NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Sunday Debate: Antonio Brown is the Best Wide Receiver in the NFL

By Mark Morales-Smith

Jan 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham (13) and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown (84) pose during team photos for the 2015 Pro Bowl at The Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham (13) and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown (84) pose during team photos for the 2015 Pro Bowl at The Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Mark Morales Smith and Brendan Pignataro will be debating a different topic each weekend. This week will feature a debate revolving around the best wide receiver in the NFL. Antonio Brown vs. Odell Beckham Jr.

This is the first of our weekly debate article. This week we will pin Pittsburgh Steelers Antonio Brown up against New York Giants Odell Beckham Jr. to decide who the best wide receiver in the NFL is. I will be debating on the side of Brown or you may know it as the correct side. As good as Beckham has been through two seasons, Brown has been better in pretty much every way.

Could Beckham one day be the best receiver in football? Possibly. Nonetheless, today is certainly not that day. I currently rank Beckham behind AB, Julio Jones and the quarterback-proof DeAndre Hopkins.

Related Story: Sunday Debate: Odell Beckham Jr. is the Best Wide Receiver in the NFL

Beckham’s numbers are great, but Brown’s are superhuman. Over the past two seasons, OBJ has caught an impressive 187 passes for 2,755 yards and 25 touchdowns. However, AB has caught a ridiculous 265 passes for 3,532 yards and 23 touchdowns. Granted Beckham has missed five games during this span, but the numbers aren’t close. The more dependable and durable Brown hasn’t missed a regular season game since November of 2012.

Durability must be taken into account. Beckham missed the first four games of his rookie season as well as all of training camp due to a hamstring injury. That hamstring acted up the following summer as well and there was some fear he would miss time in 2015 as well. Despite another scare, he was healthy in time for the start of the season. The game he missed in 2015 was due to lack of maturity and leadership, two things Brown has been repeatedly praised for.

As Beckham was dominated by Josh Norman in the first half of the Giants’ Week 14 matchup with the Panthers, he completely lost his cool. His actions were so disgraceful that he was suspended for a huge Week 16 matchup, which was a must win for the G-Men. Not only did his multiple 15-yard personal fouls play a major part in costing his team their crucial Week 15 matchup, he also wasn’t available as the Giants lost to the Vikings Week 16 and the Washington Redskins locked up the NFC East.

Beckham was forced to apologize for intentionally trying to injure Norman and taking a shot at his head after a play among other poor decisions.

He has also been accused of being a big time diva by both opponents and even his own teammates. Last offseason he was complaining about being teased and picked on by teammates. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com while his teammates teased him about his oft-injured hamstrings, he was also bullied over his diva tendencies. He’s been accused of being “too big-time” after “the fame” Beckham claims. These are serious character flaws that have not only cost his team on the field, but could potentially lead to dissension in the locker room.

Dec 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) gets thrown to ground by Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman (24) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Dec 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) gets thrown to ground by Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman (24) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O /

On the other hand, the 5-foot-10, 181-pound Brown hasn’t had any injuries other than a concussion on a cheap shot in the playoffs since 2012. He’s also viewed as a leader on their offense, a role he’s grown into over the past few seasons. This is according to his fellow teammates. Rob Rossi of Black and Gold World highlighted what a leader Brown has been on the field for everyone on the Steelers’ offenses, particularly the wideouts.

On top of being the best receiver in the world, Brown is also an elite level punt returner. He’s returned a punt for a touchdown in each of the last three seasons and in four of five seasons since taking over as the primary punt returner. Every one of those TDs were of at least 60 yards. This is something Beckham certainly doesn’t bring to the table. If you’re not sold yet, enjoy this vide of AB kicking Cleveland Browns punter Spencer Lanning in the face narrated by the WWE’s Good Ol’ JR. If you can’t appreciate this, I may not be the writer for you.

More nfl spin zone: Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Questions That Are Worth Asking

Thanks for reading and be sure to read Brendan Pignataro’s counter article. We’d love to hear you weigh in with your opinion. Feel free to call me every name in the book, but be nice to Brendan, he’s a little sensitive.

Home/NFL