Thought of the Day II

May, 28, 2009
May 28
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By James Walker

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

On Tuesday Jon from our AFC North community needed some assistance. His debate with a friend involved the best receiver group in the division between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. So I made it our latest version of "Thought of Day."

The results in our inbox this week were pretty much one-sided. Therefore, it should settle Jon's debate.

Here were the top responses:

JD from Baltimore writes: Hello JW. Great Job covering the Black and Blue Division. In regards to who has the top receivers in the division, I have to go with the Steelers. The Bengals have great individual receivers but the Steelers have great TEAM receivers. They will do whatever it takes for the team to win. The Bengals receivers are all great as well, but they will complain if they don't get the ball and disrupt the "TEAM" atmosphere. The Browns just have Braylon Edwards and the Ravens are just old.

Chris writes: Wow, really. The Steelers have two, that is, two super bowl MVP's on their starting unit. How can you go against that?

Reader from Philadelphia writes: How can you consider any other AFC North receiving core as better than the current Steelers line-up? Isn't 2 Super Bowl MVPs enough? These Steelers WRs know how to win games, especially when it comes down to high-pressure, game-winning 4th quarter drives. No way any sane football fan would choose an AFCN WR core other than the Steelers' group. Absurd!

Reader from Gaithersburg, Md. writes: I believe that while both WR corps are fairly even I have to give the edge to the Steelers WR's. We all know Chad Ochocinco, Laveranues Coles, and Chris Henry can catch the ball and run after the catch, but so can the Steelers WR Corp. The thing that separates the two is the fact that the Steelers WR's are selfless and are in another world when it comes to blocking. Everyone forgets that blocking is a part of a WR's responsibility, not just catching balls and scoring TDs. Therefore, I think there is no debate...the Steelers have the best WR corps in the AFC North.

Dustin from Pittsburgh writes: James if we're looking strictly at wide receivers, I like Cincy's group the best in the division. But if we're talking about pass catchers--TEs and HBs included--I give the edge to Pittsburgh. Heath Miller is a great all-around tight end who runs great routes, blocks, and catches well. When you factor in Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore catching balls out of the backfield, you've got to like Pittsburgh's receiving corps as a whole unit.

Christian from Cleveland writes: It depends entirely on style, scheme, and team chemistry. On pure talent Cincinnati has better WRs...true. You could not pay the Steelers to take either Chad Johnson or Chris Henry on their team...where there is not a team in the league that would not want Hines Ward. The Steelers WRs are not flashy, see far too few Pro-bowls for my taste, but generally do everything the team asks of them and rarely complain. In that regards I think they are better, but their numbers will never back it up...so I give the Pyrrhic Victory to Cincinnati's corp.

Qsby writes: Just a few points on the WR question: Hines Ward 80+ catches and 1000yds, Ocho no show 53 catches and 540 yds. He didn't even play in 2 of the 4 wins his team had last season.

Kevin from Chesapeake Va. writes: Hands Down the Steelers WR are more versatile and more productive. They are taught to do more than just catch which they do very well. When you have to adjust as a DB to a WR that has more than one strength it is more difficult to play them. When Heath Miller is added to the mix it's a Slam-Dunk. No question about it.

Brian from Spencer, Ind. writes: James, this has been by far the easiest Thought of the Day. The AFC north, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, have only ONE team with two Super Bowl MVP receivers: Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. So rack it up, AFC North's best WR duo, the NFL's best comeback QB, and the best defense in this decade.... Ah to be part of Steeler Nation is so ...easy

Reader from Charm City writes: Great thought out the day! First of all I'd like to say I am a Ravens fan. I happy with the Ravens receivers for now, but I do think as far as AFC North is concerned the Ravens are at or close to the bottom. Ok so between the Steelers and Bengals I would have to say I am leaning toward Bengals. If T.J. [Houshmandzadeh] was still with them it would definitely be the Bengals. For me the X factor was the QB. Carson Palmer being the better QB (that's right, I just said that) I would say the Bengals' receivers will put up better numbers and outperform the Steelers receivers. But hey it doesn't matter cause the Steelers (and Ravens) will still beat them which is what really matters.

Tom from Dallas, TX writes: The Steelers have a pair of Super Bowl MVP wide outs. That should be enough to end the conversation. Hines Ward is a show in for the Hall of Fame, and did it on a team that likes to run the ball. Santonio Holmes is only going to get better in the years to come. The same can be said for Limas Sweed. Chad Ochocinco is 31 and his best years are behind him. Coles is in the same boat. Their starting three is two wide outs that are over the hill and Chris Henry, who has yet to prove he can consistently produce.

Kevin from Pittsburgh writes: Holmes is better than Eight-Five, Ward is better than Coles, and Miller is better than Henry. Add to this that Roethlisberger is better than Palmer and 15-4 is better than 4-11-1 and I think you have your answer.

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