A.J. Green is arguably one of the most underrated players in the National Football League, and a lot of that has to do with the way he carries himself. While his career numbers are comparable with receivers like Antonio Brown, Julio Jones and Dez Bryant, many of Green’s accolades go unnoticed.
He doesn’t expect it to be like that for long.
Green spoke with Tyler Dunne of Bleacher Report for a lengthy feature that was published on Tuesday, and he made it clear that his goal is to win a championship and be remembered as the greatest receiver of all time. When asked if he believes he will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Green did not hesitate.
“Guaranteed,” he said. “That’s what motivates me. A lot of people don’t put me as the best—top five or whatever. I’m striving to be the best ever. If I play the years I want to play, and I keep the streak I’m on now, there’s no doubt that I’ll be one of the best.”
Green, who recently turned 30, has never had a sip of alcohol in his life. He rarely calls attention to himself off the field, which is something fellow NFL stars like Odell Beckham Jr. can’t say. For reasons like that, Green believes he has a clearer perspective than most of his peers on football and life.
“Cherish everything,” he said. “Nothing is guaranteed in this league. I try to play every play like it’s my last.”
While he knows being considered better than players like Jerry Rice and Randy Moss is an incredibly lofty goal, Green refuses to be discouraged.
“Yeah, I want to be the best,” he insisted. “It’s hard to beat Jerry. It’s hard to beat one of my idols, Randy Moss. But that’s what I strive for every day.”
Green has eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in six of his seven NFL seasons. The only time he came up short was in 2016, when he had 964 yards despite missing six games. Aside from his infamous fight with Jalen Ramsey, he almost always keeps a low profile. That and the Bengals’ lack of postseason success has resulted in Green not getting the attention he deserves, but he’ll definitely have a spot in Canton waiting for him if he continues to play at a high level.
