In the NFL, quarterbacks rule. When a team wins, the quarterback carries them to victory and when they lose, the quarterback made too many errors and cost his team.
Generally speaking, football matches are won and lost by quarterbacks.
But in this case, it takes three to tango (probably more if you want to get complicated) but let’s keep it simple.
You need a quarterback to throw the ball and run the offence.
You need a running back to pound the tough yards and keep the defence honest.
And you need a wide receiver (or two, or three) to make big, downfield plays and catch touchdown passes.
At quarterback, you could argue that any of Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady or Russell Wilson are the best at the position.
With each team carrying multiple backs, you can toss up Jamaal Charles, Alfred Morris, LeSean McCoy, Adrian Peterson or Ray Rice as No.1.
But, when it comes to wideouts, there is a clear-cut top dog.
Detroit’s Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson takes the cake – and by some margin.
Johnson, in his seventh season with the Lions currently leads the NFL in total receiving yards and has a dozen touchdowns already in 2013.
As Cowboy Dez Bryant, Bears duo Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall and Bengal AJ Green stake a claim as All-Pro calibre receivers, Johnson sits atop the tree.
Football analysts all agree that Megatron is king of the catchers.
The beauty of Johnson – and what draws fans like myself to him – is his humble, hardworking approach.
Receivers have for years been accused – rightly or wrongly – of being ego-driven divas.
Johnson cannot be placed into that category. He is far from it.
He lets his play do the talking, as happened on October 27 this season when earlier in the week, Bryant tried to lay claim to the NFL’s No.1 wideout mantle.
Johnson was asked about Bryant’s comments in a pre-game press conference and refused to enter into the discussion.
Class can be something rarely attached to some NFL stars in front of the camera, but Johnson’s shone through.
Then, that Sunday afternoon he scorched Dallas for an NFL record 329-yards and a touchdown for some icing.
Only Flipper Anderson in 1989 managed more yards receiving and he needed overtime to do so.
What Bryant also did in the game was carry on like a misbehaving school kid.
As Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo tried to keep the Lions at bay, he decided Bryant was not open on numerous occasions in the fourth quarter.
Bryant was filthy.
He marched up and down the sideline giving anyone who would listen an earful.
Summing up that week for Johnson could also sum up his character.
He refuses to talk trash, he doesn’t get in his team mates faces in a negative way and he doesn’t let his emotions control his actions.
He plays football – better than any other person in his position.
At 6-5′ and 238lbs, with elite speed and a powerful vertical leap, Johnson is a nightmare match-up for any defensive back.
But while his physical attributes aid his play, it’s his dedication to playing the game the right way which allow him to be so great.
So great that when it is all said and done, he might just be the best wide receiver ever.
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