Michael Irvin’s football reference page: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/I/IrviMi00.htm
- 1988: 14 games, 32 catches, 654 yards, 5 TDs
- 1989: 6 games, 26 catches, 378 yards, 2 TDs
- 1990: 12 games, 20 catches, 413 yards, 5 TDs
He was a former #11 overall pick at the time and I feel like any 1st rounder putting up those numbers would get lambasted. Was this the sentiment back then before he became a HOFer?
Keep in mind that back then, sports discussions were at work, school or a bar, and consisted mainly of, “Did you see the [local team] game last night? and “Yeah, cool win, they’re looking pretty good.” And if the performance of another team’s wide receiver relative to their draft status was discussed at an office building a mile away, you would have zero idea that conversation happened and it would exist only in the memories of those involved in that discussion. Almost like it never existed. Weird, huh?