Know Your Colts History: Where's #88?
by Jake Whitacre on Aug 15, 2009 1:15 PM EDT
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Maybe bringing this subject back up after the first Colts football action in months is in bad form, but it's something I simply can't let go of yet. Why isn't Marvin Harrison playing for an NFL team yet?
I know, he's not the Marvin Harrison that he once was. He's probably not even half of the Marvin Harrison he once was. But still, 40% of Marvin Harrison is good enough to be someone's 3rd receiver. Last year, he finished 54th in receiving yards, 62nd in DYAR, and 63rd in DVOA. Even if he dropped to say, 75th in those categories next year (probably a safe bet given that he'll be a year older and he won't be as familiar with the system), that would equate with being an average 3rd string wide receiver, if you distributed the wide receivers ahead of him evenly among the league's 32 teams. (Sure, it would be impossible to actually distribute wide receivers evenly, but you get the idea.)
Far be it from me to suggest some teams that could use a reliable 3rd receiver, but really, at least half of the league should be knocking down Marvin's door to acquire his services. Let's review his credentials:
- The NFL's active leader in career receptions and 2nd only to Jerry Rice in career receptions
- Twice led the league in receptions for a season (2000 & 2002)
- 4th in career receiving yards
- 5th in career receiving touchdowns and career receiving yards per game
- 8 time Pro Bowler
- 3 time 1st Team All-Pro
- 20th in career yards from scrimmage, just a little over a hundred yards behind Jim Brown.
- Tied for the active leader in made 2 pt. conversions
- Holds the record for most receptions in one season
- Managed to do all of this without any semblance of a diet
Sure, he'll be 37 in two weeks and some people might be scared of him because he had a run-in with a guy who is magnetically attracted to guns, but those are silly excuses. If 39 year olds can still get offered starting jobs and if a felon who never had a QB rating higher than 81.6 can still get a 2 year contract, then why on earth can't someone roll the dice on Marvin Harrison?
Undoubtedly whoever signs Marvin knows full well that it will only be a matter of time before he ends up as a part of this picture gallery. But as much as people bemoan great players ending their career with a different team than the one they became legendary on, it's something that he's earned the right to do. Hopefully there's a team out there that will realize this soon enough and give him the chance to end his career with some shred of dignity. Because as hard as it would be to watch Marvin Harrison playing as a 3rd wide receiver on an unfamiliar team, it would be much, much harder for me to see him fade away into nothingness because no one was interested in signing him.
So NFL teams, if you're reading this I beg of you: Please sign Marvin Harrison soon. I don't care if you cut him after the season, I don't care if he doesn't even get any playing time this season. Just give him enough respect to give him a chance to make your team better this coming season. If Michael Vick can be given a second chance, why can't Marvin Harrison?
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I'm sooo torn.
I want Marv to get the respect he deserves, but I don’t want to see him in another uni.
I think he probably wants too much $$. I mean if he wasn’t willing to restructure his contract with the Colts, why would he take 1-2 mil for another team?
I LOVE YOU MARV, but really, get a clue. Nobody is going to pay you.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
Too long
Do you realize how many great football players were great two years before they retired? It’s those last two years tha tarnished their careers.
It's all money I'd imagine
You can take a shot on a young rookie with some upside for cheap as your 3rd WR instead of paying a million or more for someone big time on the downside.
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The NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" league.
I’m with Peytonsthebest, I really really don’t want to see him play for another team and be bad doing it.
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
if its any consolation
I resigned him on Madden in my franchise. :P
Please, please draft a big Defensive Tackle. Please?
Enter Fili Moala. Thank you Polian
For only one season, of course.
After one season, he retires. Every Madden game the past three years.
by coltsfanawalt on Aug 16, 2009 2:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey, Tastykakes are a diet...
not a good one, I’ll admit, but they sure filled the empty spaces when I went to wrestling summer camps in Pennsylvania.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
It might not be a bad thing
Hey it like a security blanket if he sits at home. What if Garcon or Collie breaks a leg in the first game? I mean knock on wood and all but at least Polian has the option to try to get Marv back for the remaining games.
I wonder
if Marv has any experience on the O-Line?
How can you not love a team that does this?
by LovinBlue on Aug 16, 2009 7:55 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
lmoa
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Aug 16, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
laugh my off ass?
Please, please draft a big Defensive Tackle. Please?
Enter Fili Moala. Thank you Polian
in Soviet Russia
Ass laughs off you
/random
It's shocking what you can miss sometimes. The amazing color changing card trick.
by shake n bake on Aug 16, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, maybe I'm dyslexic
don’t judge.
/jk
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Aug 17, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I believe the official translation
is: Ass laughs off youski
Hey, Marvin might work out on the OL—he first injured his knee two seasons ago while blocking for Addai, right…. Karma might dictate a return engagement to save our season in some random late game (without looking at the schedule, I’ll say Week 13).
Just say we need one key block on a stretch play; 88 in as a decoy anyway having broken both femurs inthe 3rd quarter but showig non sign of injury. Then he decides to block two 350 LB DTs who are pursuing 29 madly… 88 takes them out but breaks an additional 117 bones in his body in the effort. The ensuing TD on that play secures the win and HFA throughout the playoffs. We move on to win the SB afterwards and the game is dedicated to “the man in the double body cast home in Philly. Without you, we would never be here.” That night, Jimmy Irsay jets from Miami to Philly to puree tastykakes and inject them into 88’s IV bag. He places the Lombardi on the nightstand before leaving the room, turning off the light and tip-toeing away. 88 has his best night sleep in three years.
Could happen.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
You should write for Hollywood, Bob.
That would make a great movie.
Now a proud annoyance on Stampede Blue, 18to88, Indy Football Report, and Phil B's blog.
Man, I need a life...
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: The 57 on Heinz ketchup bottles represents the number of varieties of pickles the company once had. Why does a company have 57 varieties of pickles? Who knows.
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