Asante Samuel Calls Out Vikings' Cris Carter for Chad Johnson Criticism
The legitimacy of Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer Cris Carter's greatness has come into question.
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In response to Chad Johnson challenging Travis Hunter one-on-one, Carter argued that Johnson is looking back more glowingly on his career than what's actually on tape.
"There's nothing that pisses me off more than old guys who used to be able to do something and when they recall what they did they swear up and down that it was better than how they did it," Carter said on a June 9 episode of the "Fully Loaded podcast", adding that Johnson has no chance of making the Hall of Fame.
Former NFL All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel came to the defense of Johnson, disparaging Carter as nothing more than a possession receiver and calling him one of the most overrated receivers of all time.
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Dec 23, 2019; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Hall of Fame wide receiver and former Minnesota Viking Cris CarterBrace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images
"I think Cris Carter was great during his time, he was a [heck] of a route runner and he had some of the best hands in football... but he is really beside himself coming for Chad Johnson," Samuel said on his podcast. "He was nothing more than a possession receiver... a receiver that catches the ball and is immediately tackled... Cris Carter is one of the most overrated [wide receivers] to ever come in the NFL, or into the Hall of Fame."
"As a cornerback, what do I have to worry about, covering a guy like Cris Carter? He's going to run a nice, crispy route and get tackled immediately," Samuel added. "I am not worried about him running past me. So what fear does he put in any cornerback or defense?"
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The argument has led many fans to take sides on social media, which has boiled down to Johnson's athleticism and explosiveness versus Carter's consistency and sure-handedness.
Carter has the career stat totals -- 13,899 receiving yards and 130 touchdowns -- while Johnson surpassed 1,400 receiving yards twice in his career, a feat Carter never achieved -- putting the debate purely in the eye of the beholder.
Related: Vikings' Justin Jefferson Reacts to Major Aaron Jones Announcement
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
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