Top 10 Underrated

Below is my list of the Top 10 most underrated offensive players in NFL history. The list is based on what I've seen, heard and read since watching football over 20 years ago as well as Hall of Fame status and public perception of these players.

Next week I will post my Top 10 overrated list. Feel free to agree or disagree any of these lists in the comments section.

1. SAMMY BAUGH, Quarterback/Punter/Defensive Back
As the saying goes, Baugh is so underrated he might be overrated. “Slingin’ Sammy” helped revolutionize the forward pass in the 1930’s and 40’s and won six passing titles, tied with Steve Young for the most ever in NFL history, over his 16-year career. Baugh completed an amazing 70.3 percent of his pass attempts in 1945, a league record that stood for almost 40 years. While Baugh was a great quarterback in an era of running, he was probably a better punter. The versatile Baugh led the league in punting a record four straight years and posted two of the top three highest averages ever in a season (51.40 in 1940 and 48.73 in 1941). Baugh’s career punting average of 45.10 is the second highest all time to Shane Lechler of the Raiders. Baugh wasn’t just a great quarterback and punter - he also played in the defensive back field, picking off 31 passes over his career. In perhaps the greatest overall single season performance in NFL history, Baugh pulled off an incredible trifecta, leading the league in passing, punting and interceptions in 1943. Baugh, who won a pair of NFL Championships with the Redskins, was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team in 1994.

2. STERLING SHARPE, Wide Receiver
Shannon’s brother was one of the most dominate receivers of the late 1980’s and early 90’s, but many fans forget about him because he retired after only seven years due to a serious neck injury. Sharpe went to five Pro Bowls, led the league in catches three times and in touchdown receptions twice. In 1992, Sharpe broke Art Monk’s NFL record of 104 receptions by grabbing 108 passes and broke his own mark the next season with 112 catches. Even though Sharpe won the prestigious triple crown for receiving in 1992 (108 receptions, 1,461 yards and 13 touchdowns), his best year may have been his last. During the 1994 season Sharpe played with a severe case of turf toe and sat out most practices leading up to game day as well as suffering the neck injury that eventually ruined his career, yet he finished the year an amazing 18 touchdowns, including 13 scores over the final six games. Sharpe, who caught nine passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns in the final game of his career, recorded four touchdowns and went over 100 yards receiving in each of his only two post-season games. If not for the neck injury he suffered at some point during 1994, Sharpe would most certainly have been in the top 10 in all major receiving categories.

3. JAMES LOFTON, Wide Receiver
Lofton might be the most underappreciated player in the Hall of Fame. At the time of his retirement, Lofton was the all-time leader in receiving with 14,004 yards and was third in receptions (764), yet it took Hall of Fame voters nearly 10 years to induct him. Lofton played for 16 seasons, and was the first player to score a touchdown in the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s. Blessed with world-class speed and great hands, Lofton routinely ran by defensive backs on long pass plays and finished his career with 75 touchdowns. Lofton went to eight Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro four times in the 1980’s as a member of the Green Bay Packers. After being traded to the Raiders, Lofton ended his career with the Buffalo Bills and had some memorable moments. In 1991, at 35 years old, Lofton became the oldest player ever to go over 1,000 yards receiving in a season. Lofton also had the most productive game of his career that same year, torching the Bengals for 220 yards in the regular season. In Super Bowl XXV, Lofton hauled in a 61-yard reception and led the team with seven catches for 92 yards in Super Bowl XXVI. Lofton grabbed over 50 passes eight times and finished his illustrious career with an astonishing 18.3 yards per catch average, the second highest of players in the Top 20 in receiving yards.

4. BOOMER ESIASON, Quarterback
The most prolific left-handed quarterback in NFL history, Esiason might be known more for his post-career work as an NFL broadcaster/commentator, making him underrated as a player. Esiason finished his career slightly below the magic 40,000 yards passing, but in the top 15 all time in yards, touchdowns, attempts and completions. Esiason went to only four Pro Bowls in his 14-year career, but won the league MVP in 1988 when he threw for 3,572 yards with 28 touchdowns and a ridiculous 9.2 YPA (yards per attempt). Esiason almost won the Super Bowl in 1988, but Joe Montana’s 49ers came from behind to win the big game in the final minute. Perhaps Esiason’s greatest individual performance came on November 10, 1996 as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. On that day, Esiason threw for a whopping 522 yards, the third highest yardage total ever, to beat the Washington Redskins, 37-34. The big lefty only played one more season, a return to Cincinnati, but had a memorable final year, throwing 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions over the team’s final five games (4-1 record). Appropriately, the final play of Esiason’s career was a 77-yard touchdown pass to Darnay Scott in a 16-14 win over Baltimore.

5. THURMAN THOMAS, Running Back
Thomas was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990’s, but it took Hall of Fame voters a couple of years to come around before he was inducted into Canton in 2007. Thomas was a great runner, but he was a phenomenal receiver and all-around player. The undersized Thomas caught 472 passes over his 13-year career, led the league in yards from scrimmage four straight seasons, an NFL record, and ran for 1,000+ yards in eight consecutive years. Currently 12th all time with 12,074 rushing yards, Thomas averaged 4.2 yards per carry in his career and went to five straight Pro Bowls. All of Thomas’ accomplishments are sometimes forgotten, however, because of two key factors. For one, Thomas was outshined in the decade of the 90’s by a pair of more talented running backs – Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith. The other reason was that Thomas played miserably in three of four Super Bowl losses by Buffalo. After running for 135 yards in the team’s first Super Bowl defeat against the Giants, Thomas had 37 carries for a mere 69 yards over the next three Super Bowls. In a loss to Washington in Super Bowl XXVI, Thomas even misplaced his helmet in pre-game and missed most of the first quarter. Despite playing in an era of great running backs such as Sanders, Smith and Terrell Davis, Thomas should be remembered for his all-around excellence and not the not the way some do – as a member of four Super Bowl losing teams.

6. TERRELL DAVIS, Running Back
Many would argue that Davis should not even be on this list, but there are some that think that “T.D.” was overrated and simply a product of Denver’s offensive line and friendly running back system. After all, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson and Reuben Droughns each ran for over 1,000 yards as a member of the Broncos. There are many differences, however, between those players and Davis - the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing with 7,607 yards. For starters, Davis, not John Elway, was the catalyst for both of Denver’s Super Bowl winning teams and Elway admitted as much after his retirement. Perhaps Davis’ greatest game came in Super Bowl XXXII when he won the MVP after rushing for 157 yards and a Super Bowl record three touchdowns in the team’s upset win over the heavily-favored Packers. “T.D.” holds a couple of impressive post-season records with the most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (7) and the highest lifetime average at 5.59 yards per carry (minimum 100 attempts). With a 7-1 post-season record, Davis accumulated 1,140 yards and is tied for third on the all-time playoff list with 12 rushing touchdowns. In the regular season Davis was just as dominate, averaging 1,603 yards and 15 touchdowns between 1995 and 1998. Davis became just the fourth player to rush for over 2,000 yards in 1998 when he finished with 2,008 yards and 23 touchdowns. Well on his way to Canton, Davis suffered a serious knee injury in 1999 and was never the same, playing in just 20 games over the next three seasons. Davis did manage to lead Denver in rushing in his final season of 2002 with 761 yards in 11 games. Like Thurman Thomas, Davis was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990’s.

7. HENRY ELLARD, Wide Receiver
Not many people realize that Ellard is seventh all time in receiving with 13,777 yards and averaged 16.9 yards per catch, the third highest total among receivers in the all-time Top 20. Ellard, who led the Rams in receiving in nine of 11 seasons, is also 16th in receptions with over 800 catches and posted seven 1,000-yard seasons in his 16-year career. The reliable and speedy Ellard led the entire league in receiving yards for the Redskins in 1994 and went over 1,000 yards two years later at the age of 35. Early in his career, Ellard was also a fine special teams player, leading the NFC in punt return yardage in his second and third years while running back a league-best two punt return touchdowns in 1985. Although Ellard was one of the best deep threats the game has ever seen and sustained excellence even late in his career, he played for average teams and was a quiet and unassuming player. Currently, Ellard works for the Rams as a wide receiver coach, helping Torry Holt earn five Pro Bowl berths over the last seven years.

8. JEFF GARCIA, Quarterback
Garcia has bounced around over the last couple of years, but he has found a home in Tampa Bay after it looked like his career was stuck in neutral. Garcia played in the Canadian Football League for six years before joining the 49ers in 1999. After subbing for an injured Steve Young in his first season, Garcia took over as the full-time starter the next year and accounted for 96 touchdowns (84 passing, 12 rushing) between 2000 and 2002, going to the three Pro Bowls. After leaving the 49ers in 2004, the unorthodox Garcia did not play well in Cleveland and Detroit, but took the Eagles to the post season with a big second half of the 2006 season, throwing 10 touchdowns against two interceptions and winning a 1st round playoff game. With the Buccaneers in 2007, Garcia has flourished under Jon Gruden and is on pace to set career highs in completion percentage (64.5) and interceptions (3). Garcia is no longer the scrambler he once was, but was one of the best in the league with San Francisco, scoring 21 rushing touchdowns in 74 games as a member of the 49ers and routinely made plays by getting outside the pocket. For his 8+ year career Garcia has thrown for over 22,000 yards with a quarterback rating of 87.3 and an almost a 2-1 TD/INT ratio (147-76).

9. LANCE ALLWORTH, Wide Receiver
Possibly the greatest player to ever play in the American Football League (AFL), Allworth was simply a dynamic wide receiver. But because he did not play in the rival NFL, the perceived superior league, Allworth never got the credit he deserved. Nicknamed “Bambi” for his speed, grace and smooth play on the field, Allworth had seven 1,000-yard seasons in his 11-year career. Allworth was named All-AFL seven times and at one point in his career caught at least one pass in 96 straight games, a record at the time. Allworth’s best season came in 1965 when he won the triple crown of receiving with 69 receptions for 1,602 yards (23.2 average) and 14 touchdowns. “Bambi” left San Diego after nine seasons to play for Dallas and scored the first touchdown for the Cowboys in Super Bowl VI. Allworth finished his career with 85 touchdowns and an impressive 18.9 yards per catch average and was the first AFL player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

10. FREEMAN MCNEIL, Running Back
Never dominate in his 12-year career with the Jets - McNeil was more consistent and productive than most remember. McNeil went to the Pro Bowl three times and led the league in rushing during the 1982 season, helping the Jets reach the post-season. McNeil went nuts in the playoffs that year, rushing for 211 yards against Cincinnati and 105 yards versus the Raiders before losing to Miami in the AFC Championship Game. McNeil, who led the Jets in rushing eight consecutive seasons from 1981 through 1988, was a great receiver, averaging 10 yards per catch (295 receptions) throughout his career. Easily McNeil’s most notable achievement was that he averaged 4.0 yards or better in 12 straight seasons, the only player to ever accomplish that feat in NFL history. McNeil retired as the Jets’ all-time leading rusher with 8,074 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per rush, until Curtis Martin broke his record.