88 or 82?

Hypothetical.

Lets say that Lynn Swann or John Stallworth would have never been teammates. Who would you have rather had as a Steeler? Please don't bring up other receivers in this conversation as they do not add anything to this topic of which one of these two would have been a better fit than the other to the Steelers.

BTW- Without one of them the other's total success would be alot different.

 

john stallworth in my opinion was one of the best route runners ever. i mean jerry rice level. i would take him over just about anyone.

 

Wow. That's like choosing between oxygen and water isn't it?

 

Well, if you held a gun to my head and made me pick, I might say Swann. I know 86WW didn't want us to throw any other receivers into the mix, but Jimmy Smith would have been a better complement to Swann than to Stallworth IMHO. He was a bigger receiver like Stalls. But PLEASE don't ask me to choose between these two guys. That's nearly impossible.

 

i'd take stallworth,swann,lipps and ward in my 4 wide sets.

 

I have a Swann jersey and he's also originally from east TN and both were phenomenal but I might have to say Stallworth just based on longevity. However there are more reasons I love Swann besides the fact that he is a Steelers great.

 

I didn't know Swann was originally from east TN.

 

Yep. He was from Alcoa in Blount County. I think he lived there for like the first 4 years of his life. It's about 45 minutes from my house. I was actually preaching a lot down there over the summer. It's right at the bottom of the smokies.

 

Wow...Thats like asking me which one of my kids I like best.

If you are going to make me choose I have to pick #88.....Just made more big time catches. So close!!!

 

Oh yeah, I'm familiar with Alcoa. I've been a Swann fan my entire life practically and I never knew that. Thanks for the info, BFT.

 

Yes sir. Anytime. Kenny Chesney, Roy Acuff, and Chet Atkins are from my town in case you didn't know.

 

Very tough choice. I'm more of a Swann fan than a Stallworth fan, but I'd probably pick Stallworth to answer your question.

 

Wow, this question has never crossed my mind. I would say Stallworth because of the longevity and also for being a better draft value. I'm sure most of you know the story already, but the Steelers played a big part in "hiding" Stallworth from the other NFL teams. They held onto his college tapes!!! They knew he was first round talent, but knew Swanny would never make it past the first round so they had to pick him first.

On a side note: I just realized, the Steelers had traded away the 3rd round pick of the 1974 draft, the year before. Imagine how much better the '74 draft could have been with one more Hall of Famer, hehe.

 

I would have to go with Swann. For me, it is purely entertainment value. The guy was so much fun to watch with his circus catches. I love Bradshaw but these guys made twice the QB he was.

 

Alcoa also brought us Alcoa presents "fantastic finishes" and "you make the call"

 

james herbert keenan was born in your area BFT that's where the town's name comes from

i would take 82

 

When I was just a young kid growing up it was hands down Lynn Swann the best WR in all of football. His catches were spectacular and unbelievable. To this day, I still don't know how he made that sideline catch where it looked like there would be no way that he could come down in bounds with the ball. I doubt any other player in the world past or present could have made that catch.

Over time though, I have begun to realize that maybe John Stallworth was more meaningful to the team. Although his catches were not as unique as Swanns they were clutch and dependable when Bradshaw really needed the go to guy. For that I have to say John Stallworth meant more to the team overall.

 

Now, Swann. In today's NFL, he'd make Wes Welker look like Weegie Thompson. The catch you mention, where Swanny was about 20 feet out of bounds and levitated back in bounds, may be one of the best catches ever. My favorite all-time catch, even over his stumbling catch in the SB.

 

Blount, you made me remember about 15 years ago I was thinking of moving back to the Burg. I was about halfway up camp meeting road which leads to Sewickley Heights Country club. Close to that Par 3 golf course. The Realtor showed me a 3 bedroom house with cheap paneling on the walls. I ask the price and he said only $330,000. I said this place is a dump, who will pay that. He started point to houses. Franco Harris lives there, Lynn Swann lives there. Tom Barrasso <sp. goalie for the Penguins lives there. He was all smiles and I ask, you really think them guys will hang with me if I buy this house? He never acted like he understood and I haven't moved back yet.

 

Stallworth. Longer career and was still productive in the 80's with garbage qb's.

 

$330,000! Dang man! You think Franco and Swann have cheap paneling too? LOL.

 

I agree that the catch he made where he somehow kept BOTH feet in bounds from OUT OF BOUNDS is the most awesome catch I have ever seen in my life.