Deceptively fast.  Overachiever.  High football IQ.  Possession receiver.

 
All characteristics used to describe a team’s anomaly that is a white wide receiver.  As rookies, they’re the type of underdog featured on Hard Knocks and there’s no question special teams is required.  Even when they are veteran locks to make a team, fans still hope that the supposedly more athletic backup will take their place.

Below are the top 10 men who have beaten the odds and given hope to the future lil gibbs wideouts.  This list only reaches back 20 years because they were a lot more common back in the day, and because it’s my list.

Top 10 White NFL Wide Receivers Of The Past 20 Years

10 – Patrick Jeffers

Those that were playing fantasy football 10 years ago (before the internet made it easy) should remember Jeffers.  He came out of nowhere in 1999 with Carolina to score 12 touchdowns and surpass 1,000 yards receiving.  Kevin Kurtis and Kevin Walter received Honorable Mention points and almost got this spot, but 90’s nostalgia and the whitest name possible gave Jeffers the nod.

Jeffers is so rare he barely exists in Google Images

9 – Joe Jurevicius

Being huge is important for someone destined to be a possession receiver, and Jurevicius has that on his side (6-5 230).  The oft-injured former Penn State star managed to put together a 10 year career in which he specialized in maximizing performance during contract years.

8 – Brandon Stokley

Is the Colts #3 receiver required to be white?  Is this a Peyton mandate?  Stokley, Anthony Gonzalez, and now Austin Collie.  Either way, Stokley is now in his 11th season and 3rd team, currently serving as Brandon Marshall’s antithesis in Broncos’ camp.

This was not to be my poster shot

7 – Drew Bennett

Bennett went undrafted out of UCLA but caught on with the Titans as a rookie.  He made a major impact in his 4th year (2004), catching 80 balls for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns.  After coming back to statistical reality the next 2 seasons with Tenessee, he signed with the Rams as a free agent, but never lived up to his contract’s expectations.  The Rams cut him this year and he then retired shortly after signing with Baltimore due to injury.

6 – Bill Schroeder

Schroeder was Brett Favre’s only memorable white sidekick.  He put up 3 solid seasons as a secondary option in Green Bay and then moved on to Detroit, where everything fizzles out.

Donald Driver didn’t think I could dunk!

5 – Don  Beebe

Beebe is the ultimate overachiever and is best known for his hustle play (below) in which he stripped a hot-doggin Leon Lett in one of Buffalo’s many Super Bowl losses.  He makes the top 5 for that memory and for this great VHS that taught me to run the 40 in high school.

I bet he only slides head-first in baseball

4 – Wayne Chrebet

Chrebet’s 11-year career included 580 catches, 7,300+ yards, and 41 touchdowns.  Pretty impressive for an undrafted little guy from Hofstra

3 – Ricky Proehl

Proehl was the white guy that surprised you with his 8-bit skill in Tecmo Super Bowl.  In real life, he played seemingly forever (17 years) and found his niche with 5 different teams.  His 669 receptions, ~8,900 yards, and 54 touchdowns aren’t too shabby either.

Gloves are for chumps

2 – Wes Welker

Welker is a sparkplug from Texas Tech that has been incredible since joining the Patriots in 2007.  Haters credit the system for his success, but every player is a product of circumstance.  He’s averaged 111 catches and 1,100 yards over the past 2 seasons and isn’t likely to slow down with Tom Brady back at the helm.

Caption this photo

1 – Ed McCaffrey

McCaffrey was a force with the Broncos in the late 90’s.  A force that used rolled-up socks as shoulder pads and scuba gloves to catch.  He was durable, reliable, and announcers liked to say that he “plays the game how it’s supposed to be played.”  I think that means he would block and catch passes over the middle.

Who’s missing?  Roddy White doesn’t count.

No, I ‘m not racist.

Editor’s note:  Yes, Steve Largent was the greatest cracker wideout of the 80’s and he retired in 1989.  His retirement year was not taken into consideration for this post.  Thanks to Digg commenters for reminding me of this.

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