Why Randy Moss is better than Jerry Rice
Amidst the unusual calm during the media frenzy the precedes the Super Bowl, one star dared to go against the “loose lips sink ships” mentality of his head coach and spoke what was really on his mind. San Francisco 49ers WR Randy Moss told the media that he thinks he’s the best receiver all-time.
Jared Wickerham, Getty Images
According to Moss, “I really think I’m the greatest receiver to ever play this game.”
Statistically, everyone knows that former 49er great, Jerry Rice, is the best receiver ever. Rice’s 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards and 197 touchdown receptions are imposing records that may never be broken. From a statistical standpoint, Moss will forever live in Rice’s shadow. Randy Moss currently has 982 receptions, 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns and is currently second in receiving touchdowns and only trails Rice and Terrell Owens (15,934) in yards.
Fortunately for football fans, unlike baseball, we don’t live on stats only. And neither does Randy Moss.
“I don’t really live on numbers. I really live on impact and what you’re able to do out on the field.”
When it comes to impact, Jerry Rice defended his stats and belief that he (Rice) is the best by saying,
“I impacted the game by winning Super Bowls. Randy is still trying to win his first one.” “Flash 80” as Rice was once known, flashed one of his three Super Bowl rings as he made that comment.
So is Randy Moss better than Jerry Rice? I think so and here is why.
Jerry Rice, outstanding receiver and model NFL ambassador. No one worked harder or was more determined to perfect his trade. He gets that, he earned it. But… it can’t be overlooked that Rice played with not one, but two hall of fame quarterbacks in Joe Montana and Steve Young, and an NFL MVP in Rich Gannon.
On the other hand, Randy Moss, is a naturally gifted receiver with a questionable character and work ethic. At one point Moss even admitted that he takes plays off. But… it too can’t be overlooked that Moss has achieved what he has with the likes of an aging Randall Cunningham, Jeff George, Daunte Culpepper, Todd Bouman, Gus Frerotte, Kerry Collins, Matt Cassel, Tom Brady, Alex Smith, and now Colin Kaepernick.
It is impossible to argue against the fact that Montana and Young helped make Jerry Rice the receiver that he was. To say otherwise would be similar to saying Michael Jordan didn’t help the career of Scottie Pippen. Remember Montana and the Niners won two Super Bowls prior to drafting Rice.
It’s also impossible to argue against the fact that Randy Moss’ accomplishments have mostly come on his own. Sure, someone threw him the ball but the irrelevance of most of his quarterbacks in NFL history speaks volumes about what he was able to achieve. With the exception of his time in New England with Brady, Moss was the biggest and brightest star on his teams. Rice was a bright star in a constellation of stars that formed a San Francisco 49ers dynasty.
As for Super Bowls, Rice three, Moss zero. But it can’t be forgotten that in Moss’ one and only opportunity he caught the go ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, only to watch the Patriots defense collapse and lose the game at the end.
The bottom line is based on his career achievements if Randy Moss had played with quarterbacks comparable to Montana and Young, it’s my best guess that his numbers and Super Bowl rings would have surpassed those of Jerry Rice. Guess we’ll never know.
Follow Aaron on Twitter @Da_Bear_Truth.
i absolutely agree. i also like randy for his pompous attitude. i miss that in T.O. these are entertainers. i want to see huge ego’s clash and show off on TV. i want to see larger than life characters, something i will never be able to do, as well as 99% of the population – that is to play in the NFL at the highest level, and be #1 at it in the league. i have seen moss make near-impossible catches (rice has made some as well of course) which makes the game so exciting to watch. i don’t like rice’s generic ball player attitude. i want to see players like T.O who spike the football on the field of the logo of the opposing team, like he did on the dallas star against the cowboys. EXCITING and FUN to see that passion. i don’t care if randy takes plays off such as non-tackling. deion sanders did the same. kobe bryant does the same (to prevent injuries) when he avoids taking charging fouls. i realize randy takes off plays on the receiving end but so what? you crack an egg to make an omelette. i will take the bad with the great, not good, but GREAT, which is what randy moss’ play is on the field.
I think it really comes down to reversing who played for who,, Rice with his work ethic and desire might have kept him around as a reciever for the Vikings,,but would he achieved the same thing with Culpepper and a cast of nobody’s ,, I don’t like Moss, but from a cold stand point he gets the nod,,
Moss is by far the most gifted we to ever play! He made culpeper look like a good qb. He was not. Rice was not even the best player own his team. For many years moss was the best player in the league.