It doesn’t take long for a Minnesota Vikings favorite to pop up in “Receiver,” Netflix’s latest attempt to prove to sports fans that it’s just as necessary as ESPN.
In the opening minutes of this tribute to five current wide receivers, Randy Moss pops up to gripe about how those in his old position don’t get the same amount of love showered on quarterbacks. It’s an ironic complaint considering that the docuseries, debuting Wednesday, lists Peyton Manning and Patrick Mahomes as executive producers.
Those Super Bowl-winning QBs go a long way toward making up for that injustice by showcasing five current players, including Justin Jefferson. There’s great footage from the 2023 season spread out over eight episodes, but they are plays you’ve seen before on “SportsCenter.” What really makes this series compelling — and the other sports series that streaming services are churning out — is the unprecedented access into players’ personal lives.
In Jefferson’s case, that means fans get to spend considerable time in his Twin Cities home, filled with family members and jars of chocolate bars (he’s got a soft spot for Kit Kats). You see him balancing his candy cravings with meals created by a personal chef, watching himself in a TV commercial and showing off the jewelry collection that helps transform him into his cocky alter ego, “Jets.”
He also goes into detail about how he popularized “The Griddy,” the touchdown celebration dance that’s been copied by everyone from children to fellow pros.
“A part of the package is being an entertainer,” he says.
The series also has cameos from coach Kevin O’Connell and Vikings president Mark Wilf. KFAN Radio’s Paul Allen confirms Jefferson’s status as the most excitable personality in sports broadcasting.
But after being heavily featured in early episodes, the Vikings crew fades into the background. That’s due to the hamstring injury that put Jefferson on the sidelines for two months and the fact that his team failed to live up to high expectations.
