Randy Moss vs. Jerry Rice
Randy Moss is, needless to say, having a renaissance year where he once again looks like the league’s best receiver (by a wide margin0 after several disappointing years in Minnesota and Oakland. One of our message board contributors asked the question: What is the gap between Jerry Rice and Randy Moss?
dgreen: Jerry Rice IS the greatest WR of all time. This thread isn’t to claim otherwise.
However, for a long time, Rice has been the G.O.A.T. by a pretty large margin over the next guy. “The next guy” tends to be Don Hutson in many minds, but there is at least some argument about who is “the next guy”. For awhile, Randy Moss was viewed as “the next guy” and a legitimate contender to Rice down the road. Then he went to Oakland and people started to even question his HOF worthiness. Now in NE, he is looking like what we always knew he could be: a contender to Rice.
So, what’s the gap here? How much can Moss close that gap? How good of a chance does Moss have to make a move on Rice for GOAT?
Regardless of what you personally think about Randy Moss, his value to the team, his work ethic, etc…it’s impossible to deny that STATISTICALLY he’s among the very best to ever play the position. But how do you measure Moss’ career against the someone that many feel is the best PLAYER (regardless of position) in the modern era?
I think when you consider career accomplishments, importance to the game, work ethic, attitude, longevity, there are MILES between Randy Moss and Jerry Rice. But to dgreen’s question, how far away is Moss statistically?
Randy is currently playing in his 10th season. Through nine games he’s tallied:
- 56 receptions
- 924 yards
- 12 TDs
If we’re to assume Moss maintains his current pace to finish out the year, he would amass:
- 100 receptions
- 1,643 yards
- 21 TDs
Now let’s compare where Moss’ projected career numbers stand against Jerry Rice’s numbers through 10 seasons:
Career Receiving Stats (through 10 seasons)
| Stat | Jerry Rice | Randy Moss | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receptions | 820 | 776 | 5.7% |
| Yards | 13,275 | 12,343 | 7.6% |
| TDs | 131 | 122 | 7.4% |
As you can see, Rice was quite a bit ahead of Moss through 10 seasons. When you consider the unprecedented longevity that Rice enjoyed, too, it seems pretty safe to say that Randy Moss is really no threat to Jerry Rice’s statistical accomplishments.
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That’s all very true. However, we all know that there are certain untangibles that each great player has that another does. Randy moss is such a deep threat and forces sooo much attention that he can change defenses.
Of course, Jerry Rice is not as big as randy and had to play back when players could really hit eachother- this agains randy moss’s size advantage.
Statistics don’t always say it all.
We have to look and see what each player did for their team.
I think that Jerry is and will be seen as better because he was a gracious player who loved the game through thick and thin.
Moss, i believe is a better “player” when he wants to be. Let’s face it
If you have randy Moss on your team, either he will run all over the defence and break them long, or he will draw so much attention that everyone else will be open all game long.
The only problem with Moss is that he isn’t as highly regarded. If he acted like Tom Brady, then maybe people would think differently, but the attitude makes the man.
Bottom line, Statistically, It could be closer if not for those wasted years in oakland, but whats done is done. Jerry seems unmatchable statistically.
Moss just has to work hard and show that he is a new man for the rest of his career.
Untill then, Jerry is regarded as the greatest.
Comment by rhspv17 — January 13, 2008 @ 12:06 am
Moss is Much more dangerous than Jerry and thats the truth.
Statistics can’t really be a fair comparision due to the
different eras and playing styles.
Randy Moss plays in an era where defence is calculated and targets
start players with 2 or 3 people on defense- He plays in an era
where coaches Change their entire defense over the ability of one
player. A very Technical era.
Jerry played in an era where coaches stuck by their defense and
would- at most- double team a reciever.
However the major differences lie in the fact that in Rice’s era, play wwas much more physical and tough, whereas today, the game is much faster and
skills receivers and defensive backs are more concerned with skill.
Both had great Quarterbacks and/or made quarterbacks great.
Rice was a Randy moss in a slower era.
Truth be told:
Randy is just more of a receiver.
Taller, faster, smarter, hands (on par with rice), reliable (I know, I KNOW,
not until recently).
The bottom line is that Randy moss is just too good and gifted
physically to be denied the best- Stats aside.
Comment by rhspv17 — June 16, 2008 @ 6:58 pm