ProFootballTalk.com's Top 25 In 25

No. 12 Marvin Harrison.

Wide receivers who don't draw attention to themselves often get overlooked, primarily because of the fact that most of the other receivers who crave the limelight are sucking it all up for themselves.

Thus, in an era dominated by flashier pass-catchers like Terrell Owens and Randy Moss and Chad Johnson, it's easy to forget about some of the guys who have brought far more substance than style to the position.  In St. Louis, for example, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce have been the best one-two combination at the position for nearly a decade, yet their names rarely are on the lips of the folks who get paid for a living to glorify the best of the best.

In Indianapolis, there's another guy who minds his own business, shies away from the glare of the press, and as a result isn't nearly as appreciated by NFL fans as he should be.

And yet he's moving gradually and inconspicuously toward records that many assumed would not be broken for a generation or longer -- the marks set by Jerry Rice, arguably the best receiver if not the best player to ever squeeze his head through a pair of shoulder pads. 

Through 11 NFL season, Marvin Harrison has 1,022 receptions for 13,967 yards and 122 touchdowns.  Already fourth on the all-time receptions list, Harrison will likely be in second place after the 2007 season.  Harrison is sixth in receiving yardage, and with 1,238 in 2007 would overtake second place.  And he's third on the list of receiving touchdowns.  With nine in 2007, he'll be second.

The real question moving forward is whether he can continue to stay healthy and to produce at the same levels he has generated in the first nine years of his partnership with quarterback Peyton Manning.  If both of them can stick around for another seven years, and if Harrison maintains the level of quiet, dignified excellence that so many fans and media members take for granted, Harrison might just supplant Rice as the best receiver, and possibly the best player, in the history of the league.

Especially since Harrison is in position to do in 18 seasons what it took Rice 20 years to achieve.

Click here for No. 11.