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SI's Top 10 Tight Ends of All times:
1. John Mackey- He was the first tight end to become a consistent big-play threat, and he was still very effective as a blocker. He doesn't have the numbers that modern tight ends have because teams didn't pass as often back then. Still, his speed and athleticism transformed the position and opened the door for the big-reception guys of today.
2. Shannon Sharpe- He has more catches (815) and receiving yards (10,060) than any other tight end in NFL history and was a key player on Super Bowl-winning Broncos and Ravens teams. Defenses had to account for him at all times because he was capable of turning a short catch into a big gain. He started his career as a receiver, but he didn't blossom until coach Mike Shanahan moved him to tight end.
3. Dave Casper- A converted tackle out of Notre Dame, he was a key part of the Raiders' dominant teams of the 1970s. "The Ghost" was an outstanding blocker who averaged a gaudy 13.8 yards per catch and was especially dangerous in the clutch, coming up with numerous game-winning TDs throughout his career.
4. Ozzie Newsome - He retired with 662 catches for 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns -- unprecedented numbers for a tight end and good enough figures to put him at No. 4 on the all-time reception list. For years he was the most consistent threat on some good Browns teams, and he was an outstanding team leader.
5. Mike Ditka- He was the first true pass-catching tight end. His 75 catches in 1964 -- a 14-game season -- stood as a record for tight ends until 1980, when the NFL had a 16-game schedule. Ditka was fiercely competitive and didn't shirk his blocking duties to concentrate on receiving.
For the remaining 5 see the following link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0608/gallery.NFLtopTE/content.1.html
1. John Mackey- He was the first tight end to become a consistent big-play threat, and he was still very effective as a blocker. He doesn't have the numbers that modern tight ends have because teams didn't pass as often back then. Still, his speed and athleticism transformed the position and opened the door for the big-reception guys of today.
2. Shannon Sharpe- He has more catches (815) and receiving yards (10,060) than any other tight end in NFL history and was a key player on Super Bowl-winning Broncos and Ravens teams. Defenses had to account for him at all times because he was capable of turning a short catch into a big gain. He started his career as a receiver, but he didn't blossom until coach Mike Shanahan moved him to tight end.
3. Dave Casper- A converted tackle out of Notre Dame, he was a key part of the Raiders' dominant teams of the 1970s. "The Ghost" was an outstanding blocker who averaged a gaudy 13.8 yards per catch and was especially dangerous in the clutch, coming up with numerous game-winning TDs throughout his career.
4. Ozzie Newsome - He retired with 662 catches for 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns -- unprecedented numbers for a tight end and good enough figures to put him at No. 4 on the all-time reception list. For years he was the most consistent threat on some good Browns teams, and he was an outstanding team leader.
5. Mike Ditka- He was the first true pass-catching tight end. His 75 catches in 1964 -- a 14-game season -- stood as a record for tight ends until 1980, when the NFL had a 16-game schedule. Ditka was fiercely competitive and didn't shirk his blocking duties to concentrate on receiving.
For the remaining 5 see the following link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0608/gallery.NFLtopTE/content.1.html
