Houston's all-time pro football team: Wide receivers

[CloakNNNdagger]

Current Texan may be best receiver Houston has ever seen

Originally published 02:55 p.m., July 7, 2010
Updated 02:55 p.m., July 7, 2010

CORPUS CHRISTI — When it comes to who is the all-time best receiver in Houston’s 50-year pro football history, fans may be watching him right now.

Andre Johnson has been on the shortlist of top receivers in the NFL for the past few years and is the most likely current Houston Texans to beat the past Houston Oilers on our list.

But it will be up to the voters to decide.

Help select the all-time Houston pro football team’s wide receivers (pick 2) at Caller.com. Here are the candidates (Statistics, honors and years played are from time spent only with Houston pro franchises; seasons spent with Houston pro franchises are listed in parentheses).

Kenny Burrough (1971-1981)

Third on the Oilers in career receiving yards (6,907), sixth in receptions (408) and tied for second in touchdown catches (47). Led NFL with 1,063 receiving yards in 1975. Led team in receptions seven times. Made two Pro Bowls.

Curtis Duncan (1987-1993)

Seventh in Oilers career receptions (322) and yards (3,935), with 20 touchdowns. Had 82 receptions for 954 yards in 1992 to earn Pro Bowl appearance.

Ernest Givins (1986-1994)

Oilers’ all-time leader in receptions (542) and yardage (7,935). His 46 touchdowns are fourth in franchise history. Passed 1,000 yards receiving only in rookie season. Two-time Pro Bowler. UPI All-AFC in 1990.

Bill Groman (1960-1962)

His 1,473 receiving yards in 1960 are third all-time for the Oilers. Twice, he went over 1,000 yards in a season, and twice he averaged more than 20 yards a catch. Two-time All-AFL.

Charley Hennigan (1960-1966)

Led team in receptions four times, passing the 1,000-yard mark three times. His 1,746 receiving yards in 1961 are franchise best, while 1,546 in 1964 are second-best. His 101 receptions in 1964 are most in a season for Oilers. Most receiving touchdowns in Oilers career (51) and fourth in yards (6,823). Played in five AFL All-Star games. Named All-AFL twice.

Drew Hill (1985-1991)

Cleared 1,000 yards five times and led team in receptions four times. Second on the Oilers in career receiving yards (7,477) and touchdowns (47) and third in receptions (480). Two-time Pro Bowler.

Haywood Jeffires (1987-1995)

Led team in receptions five times, including grabbing 100 in 1991. Twice cracked the 1,000-yard barrier. Second among Oilers in receptions (512) and touchdowns (47) and fifth in yards (6,119). Made three Pro Bowls and named all-pro in 1991.

Andre Johnson (2003-present)Has caught at least 50 passes every season for the Texans, twice catching more than 100, including a franchise-high 115 in 2008. Has 7,883 receiving yards for his career and twice has surpassed 1,500 in a season. Has 42 career touchdown catches. Four-time Pro Bowler and twice all-pro.

[HouSportsWriter]

nice read! even tho i never heard of any of the wide recivers. =d

[El Tejano]

Originally Posted by slatonisabeast

nice read! even tho i never heard of any of the wide recivers. =d

You truly missed out on Drew Hill, Ernest Givins, Haywood Jeffires,and Curtis Duncan. They were something else.

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by El Tejano

You truly missed out on Drew Hill, Ernest Givins, Haywood Jeffires,and Curtis Duncan. They were something else.

Nobody could catch a sideline pass and keep his feet inbounds better than Haywood Jeffires.

[Hardcore Texan]

Ernest Givins was always my favorite growing up, a little guy that had a lot of courage, he was so fun to watch.

[Señor Stan]

I was surprised that Mike Renfro didn't make the list. Then I looked up his stats and they were meh.

I guess childhood memories trump reality sometimes.

[False Start]

Originally Posted by El Tejano

You truly missed out on Drew Hill, Ernest Givins, Haywood Jeffires,and Curtis Duncan. They were something else.

Yep, some of my favorite Oilers. I still do the Ernest Givins ball spin when I play front yard ball with the nephews.

He was never great, but Tony "Warp Speed" Jones, was cool too..... oh and Webster Slaughter as well.

[TheRealJoker]

I have Charley Hennigan's autograph. Heck of a player.

[TexanDave]

It looks like Andre will pass Ernest Givins for all-time receiving yardage by a Houston wide receiver in the first game against the Colts.

I would have thought that would have been a higher number to get to.

[Hardcore Texan]

Originally Posted by False Start

Yep, some of my favorite Oilers. I still do the Ernest Givins ball spin when I play front yard ball with the nephews.

He was never great, but Tony "Warp Speed" Jones, was cool too..... oh and Webster Slaughter as well.

How many times did Givins go up in there and end up getting flipped over and knocked around mid air and come down with the ball every time, he was like an acrobat out there.

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by Hardcore Texan

How many times did Givins go up in there and end up getting flipped over and knocked around mid air and come down with the ball every time, he was like an acrobat out there.

Nobody did that better than...

*groans*

...Don Beebe. He loved to land on his helmet after getting flipped and pop right back up!

[El Tejano]

Originally Posted by NitroHonda

Nobody could catch a sideline pass and keep his feet inbounds better than Haywood Jeffires.

Except for maybe Ernest Givins.

[Shaft75]

What? No Webster Slaughter?

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Shaft75

What? No Webster Slaughter?

I think Slaughter's best years were in Cleveland.

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by El Tejano

Except for maybe Ernest Givins.

You said that already. I think it's Haywood.

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by Shaft75

What? No Webster Slaughter?

No. Did you want him? Why?

[eriadoc]

Let me lead off by saying that AJ is the best WR this city has ever seen, with the possible exception of Hennigan. Hennigan was a little before my time, but what he accomplished in that era looks like it was something pretty special.

However, I have to say that I think Jeffires would have excelled in today's NFL. He was a fast, tall, and gifted receiver. His place in history would be afforded a bit more respect if the Oilers had ever won anything. His numbers stand out even among his peers, but those of us who watched him know that the numbers don't even tell the story.

[b0ng]

Even having said all that, the fab four still had one of the best passers in the NFL for their stays in Houston. Now Schaub was really good last year, but he is still way short of Moon's numbers and respect he had around the league during the Run and Shoot era. AJ didn't have the excellent numbers while Carr was doing him wrong, but his talent has really shown through the last 4 years (even when he came back from an MCL injury like it didn't happen). This is something me and my parents hyave discussed and they believe, as well as I, that it's going to be a long time before we somebody as good as AJ catching balls for Houston again.

Could you imagine how sick his numbers would be if he had Warren Moon throwing him the ball?

[Showtime100]

I agree with what's been said, but just out of my fond memories I have to give double-knot Kenny Burrough some love. When he was a Houston Oiler every kid in Houston that was Oiler faithful said his name as a long bomb was coming down to them for a touchdown. Good times.

[False Start]

Originally Posted by Hardcore Texan

How many times did Givins go up in there and end up getting flipped over and knocked around mid air and come down with the ball every time, he was like an acrobat out there.

I'll never forget that play. Its still showed on highlight films to this day. 81 was the man.