Five best NFL wideouts who were Buckeyes ; Gonzalez's demise
By Steve Doerschuk
The five greatest NFL receivers who played college ball at Ohio State, in our opinion:
1, Paul Warfield
2, Dante Lavelli
3, Cris Carter
4, Joey Galloway
5, Terry Glenn
The first two are ex-Browns in the Hall of Fame.
Jim Tressel could have used a few guys like them.
? ? ?
Anthony Gonzalez, who was a force at Cleveland St. Ignatius and Ohio State, might be finished in the NFL.
He was released by the Patriots today. We don?t think the Browns will invite the former first-round pick in, even though they are light in veteran presence at the wideout spot.
Gonzalez, 27, is one of eight wideouts who were recruited to Columbus by Tressel and have been drafted.
Here?s one view of how they rank in terms of NFL value, past, present and projected.
? No. 1
Santonio Holmes, No. 25 overall, 2006
He earned his keep in Pittsburgh with a circus catch that won a Super Bowl.
In four years with the Steelers and two with the Jets, he has 338 catches for 5,235 yards and 34 touchdowns.
He was drafted a year later and 22 spots lower than another sometimes troubled wideout, Braylon Edwards. For what it?s worth, Holmes trails Edwards 5,323-5,235 in career receiving yards.
? No. 2
Michael Jenkins, No. 29 overall, 2004
He gave the team that drafted him, Atlanta, seven seasons. He was a decent extra receiver for the Vikings last year. His eight-year totals are 314 catches for 3,978 yards and 23 TDs.
? No. 3
Brian Hartline, No. 108 overall, 2009
Entering his fourth year with the Dolphins, he has caught 109 passes for 1,670 yards. Catch the former Golden Eagle on Hard Knocks ? the Dolphins have agreed to submerge themselves into the HBO fish bowl.
? No. 4
Ted Ginn Jr., No. 9 overall, 2007
He was over-drafted and hasn?t done a bunch as a receiver (159 catches for 2,047 yards in three years with Miami and two with the 49ers). He has been a good but not great return man.
? No. 5
DeVier Posey, No. 68 overall, 2012
He enters his rookie year with Texans, who overlooked his lost 2011 season.
? No. 6
Gonzalez, No. 32 overall, 2007
In five injury-plagued years with the Colts, he made 99 catches for 1,307 yards.
He was a Bill Polian pick. You wonder about Polian. Would Phil Savage have been an NFL executive of the year had he lucked into a draft that included Peyton Manning?
? No. 7
Brian Robiskie, No. 36 overall, 2009
Before the Browns cut him during the 2011 season, he caught 39 passes for 441 yards. He could wind up fighting Mount Union alum Cecil Shorts for a roster spot in Jacksonville.
? No. 8
Roy Hall, No. 169 overall, 2007
He can tell his grandchildren he caught a pass in a real game. It was his only catch before the Colts released him.
