There was never any debate in the minds of San Francisco 49ers fans. Jerry Rice is the greatest wide receiver to ever step onto a football field. Randy Moss had a different opinion, which was enough for the former NFL receiver to grab some headlines and start some debate in December. During a conversation with Terrell Owens, Moss said he was the greatest, followed by Owens.
Yes, Moss placed Rice at "third or fourth" on his personal ranking.
Most laughed at the idea that Moss should be considered the best ever. One of the many who backed Rice for the title is another Hall of Fame receiver, Michael Irvin.
Irvin did so again when asked about the greatest receiver of all time on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (h/t to Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports).
"Jerry Rice is first, period," Irvin reportedly said. "Jerry Rice is probably the least physically gifted out of those three guys. Probably the slowest out of those three, probably the least vertical out of those three. But, when Jerry Rice put it all together, he's a better receiver. He's the greatest of all time, the most accomplished. He's a better receiver. ... TO and Randy Moss, they were great receivers and were physically gifted with all of the gifts."
Rice racked up 1,549 receptions for 22,895 yards and 197 receiving touchdowns, all of which are NFL records, during his dominant 20-year NFL career. Those are just a few of the many records Rice owns.
"I don't care if I'm the one, the second, or the third receiver," Rice said in December when asked about Moss' comments. "It was all about me winning Super Bowls for the city of San Francisco, my teammates, and my family. I was able to win three Super Bowls. I was an MVP. I pretty much hold every record right now."
Rice was a 13-time Pro Bowl selection and 10-time first-team All-Pro. More importantly, he has three Super Bowl rings. While Moss' own resume is impressive, many will argue that it pales in comparison to Rice's.
"I've said that before," Irvin continued. "My opinion is I know what is required to play the position. ... There's nothing like playing the position that we played. Jerry Rice, all that he's done, it's insane."
Irvin has said it before. He was previously asked about Moss' comments during an interview on 95.7 The Game.
"None of those other guys have three Super Bowls," Irvin said in December. "... Jerry Rice is the greatest of all time. If anybody says anything other than that, (he) needs to go see some kind of doctor to examine his cranium. Period."
Not only does Irvin feel Rice is the greatest receiver ever. Irvin believes Rice is the greatest football player ever.
"This shouldn't even be a discussion," Irvin continued during that December radio interview. "I got Jerry Rice up there for the greatest player — period — of all-time. I don't want to hear wide receiver. I'm talking about, period, of all time. So, this discussion should not be a discussion."
H/t to Peter Panacy of Niner Noise for the find)