(Vol423 @ May 10 said:
No way is Eric Parker better than Witten. Being better than the other guys you named isn't really saying much, but I'm still not so certain that he's better than Stallworth (who is a perennial underachiever) or Cedric Wilson. It's not like Parker is setting the world on fire in the NFL.
Let's make sure we are on the same page... Witten was/is a better player than Eric Parker. However, the statement I made was concerning the fact that Parker was UNDERrated. I feel Witten got all the respect he deserved, making him NOT underrated.
Witten was very highly touted as a UT player. Part of the reason he wasn't drafted until the 3rd round was because he left early, and his blocking was suspect. He was one of the focal points of UT's offense, and other teams gameplanned their defense around his positions on the field. Everyone was talking about how great he was, and his jersey was selling mad! He was one of the most appreciated and respected players at UT. He was as highly touted as Stallworth, K. Washington, etc. He was great (and better than Parker), but he was not underrated. Going 3rd round as a TE does not necessarily mean you are underrated. The TE position is perenially a position that is selected in the later rounds of the draft.
For his level of talent, Eric Parker was UNDERrated. I say this because, he was overlooked almost always when it came to UT's receiving core. He wasn't used on the field as much as he should have for someone with his abilities. You could argue that Stallworth may have better talent than Parker, but you cannot tell me that Parker is LESS productive than Stallworth. In the last 5 years, who has been more productive as an NFL receiver than Parker??? If you dont believe me, watch the next San Diego game that is on tv. Even before Antonio Gates blew up, who was consistently getting open and catching all of those 3rd and 19's?? Parker is the best player from UT to get no respect. I believe he went undrafted, and will have a LONG career in the NFL, if he keeps up his pace.
Parker and Witten are almost equally productive in the NFL right now. Witten was highly touted. Parker was passed over, and overlooked by everyone. He got little respect from his fellow teammates at UT, and look at him now. He didn't develop all of that talent when he LEFT UT. He's as good as Stallworth, Washington, etc. But he didn't get nearly the credit that they got! That's why he was most UNDERRATED.
You are entitled to your opinion, and I am not saying you are wrong. However, I would be impressed if you could give me a valid argument explaining how Witten is more underrated than Eric Parker was. :fool: :fool:
