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Thursday, March 09, 2006

Randle El vs. Bryant

Back in 2002 when the Steelers were looking for a No. 3 receiver to compliment Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress, many fans screamed bloody murder when the team passed on Pitt's Antonio Bryant in the second round to take Antwaan Randle El instead.

To make matters worse, Bryant was the next receiver selected after Randle El and put up some decent numbers that season for the Dallas Cowboys.

But as we have now found, Randle El was the better pick.

Bryant was bounced out of Dallas in a trade to Cleveland for Qunicy Morgan, the same Quincy Morgan whom the Cowboys cut and was subsequently picked up by the Steelers.

His problem? He's lazy and his attitude stinks. Sure, he's got talent, but good luck coaxing it out of him.

Randle El, meanwhile, will never be a star, regardless of the contract he gets when the free agency period opens at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. But he's a much better player than Bryant will ever be.

Character matters and Randle El's character has always been much better than Bryant's ever was or will be.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

The system makes the player and I don't think Randle El will do much unless he gets into a system that compliments his skills. He was a nice fit in the Steeler system..he'll never be a big time receiver...in my opinion.

Dale Lolley said...

I'm not saying he'll be a big-time receiver. But he's a better player than Bryant will ever be.
And Randle El was a better fit than Bryant was for the Steelers' system.