Jerry Rice vs Randy Moss for "All-Time Greatest"

Jerry Rice Caricature by Mudge Studios for Trading Cards Magazine
Either 1993 or 1994

Jerry Rice played football professionally at an elite level in the National Football League for an amazing twenty seasons. During Rice's remarkable career he set and still holds many NFL Records such as All-Time NFL Leader in Touchdown Receptions, Receptions and Yardage. These are just some of  the records that he holds and they are accompanied by a huge list of awards, honors and highlights- not to mention that the man posses three Super Bowl Rings. Indeed, Jerry Rice WAS ONCE considered by nearly everyone to be the Greatest Wide Receiver of NFL History. 

That was until a couple of days ago when during the Super Bowl's Media Day in New Orleans, a New King was Crowned.  On Tuesday Randy Moss anointed himself the Best Ever, saying that: “I really do think that I’m the greatest receiver to ever play this game.” Randy would go on to support his declaration saying: “I don’t think numbers stand because you can talk about this and this,” Moss said. “This year has been a down year for me, statistically. The year before I retired was a down year and then in Oakland was a down year, so I really don’t live on numbers. I really live on impact and what you’re able to do out on that field.”

Well said Randy;-) Who could argue with that?

Actually, we could. I grew up watching Jerry Rice play the game. With his motivation to out work everybody, Rice dedicated himself each season, every play to be the absolute best that he could be on and off the gridiron. On the other hand, I remember the controversy that Randy Moss would stir when he made mention of taking plays off here and there. Imagine what Randy could have been. if he had Rice's drive and work ethic. Reminds me of the saying: Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard.

Anyway, if we ran the numbers- the breakdown would go something like this… Jerry Rice would dominate Moss in Receptions with 1,549 to Moss' 982. Rice would be superior with his 22,895 Receiving Yards to Randy's 15,292. When it comes to Receiving Touchdowns Rice also takes the honors with 197 which betters Moss by 41. Jerry Rice has also gone to 13 Pro Bowls while Randy Moss earned the trip just less than half the times. So far really impressive stats for making a case for Jerry Rice (not Randy) being the greatest WR of all time.

Unfortunately for Randy, numbers and stats do tend to mean something, but for the sake of argument let's say that we are going to disregard them. After all, we can't deny that Randy Moss is certainly one of the greatest deep ball threats of all time. So, with the records, the numbers and all of those accolades stripped away- there is of course still a little something that separates a Jerry Rice from a Randy Moss. That's right, it was mentioned in the opening paragraph… It's all about the Rings. What says more about the contribution of a player to his team than the winning of the Big Game and returning home with a Super Bowl Ring? Jerry Rice has three of them, and just how many does Randy have? Enough said.

Vintage Jerry Rice Raiders Pennant and Randy Moss Vikings Pennant