Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Who do YOU think is the better (Charger) TE?

Winslow in his peak years I'd say was better. Was a quicker, more agile player. More dangerous playmaker than Gates.

Gates the longer, steadier career. Always the redzone threat. Good clutch receiver. Just great hands overall. Not very elusive.

It's close. The better pure talent was Winslow. Gates had the better career and still remained very productive at ages where most guys have long been sitting on their couch.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:Who do YOU think is the better (Charger) TE?

Winslow had the bad luck of a severe knee injury which shortened his career. Faster than Gates, would have done well in today's more pass-friendly environment. Winslow does have a couple of bigger games in the postseason than Gates does. His signature game might be the Epic in Miami, and Winslow also topped 100 yards in San Diego's comeback playoff win at Pittsburgh in 1983.

Winslow, by a mile.

Antonio Gates put his numbers up playing alongside Eric Parker, Keenan McCardell, Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd. Winslow put his numbers up playing alongside John Jefferson, Charlie Joiner, and Wes Chandler. Winslow was playing in a revolutionary offense that defenses couldn't handle. Gates was playing in the same offense, 20 years later.

Winslow was obviously a freak of nature. But there's something to be said for the guy who's able to produce without those same skills, and when everyone knows he's getting the ball. I see this as a toss up.

Jeremy Crowhurst wrote:Antonio Gates put his numbers up playing alongside Eric Parker, Keenan McCardell, Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd. Winslow put his numbers up playing alongside John Jefferson, Charlie Joiner, and Wes Chandler.

Winslow led the NFL in receiving in 1980 and 1981. I'm not sure if a TE can lead the league in receiving simply because the WRs on his team are allegedly 'drawing the defense' away from the TE. I would have to guess that the TE himself is pretty good, because I would assume at some point during the 1981 season the opposing defenses would notice the TE on film catching all the passes and think "Hey, maybe we should try to stop this guy".

During his 3-year run of All Pro seasons, Gates would typically have 120-140 targets while the starting WRs would combine for 130-150 targets. If you are going to imply that Winslow was merely a 'product of the system' and benefitted from his supporting cast, then I would argue that Gates' numbers were inflated because the Chargers had no one else to throw to (Tim Smith Syndrome).

I love Antonio Gates and think he is a first ballot HOFer. To me, he was the 2nd best TE of his generation behind Tony Gonzalez. He had great hands and knew how to position himself to wall off the defender. But the question is who is 'better', and the answer without hesitation is Winslow.

Some quick factoids...in 216 games, Gates has 21 100-yard games, 4 10+ reception games, and 3 3+TD games. In 115 games, Winslow has 26 100-yard games, 7 10+ reception games, and 4 3+TD games (including a five-spot against the Raiders in 81).

Bryan wrote:

Jeremy Crowhurst wrote:Antonio Gates put his numbers up playing alongside Eric Parker, Keenan McCardell, Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd. Winslow put his numbers up playing alongside John Jefferson, Charlie Joiner, and Wes Chandler.

Winslow led the NFL in receiving in 1980 and 1981. I'm not sure if a TE can lead the league in receiving simply because the WRs on his team are allegedly 'drawing the defense' away from the TE. I would have to guess that the TE himself is pretty good, because I would assume at some point during the 1981 season the opposing defenses would notice the TE on film catching all the passes and think "Hey, maybe we should try to stop this guy".

During his 3-year run of All Pro seasons, Gates would typically have 120-140 targets while the starting WRs would combine for 130-150 targets. If you are going to imply that Winslow was merely a 'product of the system' and benefitted from his supporting cast, then I would argue that Gates' numbers were inflated because the Chargers had no one else to throw to (Tim Smith Syndrome).

I love Antonio Gates and think he is a first ballot HOFer. To me, he was the 2nd best TE of his generation behind Tony Gonzalez. He had great hands and knew how to position himself to wall off the defender. But the question is who is 'better', and the answer without hesitation is Winslow.

Some quick factoids...in 216 games, Gates has 21 100-yard games, 4 10+ reception games, and 3 3+TD games. In 115 games, Winslow has 26 100-yard games, 7 10+ reception games, and 4 3+TD games (including a five-spot against the Raiders in 81).

Great post and very interesting factoids. In your eyes, are either of them greatest TE of all-time? How do you think they compare to Gronkowski? Lately I hear a lot of talking heads rave that he's the best ever.

sluggermatt15 wrote:

Bryan wrote:

Jeremy Crowhurst wrote:Antonio Gates put his numbers up playing alongside Eric Parker, Keenan McCardell, Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd. Winslow put his numbers up playing alongside John Jefferson, Charlie Joiner, and Wes Chandler.

Winslow led the NFL in receiving in 1980 and 1981. I'm not sure if a TE can lead the league in receiving simply because the WRs on his team are allegedly 'drawing the defense' away from the TE. I would have to guess that the TE himself is pretty good, because I would assume at some point during the 1981 season the opposing defenses would notice the TE on film catching all the passes and think "Hey, maybe we should try to stop this guy".

During his 3-year run of All Pro seasons, Gates would typically have 120-140 targets while the starting WRs would combine for 130-150 targets. If you are going to imply that Winslow was merely a 'product of the system' and benefitted from his supporting cast, then I would argue that Gates' numbers were inflated because the Chargers had no one else to throw to (Tim Smith Syndrome).

I love Antonio Gates and think he is a first ballot HOFer. To me, he was the 2nd best TE of his generation behind Tony Gonzalez. He had great hands and knew how to position himself to wall off the defender. But the question is who is 'better', and the answer without hesitation is Winslow.

Some quick factoids...in 216 games, Gates has 21 100-yard games, 4 10+ reception games, and 3 3+TD games. In 115 games, Winslow has 26 100-yard games, 7 10+ reception games, and 4 3+TD games (including a five-spot against the Raiders in 81).

Great post and very interesting factoids. In your eyes, are either of them greatest TE of all-time? How do you think they compare to Gronkowski? Lately I hear a lot of talking heads rave that he's the best ever.

When you combine blocking and pass receiving, Gronkowski possibly is the best tight end ever. The argument against Gronkowski will surely be something like, "Yeah, but, during the Gronkowski years, the Patriots still won when he was too injured to play. They were (insert nice number here) and (insert puny number here) when he didn't play. So how important could he really have been?"

I think it would be a slap in the face not to include Jason Witten in the conversation. He's arguably been Dallas' best player this century. IMO one of the best tight ends and reliable offensive players in NFL history.

sluggermatt15 wrote:I think it would be a slap in the face not to include Jason Witten in the conversation. He's arguably been Dallas' best player this century. IMO one of the best tight ends and reliable offensive players in NFL history.

That's not exactly high praise.