NFL Wide Receivers: What To Look For In 2009

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions): What are the five words Johnson doesn’t want to hear anymore? Not “You play for the Lions”, but “Calvin, meet your new quarterback.” In his two seasons with the Lions, Johnson has probably caught passes from more quarterbacks than Jerry Rice did in his career.

If overall first-round Matthew Stafford starts, Johnson will be his best friend. Anyway, it doesn’t matter who’s throwing to Johnson—he’ll make the catch.

Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City): Bowe may be the happiest man in Kansas City. He has a new quarterback, Matt Cassel, fresh off a 4,000 yard campaign in New England last year. Plus, his new coach is Todd Haley, the offensive mind behind the Cardinals explosive 2009 passing game.

If Cassel and Haley can duplicate their successes from last year, Bowe may elevate himself among the NFL’s elite receivers, with a “Bowe Knows Football” ad campaign to soon follow. If Cassel and Haley prove to be merely one-year wonders, then Bowe likely will not realize his full potential.

Jerricho Cotchery (New York): What, if any, are the advantages of having rookie Mark Sanchez as your quarterback as opposed to Brett Favre? This is the burning question facing Cotchery right now. Sanchez passed up his senior year at Southern California to become the Jets first-round pick, so he gets the edge on Favre for at least knowing when to quit.

Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis): With Marvin Harrison out of Indy to devote his full attention to firing stray bullets at car washes, Wayne is unquestionably Peyton Manning’s go-to guy, right behind Manning’s endorsements agent. With Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez in the mix, Wayne will likely see a lot of man coverage.

Expect the usual—a big year for Wayne, 10+ wins for the Colts, and a divisional playoff loss.

Bernard Berrian/Percy Harvin (Minnesota): More than anyone, Berrian and Harvin need to know whether or not Brett Favre will be in uniform as the Vikings quarterback on opening day. If Favre becomes a Viking and brings his devil-may-care passing skills to Minnesota, Berrian and Harvin will need to brush up on their tackling skills.

But, is anyone willing to go out on a sore right limb and pretend to know what Favre’s vacillating plans are? You know what rhymes with “vacillating fans?” “Oscillating fans.” And they blow in all directions. And, Favre’s decision to play for Minnesota may ultimately be decided by which way the wind blows.

Steve Smith (Carolina): Smith has promised to make a concerted effort to ask for the ball, demonstratively if need be. If anything was learned last year, it’s that quarterback Jake Delhomme often needs to be reminded to whom he should be throwing.

T.J. Houshmandzedah (Seattle): Houshmandzedah is not escaping Chad Ochocinco’s shadow in Cincinnati. No, Houshmandzedah’s was the shadow in Cincinnati, letting his numbers do the talking while Ochocinco did more talking about numbers.

The stage is all Houshmandzedah’s in Seattle and no one is happier than quarterback Matt Hasselbeck—although he’s got to be insanely jealous of Houshmandzedah’s hair. But Hasselbeck’s glad T.J. is here, as opposed to the gregarious Ochocinco, who, had he come to Seattle, would inevitably be known as “The Puget Sound.”

Larry Fitzgerald/Anquan Boldin (Arizona): With Fitzgerald and Boldin, the Cards have the best wide receiver in the NFL as well as the best unhappy wide receiver in the NFL, respectively. If Boldin remains a Cardinal, Arizona’s passing game will continue to be a dynamic force. For negotiating skills, Boldin need look no farther than Warner, who basically blackmailed the Cardinals into a new contract by visiting the 49ers last year and pretending to show interest in signing with them.

Roy Williams (Dallas): With Terrell Owens gone north to undermine yet another coaching regime, Williams finally has his chance to be a No. 1 receiver on a Super Bowl-quality team. Well, we know one former Cowboy who is not cheering for him.

The pressure’s on Williams, as well as quarterback Tony Romo. If the Cowboys don’t at least make the playoffs, Owens is vindicated, and Jerry Jones will be forced to unveil “Plan E,” which he will say will surely take the Cowboys to the Super Bowl.

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