Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Ronde Barber possessed an illustrious 16-year NFL career, one that visited an end on May 8 when he launched his retirement. He was around much time enough to play against all the top 10 receivers in the NFL's all-time career wedding reception list, an assemblage of talent that starts with Jerry Almond and includes eight receivers who caught at least 1, 000 passes in their careers.
Looking back at all the talent Barber faced during his NFL tenure, this individual told Peter King with Sports Illustrated that Carolina Panthers broad receiver Steve Smith shirts his list.
I played a great deal of great players. The receiver position today... so hard to fit up now. Megatron [Calvin Johnson] was impossible to protect. Randy Moss in his prime: nothing you are able to do. But to me, Bob Smith was the toughest guy I faced. While i played him, he was much like me. He chose to outwork everyone else out there every moment. That was me.
In Smith's 12 seasons in the field, he's played 17 games about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and additionally caught 89 passes (not all while being included in Barber) for 1, 298 showrooms (Pro Football Reference). That's like a full season's worth of work against the Buccaneers, so yes, Barber has found out Smith well.
Smith's right now sits at No. 27 relating to the NFL's all-time receptions list with 772 catches, just 196 behind Reggie Wayne,, who caught 968 gives during his career. He still has a couple of years, and a player possibility fourth, left on their contract (Spotrac). If Smith decides to play all seasons, he needs to typical just over 49 attracts per season to pass Wayne land with the top 10 all time frame.
Of Smith's 12 NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE seasons, he's played at least 14 games in just about one (he missed almost one game of your 2004 season (ESPN) using a broken left leg). He only dipped underneath the 49-reception plateau once inside other 11 seasons, in 2010 when he was catching passes from Jimmy Clausen along with Matt Moore.
Even tardy in his career—he changed 34 on May 12—Smith is actually respected amongst his colleagues. He was ranked Virtually no. 84 on the FOOTBALL Network list "The Major 100 Players of 2013. "
It would seem that if Smith stays healthy and decides to play out his contract, he'll be one of the many top 10 receivers for all time based on number with receptions. But according to help you Barber, who's seen a fantastic portion of NFL the past unfold before his sight, Smith's already one of the best.
Knox Bardeen is the NFC Southern lead writer for Bleacher Report plus the author of "100 Things Falcons Fans Ought to know & Do Before that they Die. " Be confident to follow Knox on Twitting.
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