I think the easiest way to show me you’re a lousy football fan is to scoff at Don Hutson’s career, which many in the Twitterverse did when Chase Stuart tweeted about his greatness the other day after Davante Adams was traded to the Raiders. Stuart pointed out that both men had played 116 regular-season games for Green Bay, and Hutson had 99 TD catches to Adams’ 73 … and Hutson’s career average reception was 16.4 yards to Adams’ 12.1. I understand Hutson played in a far different era, and there wasn’t the same kind of competition and emphasis on the passing game throughout the league as there is today. But the way players should be considered in historical perspective is by comparing them to those in their eras. When Hutson retired in 1945, the NFL was a quarter-century old, and he had three times as many touchdown receptions (99) as any player in NFL history at that point. That record lasted a remarkable 44 years, till Dec. 10, 1989, when Steve Largent caught his 100th for Seattle. Don’t tell me Hutson doesn’t belong in the discussion for the greatest receiver who ever lived. (Before you rush to your keyboard and write or Tweet at me, “You idiot! Jerry Rice was far better!”, I said that Hutson belongs in the discussion. There’s a good argument to be made for Rice, of course.)

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https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/03/21/deshaun-watson-browns-davante-adams-raiders-nfl-fmia-peter-king/ 

Peter King wrote:

Don Hutson. In my opinion, greatest Packers player ever.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

Regarding Don Hutson, I couldn’t agree more: you have to compare him to others in his era. His best offensive season was 1942. He lead the league in the following categories:
74 Receptions
1,211 yards
17 TDs
(He also lead the league with 33 made and 34 attempted extra points).
Oh, and that was in 11 games… and he was credited as a starter in only 6 of those games. (They didn’t count kickers as starters…)

The next closest NFL player in 1942 receiving categories?
Scooter McLean had 8 TDs (i.e. less than half as many as Hutson)
Scooter McLean had 571 receiving yards (again, less than half Hutson’s total).
Pop Ivey was second in total receptions…with 27. Not a typo. Twenty-seven. Hutson had almost triple the number of receptions as his nearest competitor.
Same league. Same season. Same opposing teams and players. Same number of games.

Oh, and all of his years on offense, Hutson was playing Left End, i.e. lined up at the end of the line of scrimmage and blocked for most of the game.

As a two-way defender, he finished his career with only 30 interceptions. (Lead the league with 6 picks in 1940). I say “only,” because in an 11-year career, he played DEFENSIVE END for his first five years in the league.

And then there’s his one record that I firmly believe is untouchable: 29 points in one quarter: 4 TD receptions and 5 extra points. Twenty-nine. In. One. Quarter.

But the main reason that takes him over the top as the Greatest of All Time (and I don’t think it’s just limited to WR, but that’s a much deeper and way more contentious argument), he changed the way the game was played. He introduced to the NFL many of the routes that receivers still run today. That, along with his unbelievable talent and production, is what makes him the Greatest.

He was a track star and played minor league baseball. He was an offensive and defensive lineman…oh, and the greatest wide receiver of all time. Not that you can’t make very good arguments for Jerry Rice, maybe a few others, but you’re kidding yourself. Rice did not change the game. He was never the most dominant WR in the league in any one season. Not a single one of his nineteen seasons did he lead the league in all three big categories for WR. His longevity and consistency and work ethic and production and etc., etc., should not–cannot–be ignored. Rice belongs in the conversation.

But Hutson was one of a kind. Can’t imagine another player having as big of an impact on the sport itself and how it’s played. More than 75 years after Hutson retired, and every WR who plays in the NFL is still running routes that Hutson introduced to the league. And still chasing at least one of his records.

happyrichard wrote:

Bonus points for the name alone - Scooter McLean :)

Originally Posted by: olds70supreme