Why do wide receivers get into so much trouble?

Don't forget physical risk. Wide receivers don't get hit as often as running backs, but they suffer the most violent collisions, often while completely unprotected. The need to believe oneself invulnerable as a psychic survival mechanism can breed unhealthy behavior.

 

Definitely true. Almost of all of the intangibles necessary to be a top flight wideout are the exact opposite ones needed to live well outside of football (State's Exhibit A: Michael Irvin)

 

Interesting that you brought it up without mentioning what it was.

 

Come on, Mizzou....it's a message board, for crying out loud. Do you mean race? If that's what you mean, then don't you have to include running backs?

 

Still confused, where is this that you speak of? With the way you're dancing around it am i to believe race somehow has something to do with it?

 

The race argument is bogus, there are plenty of black linemen and linebackers who don't get into trouble.
And Jared Allen and Jeremy Shockey prove that it isn't a racial thing. I appreciate the thoughtful posts. It's funny, before Michael Irvin, there may have been troublesome WRs, but you never heard about them. Think Stallworth or Lynn Swann, Drew Pearson, Jerry Rice, Fred Biletnikoff, Steve Largent, John Jefferson, Art Monk, White Shoes Johnson, Collinsworth, Harold Carmichael, Charlie Joiner... something changed.

 

Just a thought, but if memory serves correctly, WRs weren't thought of as a No. priority until the last two decades. With more passing means the need for higher-quality receivers.
How man first-round receivers are there now compared with 30 years ago?

 

You don't have the stats to back it up, so you're just going to make them up? And this is supposed to lead to a serious discussion?

From ProFootballTalk.com's Police Blotter:

11/13/08: Giants OT Kareem McKenzie is charged with DUI.

11/11/08: Bengals DT Jason Shirley is convicted of DUI and hit and run.

10/27/08: Chiefs RB Larry Johnson is charged with simple assault.

10/23/08: Steelers WR Santonio Holmes is charged with marijuana possession.

10/18/08: Bucs LB Matt McCoy is arrested for DUI. (Because he was cut within a week after the charges, the Buccaneers accrue no points.)

10/13/08: It is reported for the first time that Chiefs RB Larry Johnson is facing simple assault charges.

9/28/08: Giants RB Danny Ware is arrested for being a pedestrian under the influence and a pedestrian in the roadway.

9/15/08: Falcons S Lawyer Milloy is arrested for DUI.

9/14/08: Raiders DT Tommy Kelly is arrested for DUI.

9/12/08: Broncos WR Brandon Marshall pleads guilty to DUI.

9/10/08: Colts DT Ed Johnson is arrested for marijuana possession. (The three points weren’t charged because the Colts cut Johnson the same day.)

8/30/08: Jaguars RB Fred Taylor is cited for disorderly conduct.

8/30/08: Panthers CB Ricardo Colclough is arrested for DUI. (The three points were not charged to the Panthers because Colclough was cut within a week after the arrest.)

8/20/08: Texans FB Jameel Cook is arrested for marijuana possession. (The three points were not charged to the Texans because they cut Cook within a week after the arrest.)

7/21/08: Bucs S Donte Nicholson is charged with misdemeanor battery and resisting arrest.

7/16/08: Broncos CB Carl Paymah is convicted of DUI and careless driving.

7/10/08: Jaguars WR Matt Jones is arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance.

7/9/08: Pats RB Kevin Faulk pleads no contest to marijuana possession.

7/8/08: Packers DT Johnny Jolly is arrested for felony drug possession.

7/7/08: Seahawks LB Lofa Tatupu pleads guilty to DUI.

I count three WRs out of 20 players. Try again.

 

Count the arrestees (or at least the divas) and find out how many had responsible fathers in their lives.

 

Excellent work, TSP.

 

9/28/08: Giants RB Danny Ware is arrested for being a pedestrian under the influence and a pedestrian in the roadway.

Drunk in public? then list everyone in the upper bowl at the last Eagles home game

 

It would take a lot of research, but that does make some sense. The NFL was a much more run-oriented league until the rule changes in 1978 opened up the passing game. Receivers are a much bigger part of the game now than they were before those changes.

That said, it's not like all of the guys DanOregon mentioned were unknowns coming into the league. Swann, Rice and Monk were first-round picks. Collinsworth was a second rounder. Biletnikoff was a second-round AFL selection by the Raiders. White Shoes Johnson really has no business being listed with the others.