged! Help me out here.

    The only thing I can think is that though Cribbs is the all time leader in Kickoff Returns, he only has 2 punt returns for TDs in his career.

    You know who the leader in career punt returns for TDs is? Another Cleveland Brown. Eric Metcalf. Though not all of his PR TDs were with the Browns.

  • Dante Hall

    Kick Returns 426 returns for 10,136 yards, 23.8 average, 6TDs, and 10 Fumbles

    Punt Returns 216 returns for 2,261 yards, 10.5 average, 6 TDS, and 6 Fumbles

    Desmond Howard

    Kick Returns 359 returns for 7,959 yards, 22.2 average, 0 TDS, 4 Fumbles

    Punt returns 244 returns for 2,895 yards, 11.9 average, 8 TDS, 7 Fumbles

    Eric Metcalf

    Kick Returns 280 returns for 5,813 yards, 20.8 average, 2 TDS, 3 Fumbles

    Punt Returns 351 returns for 3,453 yards, 9.8 average, 10 TDS, 26 Fumbles

    Gale Sayers

    Kick Returns 91 returns for 2,781 yards, 30.6 average, 6 TDS, 0 Fumbles

    Punt Returns 27 returns for 391 yards, 14.5 average, 2 TDS, 0 Fumbles

    Rick Upchurch

    Kick Returns 95 returns for 2,355 yards, 24.8 average, 0 TDS, 0 Fumbles

    Punt Returns 248 returns for 3,008 yards, 12.1 average, 8 TDS, 0 Fumbles

    Mel Gray

    Kick Returns 421 returns for 10,250 yards, 24.3 average, 6 TDS, 9 Fumbles

    Punt Returns 252 returns for 2,753 yards, 10.9 average, 3 TDS, 7 Fumbles

    Deion Sanders

    Kick Returns 155 returns for 3,523 yards, 22.7 average, 3 TDS, 4 Fumbles

    Punt Returns 212 returns for 2,199 yards, 10.4 average, 6 TDS, 5 Fumbles

    Billy Johnson

    Kick Returns 123 returns for 2,941 yards, 23.9 average, 2 TDS, 0 Fumbles

    Punt Returns 282 returns for 3,317 yards, 11.8 average, 6 TDS, 0 Fumbles

    Brian Mitchell

    Kick Returns 607 returns for 14,014 yards, 23.1 average, 4 TDS, 14 Fumbles

    Punt Returns 463 returns for 4,999 yards, 10.8 average, 9 TDS, 19 fumbles

    Devin Hester

    Kick Returns 101 returns for 2,297 yards, 22.7 average, 4 TDS, 5 Fumbles

    Punt Returns 145 returns for 1,636 yards, 11.3 average, 7 TDS, 15 Fumbles

    Josh Cribbs

    Kick Returns 265 returns for 7,049 yards, 26.6 average, 8 TDS, 6 Fumbles

    Punt Returns 103 returns for 1,141 yards, 11.1 average, 2 TDS, 7 Fumbles

    Based on the above stats, I can't see how Josh isn't at least in the middle of the pack, and how the hell Hester even made the list, let alone #1.

  • Whats shocking is the number of fumbles for Sayers, Upchurch and Johnson. Was that stat not recorded in those days?

  • Try ranking these players in each category: yards per KO return, KO return TDs, yards per punt return, Punt return TD etc.

  • It is more than a little goofy that Cribbs isn't on the list. Is there a way to tell what year that list was assembled?

    @roach said:

    It is more than a little goofy that Cribbs isn't on the list. Is there a way to tell what year that list was assembled?

    It was made a few weeks ago.

  • Whats shocking is the number of fumbles for Sayers, Upchurch and Johnson. Was that stat not recorded in those days?

    @dave said:

    Whats shocking is the number of fumbles for Sayers, Upchurch and Johnson. Was that stat not recorded in those days?

    My guess is that fumbles weren't recorded as an official stat that early on.

  • Try ranking these players in each category: yards per KO return, KO return TDs, yards per punt return, Punt return TD etc.

    @the-gipper said:

    Try ranking these players in each category: yards per KO return, KO return TDs, yards per punt return, Punt return TD etc.

    Ok, I ranked them in Average KR, KR TDs, Average PR, KR TD, Total Average KR, Total TDs

    Then I weighted them points 11 through 1 based on the place of each ranking. If there was a tie, I added the placements those tied players would take and divided by the number of players for their total points.

    KR Ave

    Gale Sayers 11

    Josh Cribbs 10

    Rick Upchurch 9

    Mel Gray 8

    Billy Johnson 7

    Dante Hall 6

    Brian Mitchell 5

    Deion Sanders 3.5

    Devin Hester 3.5

    Desmond Howard 2

    Eric Metcalf 1

    KR TD's

    Josh Cribbs 11

    Dante Hall 9

    Gale Sayers 9

    Mel Gray 9

    Brian Mitchell 6.5

    Devin Hester 6.5

    Deion Sanders 5

    Eric Metcalf 3.5

    Billy Johnson 3.5

    Desmond Howard 1.5

    Rick Upchurch 1.5

    PR Ave

    Gale Sayers 11

    Rick Upchurch 10

    Desmond Howard 9

    Billy Johnson 8

    Devin Hester 7

    Josh Cribbs 6

    Mel Gray 5

    Brian Mitchell 4

    Dante Hall 3

    Deion Sanders 2

    Eric Metcalf 1

    PR TDs

    Eric Metcalf 11

    Brian Mitchell 10

    Desmond Howard 8.5

    Rick Upchurch 8.5

    Devin Hester 7

    Dante Hall 5

    Deion Sanders 5

    Billy Johnson 5

    Mel Gray 3

    Josh Cribbs 1.5

    Gale Sayers 1.5

    Total Ave

    Gale Sayers 11

    Josh Cribbs 10

    Mel Gray 9

    Dante Hall 8

    Desmond Howard 7

    Brian Mitchell 6

    Devin Hester 5

    Rick Upchurch 4

    Deion Sanders 3

    Billy Johnson 2

    Eric Metcalf 1

    Total TDs

    Brian Mitchell 11

    Dante Hall 9.5

    Eric Metcalf 9.5

    Devin Hester 8

    Josh Cribbs 7

    Mel Gray 5.5

    Deion Sanders 5.5

    Desmond Howard 2.5

    Gale Sayers 2.5

    Rick Upchurch 2.5

    Billy Johnson 2.5

    Final Rankings

    Gale Sayers 46

    Josh Cribbs 45.5

    Brian Mitchell 42.5

    Dante Hall 40.5

    Mel Gray 39.5

    Devin Hester 37

    Rick Upchurch 35.5

    Desmond Howard 30.5

    Billy Johnson 28

    Eric Metcalf 27

    Deion Sanders 24

  • Im still perplexed at the folks at the NFL Network.

  • I seen that Episode like 2 months ago it First aired jun 26 2009, so this past year wasn't included in the stats

    http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/09000d...or-third-season

  • We (Cleveland) always get over looked. Fuk the NFL network. We werent even on their list of loyal fans. And on sunday they still show some of the best games from last year and the only 1 I saw that we were on was the game we lost to the Lions.

  • @the-gipper said:

    Try ranking these players in each category: yards per KO return, KO return TDs, yards per punt return, Punt return TD etc.

    Ok, I ranked them in Average KR, KR TDs, Average PR, KR TD, Total Average KR, Total TDs

    Then I weighted them points 11 through 1 based on the place of each ranking. If there was a tie, I added the placements those tied players would take and divided by the number of players for their total points.

    KR Ave

    Gale Sayers 11

    Josh Cribbs 10

    Rick Upchurch 9

    Mel Gray 8

    Billy Johnson 7

    Dante Hall 6

    Brian Mitchell 5

    Deion Sanders 3.5

    Devin Hester 3.5

    Desmond Howard 2

    Eric Metcalf 1

    KR TD's

    Josh Cribbs 11

    Dante Hall 9

    Gale Sayers 9

    Mel Gray 9

    Brian Mitchell 6.5

    Devin Hester 6.5

    Deion Sanders 5

    Eric Metcalf 3.5

    Billy Johnson 3.5

    Desmond Howard 1.5

    Rick Upchurch 1.5

    PR Ave

    Gale Sayers 11

    Rick Upchurch 10

    Desmond Howard 9

    Billy Johnson 8

    Devin Hester 7

    Josh Cribbs 6

    Mel Gray 5

    Brian Mitchell 4

    Dante Hall 3

    Deion Sanders 2

    Eric Metcalf 1

    PR TDs

    Eric Metcalf 11

    Brian Mitchell 10

    Desmond Howard 8.5

    Rick Upchurch 8.5

    Devin Hester 7

    Dante Hall 5

    Deion Sanders 5

    Billy Johnson 5

    Mel Gray 3

    Josh Cribbs 1.5

    Gale Sayers 1.5

    Total Ave

    Gale Sayers 11

    Josh Cribbs 10

    Mel Gray 9

    Dante Hall 8

    Desmond Howard 7

    Brian Mitchell 6

    Devin Hester 5

    Rick Upchurch 4

    Deion Sanders 3

    Billy Johnson 2

    Eric Metcalf 1

    Total TDs

    Brian Mitchell 11

    Dante Hall 9.5

    Eric Metcalf 9.5

    Devin Hester 8

    Josh Cribbs 7

    Mel Gray 5.5

    Deion Sanders 5.5

    Desmond Howard 2.5

    Gale Sayers 2.5

    Rick Upchurch 2.5

    Billy Johnson 2.5

    Final Rankings

    Gale Sayers 46

    Josh Cribbs 45.5

    Brian Mitchell 42.5

    Dante Hall 40.5

    Mel Gray 39.5

    Devin Hester 37

    Rick Upchurch 35.5

    Desmond Howard 30.5

    Billy Johnson 28

    Eric Metcalf 27

    Deion Sanders 24

    @thaak said:

    Ok, I ranked them in Average KR, KR TDs, Average PR, KR TD, Total Average KR, Total TDs

    Then I weighted them points 11 through 1 based on the place of each ranking. If there was a tie, I added the placements those tied players would take and divided by the number of players for their total points.

    KR Ave

    Gale Sayers 11

    Josh Cribbs 10

    Rick Upchurch 9

    Mel Gray 8

    Billy Johnson 7

    Dante Hall 6

    Brian Mitchell 5

    Deion Sanders 3.5

    Devin Hester 3.5

    Desmond Howard 2

    Eric Metcalf 1

    KR TD's

    Josh Cribbs 11

    Dante Hall 9

    Gale Sayers 9

    Mel Gray 9

    Brian Mitchell 6.5

    Devin Hester 6.5

    Deion Sanders 5

    Eric Metcalf 3.5

    Billy Johnson 3.5

    Desmond Howard 1.5

    Rick Upchurch 1.5

    PR Ave

    Gale Sayers 11

    Rick Upchurch 10

    Desmond Howard 9

    Billy Johnson 8

    Devin Hester 7

    Josh Cribbs 6

    Mel Gray 5

    Brian Mitchell 4

    Dante Hall 3

    Deion Sanders 2

    Eric Metcalf 1

    PR TDs

    Eric Metcalf 11

    Brian Mitchell 10

    Desmond Howard 8.5

    Rick Upchurch 8.5

    Devin Hester 7

    Dante Hall 5

    Deion Sanders 5

    Billy Johnson 5

    Mel Gray 3

    Josh Cribbs 1.5

    Gale Sayers 1.5

    Total Ave

    Gale Sayers 11

    Josh Cribbs 10

    Mel Gray 9

    Dante Hall 8

    Desmond Howard 7

    Brian Mitchell 6

    Devin Hester 5

    Rick Upchurch 4

    Deion Sanders 3

    Billy Johnson 2

    Eric Metcalf 1

    Total TDs

    Brian Mitchell 11

    Dante Hall 9.5

    Eric Metcalf 9.5

    Devin Hester 8

    Josh Cribbs 7

    Mel Gray 5.5

    Deion Sanders 5.5

    Desmond Howard 2.5

    Gale Sayers 2.5

    Rick Upchurch 2.5

    Billy Johnson 2.5

    Final Rankings

    Gale Sayers 46

    Josh Cribbs 45.5

    Brian Mitchell 42.5

    Dante Hall 40.5

    Mel Gray 39.5

    Devin Hester 37

    Rick Upchurch 35.5

    Desmond Howard 30.5

    Billy Johnson 28

    Eric Metcalf 27

    Deion Sanders 24

    Nice job. Maybe you should forward that data to the NFL Network and let them see the error of their ways.

  • You know, there may be one explanation for why Cribbs is not on the list involved:

    They may have required a certain minimum number of attempts, and Cribbs, in his short career may not have reached the minimum attempts required to be considered for the list.

    I mean, its like, he holds the NFL record for most KO returns for a TD, but he hasn't had enough total returns to have his number count on their list!!

    If true, that would just be further evidence of how phenomenal he is.

  • You know, there may be one explanation for why Cribbs is not on the list involved:

    They may have required a certain minimum number of attempts, and Cribbs, in his short career may not have reached the minimum attempts required to be considered for the list.

    I mean, its like, he holds the NFL record for most KO returns for a TD, but he hasn't had enough total returns to have his number count on their list!!

    If true, that would just be further evidence of how phenomenal he is.

    @the-gipper said:

    You know, there may be one explanation for why Cribbs is not on the list involved:

    They may have required a certain minimum number of attempts, and Cribbs, in his short career may not have reached the minimum attempts required to be considered for the list.

    I mean, its like, he holds the NFL record for most KO returns for a TD, but he hasn't had enough total returns to have his number count on their list!!

    If true, that would just be further evidence of how phenomenal he is.

    Go up a few posts and look at my raw stats. You'll see that Cribbs is middle of the pack in attempts, and there are a couple guys who have less than 100 attempts in both categories.

  • Btw, good shit Thaak.

    I just hope I can find this thread six months from now when I wanna call someone out on a Cribbs comparison.

  • I watched the same show and JC did get an honorable mention, but this show was recorded before the start of last year....if they remake the show there is no doubt that JC would be on top of the list

  • I watched the same show and JC did get an honorable mention, but this show was recorded before the start of last year....if they remake the show there is no doubt that JC would be on top of the list

    @dawgpoundpitt said:

    I watched the same show and JC did get an honorable mention, but this show was recorded before the start of last year....if they remake the show there is no doubt that JC would be on top of the list

    Yes, but even without last years stats, Cribbs still ends up in the middle of the pack. His average stays about the same, and his TDs drop by 3 total. So instead of being #2 on the list, he would be about #7. He's also been in the league 1 more year than Hester, and last year Hester didn't really do PR's anymore.

  • @dawgpoundpitt said:

    I watched the same show and JC did get an honorable mention, but this show was recorded before the start of last year....if they remake the show there is no doubt that JC would be on top of the list

    Yes, but even without last years stats, Cribbs still ends up in the middle of the pack. His average stays about the same, and his TDs drop by 3 total. So instead of being #2 on the list, he would be about #7. He's also been in the league 1 more year than Hester, and last year Hester didn't really do PR's anymore.

    @thaak said:

    Yes, but even without last years stats, Cribbs still ends up in the middle of the pack. His average stays about the same, and his TDs drop by 3 total. So instead of being #2 on the list, he would be about #7. He's also been in the league 1 more year than Hester, and last year Hester didn't really do PR's anymore.

    Just to prove my point, I redid the chart figuring Josh Cribbs without 2009.

    This is the final order

    Gale Sayers 48

    Brian Mitchell 43.5

    Mel Gray 42.5

    Dante Hall 41.5

    Devin Hester 37

    Rick Upchurch 36.5

    Josh Cribbs 34.5

    Desmond Howard 31.5

    Billy Johnson 29

    Eric Metcalf 27

    Deion Sanders 25

    He still comes in 7th. Of course that goes to show what a phenomenal year he had in 2009 (4 return TDS).

  • I forgot to refigure Hester without 2009 stats, but when I took a look at them... he got no TDs in 2009, and his averages were about the same. So it wouldn't have affected anything.