Shannon Sharpe vs. Tony Gonzalez career stats.
 

Shannon Sharpe
http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/1329



Tony Gonzalez
http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/12400

I'mhavingdifficultyreadingthesefigures.

I haven't had to read hex in a while...care to translate?

I agree. I fixed it.

So TG is a wee bit over half of Sharpes numbers at the half way point in his career. Let's see if TG can stay healthy. He's primed to try and get to the spot.

So, the debate begins...

Sharpe:
14 years - 202 games (avg 14.4 games year)
815 rec / 10,060 yds / 12.3 ypc / 62 TDs

3 - 1,000 yd+ seasons
8 - Pro Bowls
3 - Rings
Top 50 All-time Receivers
#9 - receptions
#21 - receiving yards
#45t - receiving TDs

Gonzo:
7 years - 110 games (avg 15.7 games year)
468 rec / 5,646 yds / 12.1 ypc / 47 TDs

1 - 1,000 yd+ season
5 - Pro Bowls
0 - Rings
Top 50 All-time Receivers
none

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Comparing their first 7 seasons, Gonzo has the edge ... which is expected considering when they were drafted and put into the game.

This is the time when injuries must be avoided for Gonzo if he is to surpass Sharpe in these statistical categories. If that happens, I have no issues with it. Records get broken.

If Gonzo plays another 7 years, he needs to average the following in order to surpass Sharpe:

Receptions - 50 per year for 7 years. On his current pace, that could very well happen, barring injuries.

Receiving Yards - 630 yds per year for 7 years. Again, that could very well happen.

TDs - Gonzo is 15 away and that will happen within the next 2-3 years.

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So, there you go. Right now, it's key for Gonzo to avoid injuries. He's only missed 2 career starts and he has been the leading receiver on the team for years... that's a heavy load he's carrying. So, the key now is for the team to take the pressure off Gonzo if he is to play at that level for another 7 years.

The only thing I can guarantee (barring injury), is that Gonzalez will surpass Sharpe in Pro Bowls.

Without looking I would say the Sharpe missed a little less than one whole season in his career. Another stat, although not the most telling, is playoff wins. We know how many TG has....Sharpe is like 12-6 or something like that.

If he stays healthy, he'll not only surpass Sharpe's accomplisnments, he'll blow them away.

Those three rigns are really impressive

It's possible...but not probable

The Pro Bowl thing has really lost something the last few years - it's really a popularity contest. Not to mention, there's not a whole lot of competition at that position - really hasn't been since the days that Coates, Sharpe and Gonzo would garner the rights to go.

That's not to say that Gonzo hasn't deserved to go, he has ... but there has been a lack of quality Pro Bowl TEs the last decade in the AFC. It's been a 2-3 player race.

I think it's odd to count playoff wins for a player... even a QB, that should be more of a team thing. I really can't validate comparing playoff wins between TEs. It's like comparing playoff wins for Left Tackles or something. The comparison flies with QBs ... possibly RBs, but that's about it.

Agreed. Sapp doesn't put up the numbers to make it but he is a media darling.

I know there's more, I just can't think of them right now.

As much as I couldn't stand him because he was a Donk and had a mouth that wouldn't quit he was one hell of a FB player.