So Jerry Rice has just come out with a book titled “Go Long! My Journey Beyond the Game and the Fame.” As if we didn’t see him enough when he was on Dancing with the Stars, now he’s on every show in the world publicizing his book. Can’t blame the guy - who in a sane frame of mind wouldn’t want the greatest wide receiver ever to be a guest on their show? Â
Since the San Francisco Treat has been making the rounds, several people have been referring to him as the greatest wide receiver EVER, and potentially the greatest football player ever. True, he is the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, but I will remain steadfast in my belief that none other than Randy Moss has been more dominant than the perceived greatest wide receiver ever for an extended stretch of time. Before you call me crazy, witness the numbers:
Jerry Rice’s first 7 years                     Randy Moss’ first 7 years                       Â
Year   Rec   Rec Yds  Rec TD               Year   Rec    Rec Yds    Rec TD            Â
1985Â Â Â Â 49Â Â Â Â Â Â 927Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1998Â Â 69Â Â Â Â Â Â 1313Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
1986Â Â Â 86Â Â Â Â Â 1570Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1999Â Â 80Â Â Â Â Â Â 1413Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
1987Â Â Â 65Â Â Â Â Â 1078Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 22Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2000Â Â 77Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1437Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 15
1988Â Â Â 64Â Â Â Â Â 1306Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2001Â Â 82Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1233Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 10
1989Â Â Â 82Â Â Â Â Â 1483Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2002Â Â 106Â Â Â Â Â 1347Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7
1990Â Â Â 100Â Â Â Â 1502Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2003Â Â Â 111Â Â Â Â Â 1632Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
1991Â Â Â 80Â Â Â Â Â 1206Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2004Â Â Â 49Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 767Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 13
Totals 526  9072        93                 Totals  574     9142        90
*Rice played in 108 games in his first 7 years, Moss played in 109 games in his first 7 yearsÂ
Before arriving at the Black Hole that is Oakland, Randy Moss was off to a better start in his career than Jerry Rice. And 7 years is a significant sample size to measure - it’s not like each of their best 3 years were chosen for the purpose of this comparison. So before you think of Jerry Rice being that great, I will maintain that Randy Moss was a more dominant receiver for an extended stretch of time than Jerry Rice.Â
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consider, tho, that moss has ALWAYS been the focal point of any offense with whom he’s played. Jerry was sharing the rock with Roger Craig, John Taylor, Brent Jones, Dwight Clark, Tom Rathman, etc….all of whom were pro-bowlers at one time or another.
I vehemently disagree with gpjohn. Statistics alone don’t tell the story. Jerry Rice received the roxck from Joe Montana and Steve Young in an offense designed by the self-proclaimed genius, Bill Walsh. There were great players around Rice, which kept him from getting double- or triple teamed. The Niners had a running game with Roger Craig, etc., to keep defenses honest, and a defense with guys like Ronnie Lott that often gave them good field position with which to operate.
Moss, who is a jerk, received his passes from the feared Duante Culpepper, among others, and he didn’t have a running game to keep safeties near the line of scrimmage. I also think that Cris Carter might object to the theory that Moss was the entire focal point of the Vikes’ passing offense.
In football, more than any other sport, you are only as good as the guys around you. I’m not that sure that Steve Largent’s records at Seattle, where he had Jim Zorn and Dave Krieg tossing him the pigskin, aren’t just as impressive as Rice’s.
It’s so hard to say - guys with superior teammates have to share the ball (meaning stats should decline), but they also get less attention from the defense (meaning stats should be improved). That’s kind of why I think what Steve Smith does with Delhomme as his QB is more significant than Marvin with Peyton, or Chad Johnson with Carson for instance.
I still maintain Moss was the most dominant of all of them.
good points all…and maybe we should also look into chad’s, marvin’s, largent’s, and moss’s career SuperBowl stats to glean greater insight into these highly legitimate comparisons
oh wait
I see. So now, we are judging wide receivers, as well as quarterbacks, by their Super Bowl records. I guess we will be using that criterion for defensive linemen, offesnsive linemen and punters before too long, it’s just as illogical.
hmmm… I think the argument is better framed Randy Moss had the best first 7 years as a wide receiver. And even then, I think your argument is dubious. 7 years is a significant sample size, but then again so is 6 years or 8 or 9 years for that matter.
Jerry Rice 6 years
477 8145 90
Randy Moss 6 years
505 7829 73
Take away the rookie season and it seems Rice was a better receiver no?
Plus the era’s were different. 13 years is a big difference and more points were scored by teams in 1998 then compared to 1985. Passing numbers/receiving numbers have gone up for every player.
As said in the post, “Before arriving at the Black Hole that is Oakland, Randy Moss was off to a better start in his career than Jerry Rice.” And I will stand by that statement. It doesn’t mean I think Randy Moss has enjoyed a finer career than Rice, it means what I said, he was off to a better start and more dominant during that period.
OK, well first I’d like to say, I like your blog and appreciate the hard work. I never felt strongly enough to post any comments until now. And believe me I’m not a litigious person, but this post I felt needed work.
“Before arriving at the Black Hole that is Oakland, Randy Moss was off to a better start in his career than Jerry Rice.â€
Sure, stand by that statement. I’d say it’s a fiar argument. However, the title of this post is “Is Jerry Rice the Most Dominant Wide Receiver Ever?” and the stats you present say yes, he was. Seeing as the strongest part of your argument is due to Randy Moss’ otherworldy rookie season, then the post should really be about that. Like “Moss had the best rookie wr campaign. ” instead of “Randy Moss has been more dominant than the perceived greatest wide receiver ever for an extended stretch of time. ”
Also you didn’t even address the change in passing/scoring in the NFL over those 13 years. You have to adjust for that when comparing players who played in different years.
Points very well taken, excellent input, thanks…i only hope to be challenged in the same way on other arguments, and I think this one has been sufficiently Barbaroed
Hi,
Well, what do you think now? See his first game with a real QB, Tom Brady. Can you say Montana to Rice out loud with me? Can you say Brady to Moss out loud? Watch out guys, Moss is making a journey towards another 17 td’s this year & 1600 yards. Imagine if Moss went to Pats instead of the pathetic Raiders a few years ago. I think Brady and Moss is exiting and you all should grab your popcorn. I’m a diehard 49er fan, so you know how I must feel about people mentioning Rice and Moss. But as a HUGE Rice fan. I can say Moss can be mentioned in the same breath more than any other reciever. Ever. Period. Moss has a chance to add to his legacy with Brady. The debate between the two is like debating between Coke & Pepsi. I’ll take Coke.
I think the above comment, re the difference in who was throwing to Rice vs Moss is significant. Clearly, Rice had better material to work with. Also, the stint in Oakland adversely affected Moss’ stats.
I also feel the perception of Moss as a bad actor affects fans views on his greatness. Never met him, but, when he played here in Minnesota, he seemed like a nice enough guy that liked to smoke a little weed at times. Why on earth folks get turned off to that and feel he should have been traded is beyond me.
jerry is the best, randy moss plays in a different era where recievers cant be touch by the DBs,
It all depends on who is throwing the football. Steve Smith in the Patriots offense? He has the speed of Stallworth, the ability to avoid tackles of Welker and the nose for the end zone of Randy Moss. Smith could be only second best to Rice.
who is better RANDY MOSS OR THE LEGEND JERRY RICE
>
this is a very good point. It would be much easier in current times to put up the numbers than in a time where you could be much more physical. As someone said before, the nature of the game has changed and you did not even take that into account in your article. Not only that, I find it funny how you just chose a random number of years to compare the two players, and stop short of his years with the raiders that could have easily pointed the discussion in Rice’s favor.
Besides, it is more than pure stats. Jerry Rice was a dedicated player who played his heart out, unlike Moss who only seemed to play when he felt like it. People say he has changed this year with the Patriots, but is it really that hard to put in some effort on the winning team? Jerry Rice’s dedication to the game was bar none, especially when compared to Randy Moss
Moss is the better athlete. No one would argue that. That should end this conversation.