Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Ronde Barber had an illustrious 16-year NFL career, one that visited an end on May 8 when he publicised his retirement. He was around long enough to play against every one of the top 10 receivers relating to the NFL's all-time career wedding reception list, an assemblage of talent that starts with Jerry Rice and includes eight receivers who caught at the least 1, 000 passes on their careers.
Looking back at the talent Barber faced at the time of his NFL tenure, he told Peter King involving Sports Illustrated that Carolina Panthers extensive receiver Steve Smith covers his list.
I played lots of great players. The device position today... so hard to enhance up now. Megatron [Calvin Johnson] was impossible to cover. Randy Moss in this prime: nothing you are able to do. But to me, Steve Smith was the most difficult guy I faced. When i played him, he was just like me. He chose to outwork the competition out there every daytime. That was me.
In Smith's 12 seasons in the field, he's played 17 games about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and caught 89 passes (not all while being included in Barber) for 1, 298 yards (Pro Football Reference). That's akin to a full season's worth of work resistant to the Buccaneers, so yes, Barber has found out Smith well.
Smith's now sits at No. 27 over the NFL's all-time receptions directory with 772 catches, only just 196 behind Reggie Wayne,, who caught 968 goes during his career. He still has 3 years, and a player option fourth, left on her contract (Spotrac). If Smith decides to play all four seasons, he needs to standard just over 49 hidden clauses per season to pass Wayne land inside top 10 all time frame.
Of Smith's 12 FOOTBALL seasons, he's played at a minimum 14 games in almost one (he missed all but one game of that 2004 season (ESPN) using a broken left leg). He only dipped here the 49-reception plateau once in the other 11 seasons, in 2010 when he was reeling in passes from Jimmy Clausen along with Matt Moore.
Even late in his career—he switched 34 on May 12—Smith is actually respected amongst his peers. He was ranked Simply no. 84 on the NFL Network list "The Top 100 Players of 2013. inches
It would seem that in case Smith stays healthy along with decides to play out his contract, he'll be one of the top 10 receivers at this moment based on number of receptions. But according to help Barber, who's seen a good portion of NFL the past unfold before his eyes, Smith's already one of the best.
Knox Bardeen is the NFC Southern area lead writer for Bleacher Report and also the author of "100 Things Falcons Fans Should know & Do Before they will Die. " Be sure to follow Knox on Twitter.
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