Cris Carter, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, recently responded to being labeled as “overrated” by former All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel Sr. Samuel expressed criticism of Carter’s career, stating:
“He was nothing more than a possession receiver… Cris Carter is one of the most overrated [receivers] to ever come in the NFL, or into the Hall of Fame.”
(Translation: He was just a receiver that caught the ball and was immediately tackled, lacking after-contact yards. Cris Carter is overrated, if we’re honest.)
Despite the negative remarks, Carter defended his legacy, sharing on his podcast, “Yes, I was a possession receiver, absolutely, but the best possession receiver in the history of the game.”
He highlighted that his statistics speak volumes, as he remains highly ranked in several key receiving categories even now. Here are some of Carter’s notable statistics:
- Receiving touchdowns: 130 (Fourth all-time)
- Receptions: 1,101 (Sixth all-time)
- Receiving yards: 13,899 (Thirteenth all-time)
Carter argued that despite Samuel’s comments, he consistently placed significant fear in defenses during his playing days:
“There’s so many fast guys that can’t score the football, so to me, he’s talking about ‘What are you worried about?’ Well, you’re worried about me scoring.”
(Translation: Many players can run fast but can’t score touchdowns.)
The exchange stems from Carter’s previous remarks about former Bengals receiver Chad Johnson, which ignited Samuel’s critique toward Carter. Samuel stated that Johnson’s career impressed him, leading to further discussion about their respective abilities.
Overall, Carter’s storied career continues to generate debate, reinforcing the complexities of evaluating NFL talent.
