Is Collinsworth underrated as a Bengals great?

[Shake n Blake]

(04-22-2021, 10:47 PM)fredtoast Wrote: 1. Kyle Cook, OC Before the 2012 season Pat Kirwan wrote an article about offensive linemen that had not gotten the Pro Bowl credit they deserve. He had Cook #1 at OC..... "1. Kyle Cook, Cincinnati Bengals: Offensive line coach Paul Alexander knew he found a very good player when the undrafted rookie free agent was signed from Michigan State in 2008. Four years and 48 starts later, Cook has given up one sack every 12 games. " Unfortunately Cook suffered a foot injury in preseason that year and never fully recovered. He played the first four games before going on IR. He returned in 2013 and started all 16 games, but he was not the same player. He retired after the season.


2. Rodney Holman, TE In Holeman's era tight ends were more blocker and less receiver. Holeman was not a big bruiser, but he thrived on the Wyche/Esiason teams. He was one of the top TEs in the league for a six year stretch ('85-'90). Over that period he ranked #1 among TEs in TDs and #3 in receiving yards. Among the 30 TEs that had at least 100 receptions he ranked #1 in yards per catch. Holman went to three Pro Bowls ('88-'90). He was second in receptions on our '88 Super Bowl team, and he was the leading receiver in our last playoff victory.

3. Dan Wilkinson, DT/DE Never lived up to his draft hype, but was one of the best Bengal DTs ever. Led AFC interior linemen in sacks in '95, and his total of 20 from '94 to '96 was 6th among NFL DT/NT. Moved to DE in '97. His true value was reflected in the fact that when we traded him to Washington we got a 1st and a 3rd pick in return. Played 13 seasons in the NFL starting 182 games. Gets a lot of hate for being an underachiever and calling Cincinnati a "racist city".

(04-23-2021, 11:44 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: How about the WR who ranks just below Collinsworth in receiving yards - Eddie Brown. Was he underrated?

Dan Wilkinson is always one of my favs when this subject comes up. Like Justin Smith, he was a victim of hype and expectations. Both were great, but because they didn't single handedly turn the defense around and post 15 sack seasons, people unfairly slapped them with bust labels.

Eddie Brown is another guy that posted better stats than I expected. That 88 season was one for the ages, and his career stats are right there with Curtis, Pickens, Collinsworth and Housh.

I'll throw out Peko, Pdub (who flashed serious potential prior to injury), Tony McGee and Daryl Williams. Tory James quietly had a great run for us as well.