NFL Top Ten Return Aces
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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Try ranking these players in each category: yards per KO return, KO return TDs, yards per punt return, Punt return TD etc.
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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?
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Whats shocking is the number of fumbles for Sayers, Upchurch and Johnson. Was that stat not recorded in those days?
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Try ranking these players in each category: yards per KO return, KO return TDs, yards per punt return, Punt return TD etc.
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
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Im still perplexed at the folks at the NFL Network.
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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
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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.
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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
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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
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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
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.
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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.
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).
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I just redid my chart figuring TDs/KR, TDs/PR, and TDs/Total Returns.
TD's/KR
Gale Sayers 11
Devin Hester 10
Josh Cribbs 9
Deion Sanders 8
Billy Johnson 7
Mel Gray 6
Dante Hall 5
Eric Metcalf 4
Brian Mitchell 3
Desmond Howard 1.5
Rick Upchurch 1.5
TDs/PR
Gale Sayers 11
Devin Hester 10
Desmond Howard 9
Rick Upchurch 8
Eric Metcalf 7
Deion Sanders 6
Dante Hall 5
Billy Johnson 4
Brian Mitchell 3
Josh Cribbs 2
Mel Gray 1
TDs/Total Returns
Gale Sayers 11
Devin Hester 10
Josh Cribbs 9
Deion Sanders 8
Rick Upchurch 7
Billy Johnson 6
Eric Metcalf 5
Dante Hall 4
Mel Gray 3
Desmond Howard 2
Brian Mitchell 1
The final total is inclusive of my last figure, the above just adds to it.
1 - Gale Sayers 79
2 - Devin Hester 66.5
3 - Josh Cribbs 65.5
4 - Dante Hall 54.5
5 - Rick Upchurch 52
t6 - Mel Gray 49.5
t6 - Brian Mitchell 49.5
8 - Deion Sanders 46.5
9 - Billy Johnson 45
t10 - Eric Metcalf 43
t10 - Desmond Howard 43
In comparison, without TD's/Return ratios
1 - Gale Sayers 46
2 - Josh Cribbs 45.5
3 - Brian Mitchell 42.5
4 - Dante Hall 40.5
5 - Mel Gray 39.5
6 - Devin Hester 37
7 - Rick Upchurch 35.5
8 - Desmond Howard 30.5
9 - Billy Johnson 28
10 - Eric Metcalf 27
11 - Deion Sanders 24
What this shows, is that Sayers and Hester were lightening in a bottle. Deion was to some extent as well. Cribbs was last year, otherwise he may not have been last on this list without his 2009 numbers. Brian Mitchell is only on the list because he played for 14 years.
If I only consider the ratios, the rankings look like:
Gale Sayers 33
Devin Hester 30
Deion Sanders 22
Josh Cribbs 20
Billy Johnson 17
Rick Upchurch 16.5
Eric Metcalf 16
Dante Hall 14
Desmond Howard 12.5
Mel Gray 10
Brian Mitchell 7
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