Jerry Rice reaps what he sowed

[Boston Jay]

I forget if he did for that game ("the Catch II", they call it in 49er country), but Rice wasn't too happy when TO caught 20 balls on Jerry Rice day.

Yup, I'm surprised he didn't go into full out tantrum mode.

 

[Satchboogie3]

Talent wise, yes.

Work ethic and overall production, Moss is so far behind Rice that your post IMO is way off.

Results are what counts, not potential.

If Moss has so much more potential, as you claim, and I also agree, then it just make his comparative lack of similar career results all the more of a gap between him and Jerry Rice. Not saying that Moss's body of work isn't impressive. Just that he will never catch Rice. He would have to play until he is about 45.

Jerry Rice and Walter Payton were the two hardest working football players in the offseason. They spent their time running up mountain sides and training endlessly.

If Moss had Rice's work ethic, he just might have his production as well. He wouldn't ever have taken a single play off. I watched him all those years with the Vikings. I watched him pull antics, take plays off, drop balls due to lack of concentration, spend his time making goofy faces at the opposing team's sidelines. All that stuff. I saw it with my own two eyes.

I wanted him to come to the Pats because I knew that he still had the talent, and was capable of maturing. But to compare him to Rice as a football player who is getting the job done on the field to the best of his ability, Moss has only one season which we can really look at as the best of Moss. Rice has an entire career as the best of Rice.

I don't buy into the argument that Moss is better because he has more natural talent. He will be better when his production says so. Right now it is not even close.

Rice's numbers are off the chart. Staggering. Moss will never catch him.

Moss's numbers actually aren't to far off from Rice's so far.

Randy Moss through 154 games:
774 Rec (5.03 rec per game) 12193 yds (79.18 yds per game) 15.8 yds/rec 124 TD (0.81 per game, 0.16 per rec)
He has 2 season of 17TD and 1 season of 23TD.

Jerry Rice through his first 155 games (starting 1986):
893 Rec (5.76 rec per game) 14196 yds (91.59 yds per game) 15.8 yds/rec
143 TD (0.92 per game, 0.16 per rec)
1 season of 17TD, 1 season of 22TD

Notice that their yds/rec and TD/rec are almost identical...

And this is including Moss's last year in Min and 2 years in OAK, where he was not only riddled by injuries, but was stuck in a horrible organization and situation. Rice enjoyed HOF QB and a great team throughout his first 12 seasons. Also, Moss is 30 at this point in his career, Rice was 33 by the time he played his 154th game.

If Moss averages 1200 yds a season, (from age 31-38, Rice averaged 1270 yds per season) he would pass Rice's all time mark at age 39.

Moss is 73TD passes away from Rice's record. If Moss were to average 12 a season, he could pass that mark after 6 seasons (Very possible with Brady as his QB).

And Moss has a very good work ethic. He might not have as intense as a workout as Jerry Rice, but he DOES work extremely hard. There is no reason to suggest he couldn't be dominant for another 6 years if he can stay healthy.

 

[mossisboss]

If Randy stays healthy, he'll easily break Jerry Rice's record by age 35.

He needs 74 TDs to break it....if he averages 15-20 TDs a year...for the next 3 seasons while in his prime, and stay relatively injury free, he'll be at 169-184 TD range at the end of the 2010 season, and he'll be only 33 years old (2 months short of his 34th birthday) at the time....younger than Marvin Harrison is now, and about the same age as TO is now.

TO is still in his prime at age 34, Marvin Harrison was in his prime last season (2006) at age 34, and there's no reason, except injuries, that will slow Randy's production levels for the next 3-4 seasons minimum.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

I heard on Mike and Mike this morning that Jerry Rice is upset about Moss not bending over and kissing Rices ass after he broke the TD rec. record. Rice made some disparaging comments about Moss, I was half asleep so sorry I didnt get a better quote. My point is weeks before leading up to the record being broken Rice had belittled the accomplishment every chance he got so why would he even expect Moss to aknowledge him? Memo to Rice you played 16 games 17 different years, of all those you never caught more than 17 tds( which you achieved once). So you beat a bunch of out of shape corners in a strike shortened season dont act like you never played under a 16 game schedule. Keep it up and you'll be an honorary '72 Dolphin.

Jerry Rice works for NBC11 in the SF Bay Area. He cohosted the extended sports segment Sunday night and talked at length about Moss breaking his record. He was very gracious. He did poke some fun about the whole 12-game vs. 16-game thing, but it clearly was done tongue-in-cheek. If he's indeed upset as Mike & Mike indicate, he sure didn't show it Sunday night.

Regards,
Chris

 

[MarvLevy]

Jerry Rice is worse than the ’72 Dolphins because everyone in the media thinks he’s a god. Of course everything Salisbury said this morning on Mike and Mike had to be prefaced by “let me first say that Rice is without a doubt the best wide receiver ever.” Wouldn’t want to show Rice any hint of disrespect. But let’s repeatedly drag Moss’ name through the mud. That’s an easy and widely accepted practice.

Jerry Rice never once quit on a team. Good for you that Moss decided that it was worth his effort to try this year. But it's hard to respect a guy who got paid millions, screwed a team over that gave up a lot to give him, and basically forced a trade.

Moss is an amazing talent but Rice has more class in his finger than Moss does in his entire body.

 

[karran_s]

I think everything is being blown out of context. Moss wanted to take a jab at the media, not Rice. His comments post game were directed at their jibes at him and he wanted to downplay his achievements vis a vis the record, saying it was "nothing special". He did not make any comments about Rice at all, only that he did not consider breaking this particular record of great importance, a direct poke at the media.

As usual, the media is trying to create another controversy over this. I seem to recall a few weeks ago that Rice did say he was planning to congratulate Moss and he did have a few words of praise for him.

 

[Satchboogie3]

Moss never quit on a team. The Vikings didn't want him anymore after '04 (Moss DIDN'T want to be traded). He didn't quit on the Raiders. He missed time due to injuries and wasn't very effect because of a combination of those injuries and a terrible offense. The Raiders franchise was a disaster when Moss joined them. Why would he give 100% on the field when he was injured and playing for a team that would be lucky to win 4 games? If he did battle through his injuries and play hard, he might have just hurt himself even more.

In hindsight, he looks as good as ever. I think the rest he took with Oakland probably helped him recover from his injuries and get back to how he was with Min.

So don't say he quit on a team. Rice never was in such a ****ty situation. Never. It's all media BS.

 

[Bigdogx]

Why cant Moss take this record the way he wants to take it, why the hell should he embrace it when you have Rice saying how he didnt do it in 12 games crying like a little school girl, well moss didnt do it in 12 games that is correct Jerry but he also didnt have the local garbage man and local bartender playing corner against him either! Funny how that little bit of fact gets lost in the shuffle so easily. Really how many td's would moss have this year going up against the likes of me or you avg people who could never make it in the pro leagues but got that chance when the players walked out on strike! Mosses job is to play football not make friends with media people, why should he give respect when over half of these turds didnt give him any in return!

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Why cant Moss take this record the way he wants to take it, why the hell should he embrace it when you have Rice saying how he didnt do it in 12 games crying like a little school girl, well moss didnt do it in 12 games that is correct Jerry but he also didnt have the local garbage man and local bartender playing corner against him either! Funny how that little bit of fact gets lost in the shuffle so easily. Really how many td's would moss have this year going up against the likes of me or you avg people who could never make it in the pro leagues but got that chance when the players walked out on strike! Mosses job is to play football not make friends with media people, why should he give respect when over half of these turds didnt give him any in return!

Let's get the facts straight. In 1987, the players went on strike for four weeks. One week was outright cancelled. The remaining three strike weeks were the replacement player games. While several players crossed the picket lines league-wide by the 2nd and especially 3rd replacement games (including Pats like Andre Tippett and Raymond Clayborn), Jerry Rice did not. Rice played in the other non-strike 12 games against NFL corners and safeties, not against replacement players.

Regards,
Chris

 

[SpiderFox53]

how did Moss "slap" Rice? I never heard him make any comments regarding Rice at all.

The quote that has everybody up in arms was "I don't care about the record, all I care about is that it shut you (speaking to and of the media) up."

The 'I don't care about the record' was taken by Rice as disrespecting him.

I personally think he needs to get a little perspective and go away (Rice that is).

 

[CarolinaColtFan]

Not trying to throw flames here, but I am curious what your opinion of Moss will be if he decides to quit on you guys, or when you arent winning as much and he pulls his old antics?

 

[DaedalusX]

Not trying to throw flames here, but I am curious what your opinion of Moss will be if he decides to quit on you guys, or when you arent winning as much and he pulls his old antics?

We'll deal with it if we have to cross that bridge and what the circumstances surrounding it are.

 

[Satchboogie3]

There's no reason to believe he will. I don't remember Dillion ever acting out when we lost a big game... The media treated him the same way before coming NE.

Just some food for thought. Randy Moss has far more yds/g, yds/rec, TD/rec, and TD/g in the playoffs than Rice. Granted the body of work is greatly different (Rice 28 games, Moss 8).

 

[DaedalusX]

Let's put this in a different light. If we sent Moss back in time and fresh out of college he was drafted into Bill Walsh's 49ers, getting thrown to by Joe Montana, do you think Moss would have set better records than Rice? I sure as hell do.

Send Rice into the future straight out of college and sign him with the Patriots. Do you think he would have set the same numbers as Moss? Or even as high as the ones he had in San Francisco? Personally, I don't think Belichick and Brady would have put up with his whining or ego enough to let him break records.

 

[MarvLevy]

Let's put this in a different light. If we sent Moss back in time and fresh out of college he was drafted into Bill Walsh's 49ers, getting thrown to by Joe Montana, do you think Moss would have set better records than Rice? I sure as hell do.

Send Rice into the future straight out of college and sign him with the Patriots. Do you think he would have set the same numbers as Moss? Or even as high as the ones he had in San Francisco? Personally, I don't think Belichick and Brady would have put up with his whining or ego enough to let him break records.

Come on now. Diminshing Rice accomplishments is silly. What did Montana and Young have in common? Jerry Rice. So maybe those qbs won't be as good without him. That's silly. Rice was a freak who an elite receiver in late 30s because he worked his tail off.

Moss is probably the most physically talent wr ever. But he doesn't touch Rice as a complete football player. If you guys took off the homer glasses and Moss played for any other team, you realize what a POS he was for what he did to the Raiders. The fact that a guy who plays "when he wants to play" may one day be next to a guy like Butkus or Walter Payton is horrible. But Moss is a freak.

That said, since it happened to the Raiders, no ones really cares.

 

[Deus Irae]

Come on now. Diminshing Rice accomplishments is silly. What did Montana and Young have in common? Jerry Rice. So maybe those qbs won't be as good without him. That's silly. Rice was a freak who an elite receiver in late 30s because he worked his tail off.

Moss is probably the most physically talent wr ever. But he doesn't touch Rice as a complete football player. If you guys took off the homer glasses and Moss played for any other team, you realize what a POS he was for what he did to the Raiders. The fact that a guy who plays "when he wants to play" may one day be next to a guy like Butkus or Walter Payton is horrible. But Moss is a freak.

That said, since it happened to the Raiders, no ones really cares.

Montana, even at the end of his career, did fine without Rice while he was in Kansas City. And, given Rice's whining when he was in a Raiders uniform, don't you find it a bit difficult to choke back the irony when you post this stuff?

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

Yup, thats the Jerry Rice I remember.

Yeah, he does have a huge ego for sure. I met him.

Most people that have fame does as well.

Not all, but most do.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

Come on now. Diminshing Rice accomplishments is silly. What did Montana and Young have in common? Jerry Rice. So maybe those qbs won't be as good without him. That's silly. Rice was a freak who an elite receiver in late 30s because he worked his tail off.

Moss is probably the most physically talent wr ever. But he doesn't touch Rice as a complete football player. If you guys took off the homer glasses and Moss played for any other team, you realize what a POS he was for what he did to the Raiders. The fact that a guy who plays "when he wants to play" may one day be next to a guy like Butkus or Walter Payton is horrible. But Moss is a freak.

That said, since it happened to the Raiders, no ones really cares.

Did you actually follow Rice in his best years, with the 49ers, of course? I did, and I started out really liking him, but after awhile, his whining about not getting the ball enough, jealousy of Joe, complaining about Steve because the ball came to him with opposite spin, then jealousy of TO of all people, gradually wore me down to the point where I couldn't stand him anymore. Now, I change channels if he comes on as a commentator or sidekick on a 49ers wrap show or something. One other thing, Moss is funny to listen to in his own way, but doesn't blow his own horn, instead talking about how great it is to be a Patriot, and how great Brady is. Rice is still me, me, me, and he's also, to tell you the truth, kind of stupid sounding.

Nobody's perfect (except Tom Brady ) but I'll take Moss's act any day over Rice's. Moss is what he is, and that's not a phony. The other guy, well, I don't think I need to say it.

 

[PonyExpress]

Did you actually follow Rice in his best years, with the 49ers, of course? I did, and I started out really liking him, but after awhile, his whining about not getting the ball enough, jealousy of Joe, complaining about Steve because the ball came to him with opposite spin, then jealousy of TO of all people, gradually wore me down to the point where I couldn't stand him anymore. Now, I change channels if he comes on as a commentator or sidekick on a 49ers wrap show or something. One other thing, Moss is funny to listen to in his own way, but doesn't blow his own horn, instead talking about how great it is to be a Patriot, and how great Brady is. Rice is still me, me, me, and he's also, to tell you the truth, kind of stupid sounding.

Nobody's perfect (except Tom Brady ) but I'll take Moss's act any day over Rice's. Moss is what he is, and that's not a phony. The other guy, well, I don't think I need to say it.

I agree with this assessment completely. I remember Rice whining to the press about how his endorsement opportunities were not equal to Joe Montana's. Alot of Rice's prima donna nature was covered up by the adoring press. He reminds me a bit of Marvin Harrison. Let's just say Rice was no saint. People who blame TO for being selfish have to realize where and with whom he cut his teeth. Say what you want about Moss, and there's alot of baggage there, but he's not a phony. Ever.

P.S. I believe Moss is "only" 73 TDs behind Rice's all time career record. 5 years with Brady should just about cover that. I'd love to see that "unbreakable" mark broken.

 

[Tommysgirl]

I agree with this assessment completely. I remember Rice whining to the press about how his endorsement opportunities were not equal to Joe Montana's. Alot of Rice's prima donna nature was covered up by the adoring press. He reminds me a bit of Marvin Harrison. Let's just say Rice was no saint. People who blame TO for being selfish have to realize where and with whom he cut his teeth. Say what you want about Moss, and there's alot of baggage there, but he's not a phony. Ever.

P.S. I believe Moss is "only" 73 TDs behind Rice's all time career record. 5 years with Brady should just about cover that. I'd love to see that "unbreakable" mark broken.

How does he remind you of Marvin Harrison? I hate everything about the Colts-but I'm not sure I've even ever heard that man speak.