This is going to be another non-video game throwback because of the recent transaction my Minnesota Vikings made. That's right, we reacquired my favorite player ever, the one, the only, Randy Moss. In honor of this I thought I'd do some research and make my top 10 wide receivers of all time list. So without further adieu, here it is, in order of 10-1.
10) Marvin Harrison: 1,102 receptions, 14,580 yards, 128 TDs. Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison is the most reliable tandem in NFL history. Harrison went to 8 Pro Bowls and was selected First-team All-Pro 6 times. His most memorable performance though came in 2002 when he caught 143 passes in a single NFL season.
9) Terrell Owens: 1,020 receptions, 15,225 yards, 144 TDs. Statistically TO should probably be higher, but his off the field stuff hurts him for me. He's a great player and went to 6 Pro Bowls and made All-Pro 5 times, but he killed teams from the inside out and that has to count against him somewhat. Still though, I've been very impressed with him this year so far.
8)Steve Largent: 819 receptions, 13,089 yards, 100 TDs. First off, Largent is from god's country, Oklahoma. Second he was a crazy good WR without a lot of height. Kind of an early day Wes Welker and put up huge numbers all the time. I wish I'd been around to watch him play because I've heard he was a joy to watch.
7) Issac Bruce: 1, 024 receptions, 15,208 yards, 91 TDs. Bruce was a major driving force behind the Greatest Show on Turf. Bruce led the new age of wide receivers, which are the type of players we are still seeing today. He and the rest of the Rams ushered in the first of the "spread"ish style offense Mike Martz brought to the game.
6) Paul Warfield: 427 receptions, 8,565 yards, 85 TDs. Warfield doesn't have near the stats of other guys on this list, but he was one of the first to perfect the art of making big plays down field. He played in a different era where teams ran the ball much more and still posted huge numbers. He was one of the first and one of the best.
5) Cris Carter: 1,101 receptions, 13,899 yards, 130 TDs. All he does is catch touchdowns. He twice caught 122 in a single season and was part of one of the best offenses of all time in the 1998 Minnesota Vikings.Carter was an 8-time Pro Bowl and 3-time All Pro selection. Not only that, but he basically trained the number two person on this list as well as Larry Fitzgerald.
4) Michael Irvin: 750 receptions, 11,904 yards, 65 TDs. Irvin's career was cut a little short or his numbers might be even higher. That said his most important stat is his three Super Bowl rings. In the end winning is everything and Irvin's Cowboys won a lot.
3) Don Hutson: 488 receptions, 7,991 yards, 99 TDs. Much like Warfield his numbers aren't as high as others, but he was a pioneer of the position. Not only was he a great receiver, but he also played safety and kicked for his team. A great throwback, all-around player.
2) Randy Moss: 935 receptions, 14, 604 yards, 151 TDs. In the sense of pure ability Moss is probably the greatest WR to ever step on the field. He's 6'4, runs a 4.3 40, and has a vertical leap that's out of this world. Add to that great hands and an uncanny ability to come away with the deep ball. If he had the work ethic and injury luck of the man above him, I fully believe he would be number one in every statistical category. That said, he doesn't have that same drive and luck and will probably always be number two to the next man.
1) Jerry Rice: 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards, 197 TDs. These numbers probably won't be touched anytime soon unless Moss just starts piling up TDs. Rice might not physically be the best, but he's close. He does however have the most drive to be the best and it's likely that nobody will ever be as good as Rice was over his entire career.
Give 'em a few years: Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson.
See ya next time. Some time, same place.
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