Bullshit. Two words, Deion Branch. Don't give me that shit about second rate recievers. They fit into that system perfectly.
Deion Branch was no where near a Harrison or a Smith, not even close. Branch was one of my favorite players. Brady has never had a true "top guy" to throw to. That was my point. I agree, Dion was a perfect fit for this system. But, you toss Steve Smith in his place and there is much, much more production.
If you check out the post I called Branch second tier against guys like Johnson, Smith and Wayne. Basically the top 20 guys. I never said he was not good. But, he has never been a "top" receiver. That is part of the reason payton is a statistical Juggernaut. The guy is a fantastic player flanked by fantastic receivers. Some of the best recievers ever.
This is from 2005, when Brady led the league with over 4000 yards passing.Branch was listed at 21. This was the only time in the 6 years he was in the top 30.
1 Steve Smith CAR 103 1563 15.2 12 80
2 Santana Moss WAS 84 1483 17.7 9 78
3 Chad Johnson CIN 97 1432 14.8 9 70
4 Larry Fitzgerald ARI 103 1409 13.7 10 47
5 Anquan Boldin ARI 102 1402 13.7 7 54
6 Torry Holt STL 102 1331 13.0 9 44
7 Joey Galloway TB 83 1287 15.5 10 80
8 Donald Driver GB 86 1221 14.2 5 59
9 Plaxico Burress NYG 76 1214 16.0 7 78
10 Marvin Harrison IND 82 1146 14.0 12 80
11 Terry Glenn DAL 62 1136 18.3 7 71
12 Chris Chambers MIA 82 1118 13.6 11 77
13 Rod Smith DEN 85 1105 13.0 6 72
14 Eddie Kennison KC 68 1102 16.2 5 55
15 Antonio Gates SD 89 1101 12.4 10 38
16 Derrick Mason BAL 86 1073 12.5 3 39
17 Reggie Wayne IND 83 1055 12.7 5 66
18 Jimmy Smith JAC 70 1023 14.6 6 45
19 Antonio Bryant CLE 69 1009 14.6 4 54
20 Randy Moss OAK 60 1005 16.8 8 79
21 Deion Branch NE 78 998 12.8 5 51 22 Hines Ward PIT 69 975 14.1 11 85
23 T.J. Houshmandzadeh CIN 78 956 12.3 7 43
24 Donte' Stallworth NO 70 945 13.5 7 43
25 Jerry Porter OAK 76 942 12.4 5 49
26 Keenan McCardell SD 70 917 13.1 9 54
27 Tony Gonzalez KC 78 905 11.6 2 39
28 Jeremy Shockey NYG 65 891 13.7 7 59
29 Alge Crumpler ATL 65 877 13.5 5 48
30 Todd Heap BAL 75 855 11.4 7 48
2004 ( not in the top 30)
1 Muhsin Muhammad CAR 93 1405 15.1 16 51
2 Joe Horn NO 94 1399 14.9 11 57
3 Javon Walker GB 89 1382 15.5 12 79
4 Torry Holt STL 94 1372 14.6 10 75
5 Isaac Bruce STL 89 1292 14.5 6 56
6 Chad Johnson CIN 95 1274 13.4 9 53
7 Tony Gonzalez KC 102 1258 12.3 7 32
8 Drew Bennett TEN 80 1247 15.6 11 48
9 Reggie Wayne IND 77 1210 15.7 12 71
10 Donald Driver GB 84 1208 14.4 9 50
11 Terrell Owens PHI 77 1200 15.6 14 59
12 Darrell Jackson SEA 87 1199 13.8 7 56
13 Michael Clayton TB 80 1193 14.9 7 75
14 Jimmy Smith JAC 74 1172 15.8 6 65
15 Derrick Mason TEN 96 1168 12.2 7 37
16 Rod Smith DEN 79 1144 14.5 7 85
17 Andre Johnson HOU 79 1142 14.5 6 54
18 Marvin Harrison IND 86 1113 12.9 15 59
19 Eddie Kennison KC 62 1086 17.5 8 70
20 Ashley Lelie DEN 54 1084 20.1 7 58
21 Brandon Stokley IND 68 1077 15.8 10 69
22 Eric Moulds BUF 88 1043 11.9 5 49
23 Nate Burleson MIN 68 1006 14.8 9 68
24 Hines Ward PIT 80 1004 12.6 4 58
25 Jerry Porter OAK 64 998 15.6 9 52
26 Keyshawn Johnson DAL 70 981 14.0 6 39
27 Jason Witten DAL 87 980 11.3 6 42
28 T.J. Houshmandzadeh CIN 73 978 13.4 4 62
29 Antonio Gates SD 81 964 11.9 13 72
30 Laveranues Coles WAS 90 950 10.6 1 45
2003 ( not in the top 30)
Torry Holt STL 117 1696 14.5 12 48
Randy Moss MIN 111 1632 14.7 17 72
Anquan Boldin ARI 101 1377 13.6 8 71
Chad Johnson CIN 90 1355 15.1 10 82
Derrick Mason TEN 95 1303 13.7 8 50
Marvin Harrison IND 94 1272 13.5 10 79
Laveranues Coles WAS 82 1204 14.7 6 64
Keenan McCardell TB 84 1174 14.0 8 76
Hines Ward PIT 95 1163 12.2 10 50
Darrell Jackson SEA 68 1137 16.7 9 80
Steve Smith CAR 88 1110 12.6 7 67
Santana Moss NYJ 74 1105 14.9 10 65
Terrell Owens SF 80 1102 13.8 9 75
Amani Toomer NYG 63 1057 16.8 5 77
Isaac Bruce STL 69 981 14.2 5 41
Andre Johnson HOU 66 976 14.8 4 46
Joe Horn NO 78 973 12.5 10 50
Chris Chambers MIA 64 963 15.0 11 57
Tony Gonzalez KC 71 916 12.9 10 67
Koren Robinson SEA 65 896 13.8 4 38
David Boston SD 70 880 12.6 7 46
Jerry Rice OAK 63 869 13.8 2 47
Plaxico Burress PIT 60 860 14.3 4 47
Eddie Kennison KC 56 853 15.2 5 51
Rod Smith DEN 74 845 11.4 3 38
Reggie Wayne IND 68 838 12.3 7 57
Peerless Price ATL 64 838 13.1 3 49
Muhsin Muhammad CAR 54 837 15.5 3 60
Peter Warrick CIN 79 819 10.4 7 77
Justin McCareins
same 02 and 01....