Tag: Sterling Sharpe

Dolphins duo of Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill pacing for a first in NFL history

Miami’s QB-WR tandem on historic, potentially record-setting paces.

In NFL history, there’s never been a wide receiver named Most Valuable Player.

Since the league created the MVP award in 1957, a quarterback was given the top honor 44 times, a running back or fullback was named league MVP 18 times and a defensive player won the award twice (defensive tackle Alan Page of the Minnesota Vikings in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986 for the New York Giants).

Mark Moseley of the Washington Redskins won the award in a strike-shortened 1982 season and was the only placekicker in NFL history to win MVP. The last non-quarterback winner was Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who took the award home in 2012, along with Offensive Player of the Year that season.

In 28 seasons, the same player won both the league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards, and the last to do so was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2018. Segueing nicely from Mahomes and his next opponent, the Miami Dolphins are in the middle of a potential historical run for a pair of players.

Tua Tagovailoa is playing remarkable football and is arguably the league leader in the MVP race thus far. While others like Mahomes himself, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have their candidacy as well, a non-quarterback is having a season for the ages and could shatter records come season’s end.

Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is currently on pace to exceed 2,000 receiving yards, something never done in the history of football. The closest anyone ever got was Calvin Johnson in 2012 when he was painfully close with 1,964 yards. As good of a season Johnson had, he was awardless and didn’t even take home the OPOY, as Peterson took home both top awards. A wide receiver has taken home the OPOY just five times, and only four individuals have won it, as Jerry Rice won the award twice in 1987 and 1993.

Recently, Cooper Kupp made a run for 2,000 in 2021 and fell short of breaking Johnson’s mark by just 18 yards. Kupp did receive the OPOY that season, and last season, Justin Jefferson was given the prestigious honor. Michael Thomas won the award in 2019 and was the first receiver since Rice to claim the title.

Hill is on pace for 2,152 receiving yards, heading into Week 9, ironically against Mahomes and his other former Chiefs teammates. Hill is leading the NFL in yards and touchdown receptions, and he’s just four receptions from overtaking Stefon Diggs as the league’s leader in receptions, so a huge effort on Sunday in Germany could place Hill in the “triple-crown” at the receiver position.

There’s an exclusive fraternity of “triple-crown” receivers that have finished a season leading the NFL in catches, receiving yards and touchdown receptions.

The fictitious yet formidable frat was started in 1932 when New York Giant Ray Flaherty ran off a season unseen at that point in pro football. He led the league in all main categories, recording 21 catches, 350 receptions, and five touchdowns.

The next five times the “triple-crown” was won it was by the same man – Don Hutson. The Green Bay Packers legend first accomplished the feat in 1936, then rattled off four straight seasons from 1941-44 as the game’s top-receiving thoroughbred.

The following decade was the next time the crown was placed on the metaphorical helmet of a wideout when Los Angeles Ram Elroy Hirsch ran the receiver’s table in stats in 1951. That was followed by Philadephia Eagle Pete Pihos in 1953 and in 1959 by Baltimore Colt Raymond Berry.

Entering the dawn of the Super Bowl era, a pair of receivers in Chicago Bear Johnny Morris and San Fransisco 49er Dave Parks punched their ticket to this “frat” in 1964 and 1965 respectively. In 1966 Lance Alworth led the NFL in receptions (73), yards (1,383) and receiving touchdowns (13).

To put into scale how difficult this task has become, the first person in this Super Bowl era to claim this was, in fact, Rice in 1990; in a non-OPOY season for him. In that season, Warren Moon was the Offensive Player of the Year, and the MVP was Rice’s quarterback, Joe Montana.

Three other receivers have made this club since Rice – they’re Sterling Sharpe (1992), Steve Smith Sr. (2005) and Kupp (2021). That makes 12 men in the history of football who can say they’ve won the NFL’s “triple crown.”

Hill is looking to be the league’s 13th to do so, and if this comes with a 2,000-yard campaign, it’d be extremely hard to not call him the MVP. If history is any guide, it’d take the most prolific year in all of history to potentially break that seal.

As impressive as the stat line is for Hill, and when one looks at his games from last season without Tagovailoa, it’s the combo of these two that’s creating this remarkable dual campaign for another potential first in NFL history.

No quarterback-wide receiver tandem has ever won the MVP and OPOY as teammates in the same season. The only teammates to do so, did the feat twice, in 1999 and 2001. They were “The Greatest Show of Turf’s” quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk. Faulk took both awards in the middle of this in 2000.

Yet, what’s more coincidental is the fact that “The Greatest Show on Surf” could produce the next pair of teammates and the first-ever passer-receiver duo to claim this dual honor.

One last thing: in 1999 as well as 2001, the Rams went to the Super Bowl.

Hall of Fame semifinalists include Sterling Sharpe, Mike Holmgren

Sterling Sharpe (senior category) and Mike Holmgren (coach/contributor) were each named one of 12 semifinalists for the 2024 Hall of Fame class.

Former Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe and former Packers coach Mike Holmgren were each named one of 12 semifinalists in their respective voting categories for the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Sharpe, a five-time All-Pro, joined Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Roger Craig, Randy Gradishar, Joe Jacoby, Albert Lewis, Steve McMichael, Eddie Meador, Art Powell, Otis Taylor and Al Wistert as the 12 finalists in the “senior” category, which is limited to players who last played no later than 1998.

Voters trimmed the “senior” category from 31 to 12 semifinalists.

Holmgren, who led the Packers to a Super Bowl title and two Super Bowl appearances, joined Tom Coughlin, Frank Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Art Rooney Jr., Marty Schottenheimer, Mike Shanahan, Clark Shaughnessy, Lloyd Wells and John Wooten as the 12 coaches or contributors.

Voters trimmed the “coach/contributor” category from 29 to 12.

The next step is voting for finalists. The committee will meet Aug. 15 to select one coach or contributor for final consideration, while another committe will meet Aug. 22 to select up to three from the senior category for final consideration.

Sharpe was a semifinalist last year. The 2023 class features three inductions of senior members: Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko and Ken Riley.

Here is the Hall of Fame’s bio for both Sharpe and Holmgren:

Sharpe (1988-94)

 Sharpe made five Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro teams during his seven-year career with the Green Bay Packers cut short by injury. His 18 touchdown receptions in his final season is still good for third best in league history. Career totals include 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns.

Holmgren (1992-2008)

Head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992-98 and the Seattle Seahawks from 1999-2008. Overall record of 174-122 includes victory in Super Bowl XXXI with the Packers and an NFC crown in Seattle.

Poll: Better Hall of Fame candidate, Sterling Sharpe or Mike Holmgren?

Sterling Sharpe and Mike Holmgren are semifinalists in the “Seniors” and “Coaches/Contributors” categories for the 2023 Hall of Fame class. Which former Packer is the better nominee?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 54 semifinalists in the “Seniors” and “Coaches/Contributors” categories for the 2023 Hall of Fame Class on Thursday. Among them are former Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe and former Packers coach Mike Holmgren.

Sharpe, now a member of the “Seniors” category, was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. He led the NFL in receptions three times (1989, 1992, 1993), led the NFL in receiving touchdowns twice (1992, 1994) and led the NFL in receiving yards once (1992). In 1992, he completed the receiving triple crown by leading the NFL in all three categories. Sharpe’s career was cut short by a neck injury. Over seven seasons, he averaged 85 catches, 1,162 yards and 9.3 touchdowns per year.

From the PFHOF: “Sharpe made five Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro teams during his seven-year career with the Green Bay Packers. His 18 touchdown receptions in his final season is still good for third best all-time.”

Holmgren won two Super Bowls as an assistant coach before winning three NFC titles and a Super Bowl (XXXI) as a head coach. Overall, he won 174 games as a head coach, including 13 playoff games. Holmgren was the Packers’ coach from 1992-98 and led the team to back-to-back Super Bowls. He helped develop future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre and turn around the franchise overall. The Packers won 67 percent of games during Holmgren’s tenure. His teams captured eight total division crowns and made the playoffs 12 times.

By July 27, the committee will reduce the field to 12 “Seniors” and 12 “Coaches/Contributors.” Three finalists from “Seniors” and one “Coach/Contributor) will eventually be selected for final review.

Who is the better candidate for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Sharpe or Holmgren? Vote in our polls below!

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Sterling Sharpe and Steve Smith share high praise for Cooper Kupp after winning triple crown

Cooper Kupp received a message from two legends for becoming the 4th WR to win the triple crown in the Super Bowl era

Cooper Kupp may not have broken the single-season receiving record, but he did accomplish an incredibly rare feat this year. He finished the season as the league leader in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and touchdown catches (16), becoming the first player since Steve Smith in 2005 to finish first in all three categories.

Kupp is just the fourth receiver in the Super Bowl era to win the triple crown, joining Sterling Sharpe, Jerry Rice and Smith as the only players to do it. The gap between Kupp and every other receiver was pretty wide, too, making this a season for the record books.

As the newest member of the triple crown club, Kupp was welcomed by Smith and Sharpe, who each shared a message for the Rams receiver congratulating him on his historic campaign.

“I’m so proud of you, not because I’ve done anything, but because I know what kind of player you are,” Smith said.

“I know every catch, every yard and every touchdown you scored was not only to help your team get into the playoffs, but to have a chance to hoist that Lombardi Trophy. You’re an outstanding route runner. You have sensational hands and I want to congratulate you and I want to thank your teammates for helping you be the 2021 receiving champ,” Sharpe added.

Sean McVay sheds light on elite company Cooper Kupp could join with receiving triple crown

Sean McVay went into detail on how much it would mean for Cooper Kupp to join the legendary group of WRs that have won the triple crown.

Cooper Kupp has an opportunity to break multiple records with another productive performance for the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18 versus the San Francisco 49ers. Besides being able to set the single-season receptions record and the single-season receiving yards record, Kupp could become just the fourth wide receiver in NFL history to lead the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.

Ahead of what could be a historic week for Kupp, Sean McVay shed light on his thoughts about the previous wide receivers (Jerry Rice, Sterling Sharpe, and Steve Smith) that have achieved the triple crown feat.

“Incredible competitors, all three of those guys. To be mentioned in that same category is a true compliment. I know the respect that Cooper Kupp has for the history of this game and all three of those guys are so elite in their own right at playing that position,” McVay said Wednesday. “It’s a testament to the production. When you start talking about catches, yards, touchdowns – it’s unbelievable that he’s mentioned in that same category. He has to go finish it out, but he has delivered in so many different ways for us and what he does without the ball is arguably as impressive. Those people that really love studying the tape, watching the intricacies of what he does snap in and snap out, it’s pretty remarkable. You just feel fortunate to be able to work with a player like him, but all three of those guys that you just mentioned – what a special group that is. Amazing accomplishments that those men achieved. For Cooper to be mentioned in that same category and potentially be able to have his name alongside of those guys with the triple crown is a huge testament to the hard work he’s put in. Then also, being surrounded by great teammates.”

Kupp enters Sunday’s game with 138 receptions, 1,829 receiving yards, and 15 receiving touchdowns, all of which lead the league. He needs only 12 receptions and 136 receiving yards to set the single-season records for both categories.

To be mentioned in the same sentence as guys like Rice, Sharpe, and Smith is nothing to scoff at. What Kupp has done this season — regardless of whether he breaks the records or not — has been truly remarkable any way you look at it.

Even with the Rams focused on bigger things like winning a Super Bowl, McVay realizes how special it would be for Kupp to join the likes of Rice, Sharpe, and Smith.

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Panthers S Jeremy Chinn Week 2 jersey watch: South Carolina’s Sterling Sharpe

Panthers S Jeremy Chinn is here for both Carolinas, having rolled out the Sterling Sharpe Gamecocks jersey for Week 2.

The Carolina Panthers represent both Carolinas, right? Well, so does Jeremy Chinn.

In his second regular season reveal, and fourth overall this year, the do-it-all safety is doing it for South Carolina as well. Chinn strolled into Bank of America Stadium on Sunday ahead of the Panthers’ matchup against the New Orleans Saints with a Sterling Sharpe Gamecocks jersey.

Sharpe played four years at the University of South Carolina. amassing 2,497 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. The prolific tight end, not only had that No. 2 retired by the program, but was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

He’d also go on to have a career worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, putting together 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns in six electric seasons as a Green Bay Packer. A neck injury, however, would cut Sharpe’s career, and chances at the Hall, short.

Regardless, Sharpe is one of the most dominant pass catchers to ever lace up a pair of cleats and is now laced into Chinn’s year-long display of respect for the Carolinas’ greatest sports legends.

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