Don't argue: Jerry Rice stands alone at the top of the list
Written by Sean Salisbury, Thursday July 07 2011
People love lists. We always want to list who the greatest player is at every position in every sport. We want to know the top 10 movies, the 10 hottest women of all-time, the top college bars, etc., and all of these categories have an argument as to who is the best. Apparently, even Scottie Pippen has an argument for who the best NBA player of all-time is (trust me, it ain’t Lebron!).
As I’ve gone over many sports lists, there is only one position where there is no argument who the greatest of all-time is – and that’s Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. No one can argue that he is not the greatest NFL receiver ever to set foot on a playing field.
When you think quarterbacks, you can argue for Elway, Montana, Unitas, Marino, and many more could be considered. There is no definitive answer.
We can argue who the greatest baseball player is of all-time: Ruth, Mays, Williams, Bonds, the debate still looms without an answer.
How about running backs? Is it Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith? Even defensive players can’t answer that. But when it comes to wide receivers, any and every player I’ve ever spoken to or interviewed has the same answer as I do, as you do, as the media does and as the fans do and as wide receivers themselves do – there is only one name at the top, and that’s Jerry Rice. The debate is over who comes in second.
When you look at durability, touchdowns, playing under pressure, route running, work ethic (incomparable), championships, yards, catches, helping put two quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame, Jerry Rice is Mount Rushmore. While there have been faster receivers, while they’ve jumped higher, made more money and were more physical, no player stands alone at his position in any sport in any era more than Jerry Rice did at his.
So argue away and continue to create those lists. But when it comes to wide receivers, the best one is etched in stone.
Sean Salisbury, former NFL quarterback and NFL analyst for ESPN, covers sports for www.playerpress.com. Follow him on Twitter @SeanUnfiltered.
Tags:
Recent 49ers Articles
- A.J. Jenkins Gets a Quality Tutor—Jerry Rice
- Manningham Signs With 49ers is Manning Next
- Randy Moss Signs One-Year Deal with 49ers
- Aldon Smith Charged With DUI
- NFC Teams Make a Point in Playoff Victories
- San Francisco 49ers…Dat Who
- 49ers Beat Saints With Last Second TD
- Anyone Remember Terrell Owens?
- Braylon Edwards Gives Away his Salary
- Steelers/MNF Game a Conspiracy?
Leave a comment
Not So Fast! To publish your comment, you have to login
Not Registered? Register now as it only take 20 seconds!
Click here to browse
0 comments