Is Sharpe the best? – The Fans Speak Out
Your article on Shannon Sharpe was excellent [“The Gift of Gab,” March 2002]. I also liked the sidebar on Ozzie Newsome [“The Wizard Still Is Working His Magic”]. I saw that you mentioned other great tight ends in the article, such as Kellen Winslow, Jackie Smith, John Mackey, and Mike Ditka. I agree with you that they were great, but I always liked Mickey Shuler and Russ Francis. Could you print their career statistics?
Tim Haller Via e-mail
Although Shannon Sharpe is arguably the best tight end ever, Mark Bavaro should have been listed in your article among the contenders. A feared blocker and a reliable receiver, Bavaro was a big reason for the New York Giants’ success in the 1980s and early ’90s. Mark Bavaro was a great team player.
Matt Brennan Bayport, N.Y.
Mickey Shuler’s
Career Statistics
Year Team Rec. Yds. Avg. TDs
1978 N.Y. Jets 11 67 6.1 3
1979 N.Y. Jets 16 225 14.1 3
1980 N.Y. Jets 22 226 10.3 2
1981 N.Y. Jets 0 0 00.0 0
1982 N.Y. Jets 8 132 16.5 3
1983 N.Y. Jets 26 272 10.5 1
1984 N.Y. Jets 68 782 11.5 6
1985 N.Y. Jets 76 879 11.6 7
1986 N.Y. Jets 69 675 9.8 4
1987 N.Y. Jets 43 434 10.1 3
1988 N.Y. Jets 70 805 11.5 5
1989 N.Y. Jets 29 322 11.1 0
1990 Philadelphia 18 190 10.6 0
1991 Philadelphia 6 91 15.2 0
Totals 462 5,100 11.0 37
Russ Francis’
Career Statistics
Year Team Rec. Yds. Avg. TDs
1975 New England 35 636 18.2 4
1976 New England 26 367 14.1 3
1977 New England 16 229 14.3 4
1978 New England 39 543 13.9 4
1979 New England 39 557 14.3 5
1980 New England 41 664 16.2 8
1981 DID NOT PLAY
1982 San Francisco 23 278 12.1 2
1983 San Francisco 33 357 10.8 4
1984 San Francisco 23 285 12.4 2
1985 San Francisco 44 478 10.9 3
1986 San Francisco 41 505 12.3 1
1987 S.F./N.E. 22 202 9.2 0
1988 New England 11 161 14.6 0
Totals 393 5,262 13.4 40
COPYRIGHT 2002 Century Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group
