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| The Pro Bowl has its benefits for players, aside from the free trip to Hawaii. For Giants star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., he was able to pick the brain of the greatest wide receiver of all time. Beckham was a captain alongside Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. It provided him an opportunity to try to figure out what made Rice so great. Rice finished his career holding just about every receiving record imaginable. "[Beckham] was trying to pick my brain about different things just to get better," said Rice, who was navigating radio row at Super Bowl 50 for Kay Jewelers, one of America's biggest jewelry stores and the official jeweler for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "He's doing incredible things already. He wants to go down as being one of the best." .... |
He said every game/season he played, he was afraid of not being as successful as he was in the last. As a result, he was never satisfied and always pushed himself harder.
It's remarkable how the fear of not succeeding motivates some athletes as much as the drive to succeed.
While Rice is obviously a "superior wide receiving talent", I never remember saying to myself, "Oh crap, we have to worry about playing against Jerry Rice.", when watching Giants-49er games in the 1980s and 90s. It was more, "Oh crap, we are playing against a Bill Walsh coached, Joe Montana (and later Steve Young) QB's team, with an outstanding defense, running backs, tight ends and wide receiver corps."
My point is Rice played with HOF QBs for a significant portion of his career and the 49er teams he was on had all world talent.
Randy Moss was scary in his prime (on multiple teams). Terrell Owens was scary in his prime (on multiple teams). Was Jerry Rice himself ever scary?
I just hate when Rice is referred to as the GOAT player when he may not be the GOAT wide receiver other than for his amazing longevity.
LT was the best ever at his position. Jim Brown was very likely the best ever at his position. Are we sure Jerry Rice is the best ever at this position?
He said every game/season he played, he was afraid of not being as successful as he was in the last. As a result, he was never satisfied and always pushed himself harder.
It's remarkable how the fear of not succeeding motivates some athletes as much as the drive to succeed.
Rice has been insecure pretty much his entire NFL career.
His rookie season in '85 he couldn't get it together with not dropping passes until later in the season.
He took to heart not playing well at Giants' stadium until at least the '88 season.
Was bothered that John Taylor never worked very hard and got by on natural talent. There was talk that Taylor could be as talented or more talented as Rice but didn't care to be.
Being eclipsed by Irvin and the Cowboys '92 and '93.
Being faded out as #1 WR in SF by T.O., late '90s.
Proving himself in Oakland alongside Tim Brown, '00 - '02.
Playing in Seattle one season just to stay in league.
Being told by Shannahan he couldn't be more than a 3rd or 4th WR in Denver, forcing his retirement.
The guy was just singularly obsessed with the game. He butted heads with Deion Sanders because he wasn't serious enough about preparing for San Diego in the SB, as 18 point favorites.
Even now just listening to him talk in interviews, you can tell he's still a bit insecure and hard to tell why.
While Rice is obviously a "superior wide receiving talent", I never remember saying to myself, "Oh crap, we have to worry about playing against Jerry Rice.", when watching Giants-49er games in the 1980s and 90s. It was more, "Oh crap, we are playing against a Bill Walsh coached, Joe Montana (and later Steve Young) QB's team, with an outstanding defense, running backs, tight ends and wide receiver corps."
My point is Rice played with HOF QBs for a significant portion of his career and the 49er teams he was on had all world talent.
Randy Moss was scary in his prime (on multiple teams). Terrell Owens was scary in his prime (on multiple teams). Was Jerry Rice himself ever scary?
I just hate when Rice is referred to as the GOAT player when he may not be the GOAT wide receiver other than for his amazing longevity.
LT was the best ever at his position. Jim Brown was very likely the best ever at his position. Are we sure Jerry Rice is the best ever at this position?
Wow, I don't know where to begin. Yes, Jerry Rice is unquestionably the greatest receiver that's ever played the game, it's not remotely close.
He WAS scary. He ran better routes than anyone else and had great hands. He literally could not be covered on the slant.
The talent is there. Will he have the drive later on in his career to construe to be great?
It's doubtful but we can only hope and enjoy the ride
Beckham has been on a record setting pace the last two years and let's take the average of his two years as the baseline to use in this example.... 94 receptions - 1,378 rec yards - 13 TDs (slightly rounded up).
If Odell continues playing at that pace, without injury, Beckham has to continue this pace and stay healthy for over 16.5 years to break Jerry Rices records of 1,549 receptions - 22,895 rec yards - 207 TDs
Think about that, over 16.5 year at this elite All-Pro type level without any injuries or any poor seasons. Plus this is all without mentioning his QB.
Not only does Odell need Eli to continue playing at an elite level the next 4-5 years but he also needs Manning's replacement who will be the starting QB for the Giants in the 2020's to also play near an elite level.
That's why I don't think anyone will ever come close to Rice. He had the perfect storm of entering the NFL as a rookie in a very pass friendly West Coast offense and playing in that offense the majority of his career. Not to mention he had an AMAZING run at QBs throwing to him going from Hall of Famers in both Joe Montana and Steve Young to 4 time Pro-Bowler QBs in both Jeff Garcia and Rich Gannon.
While Rice is obviously a "superior wide receiving talent", I never remember saying to myself, "Oh crap, we have to worry about playing against Jerry Rice.", when watching Giants-49er games in the 1980s and 90s. It was more, "Oh crap, we are playing against a Bill Walsh coached, Joe Montana (and later Steve Young) QB's team, with an outstanding defense, running backs, tight ends and wide receiver corps."
My point is Rice played with HOF QBs for a significant portion of his career and the 49er teams he was on had all world talent.
Randy Moss was scary in his prime (on multiple teams). Terrell Owens was scary in his prime (on multiple teams). Was Jerry Rice himself ever scary?
I just hate when Rice is referred to as the GOAT player when he may not be the GOAT wide receiver other than for his amazing longevity.
LT was the best ever at his position. Jim Brown was very likely the best ever at his position. Are we sure Jerry Rice is the best ever at this position?
We may never be sure, and it's always up for debate. I've heard all of them and they're all legitimate.
He had no weaknesses. Every aspect of his game was top notch.
One thing that is not up for debate is that Rice is easily the best 30, 35, 40 year old WR ever to play and most likely will be that way. He had an 1885 yard season at age 33. If 35 year old Randy Moss was as good as 35 year old Jerry Rice, the Niners would have won that last super bowl.
He maximized his playing talent more than anyone ever, it's not even close.
1000 yard season with Rich Gannon QBing and Tim Brown on the other side at age 40.
And think about the physicality of the game in the '80s and '90s compared to now. He was still good and healthy all the way to the end.
While Rice is obviously a "superior wide receiving talent", I never remember saying to myself, "Oh crap, we have to worry about playing against Jerry Rice.", when watching Giants-49er games in the 1980s and 90s. It was more, "Oh crap, we are playing against a Bill Walsh coached, Joe Montana (and later Steve Young) QB's team, with an outstanding defense, running backs, tight ends and wide receiver corps."
My point is Rice played with HOF QBs for a significant portion of his career and the 49er teams he was on had all world talent.
Randy Moss was scary in his prime (on multiple teams). Terrell Owens was scary in his prime (on multiple teams). Was Jerry Rice himself ever scary?
I just hate when Rice is referred to as the GOAT player when he may not be the GOAT wide receiver other than for his amazing longevity.
LT was the best ever at his position. Jim Brown was very likely the best ever at his position. Are we sure Jerry Rice is the best ever at this position?
Seriously? I know what you're trying to say, but you're writing off Rice like he was just compiling years and inflating his stats. His peak lasted a decade.
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I'll admit, I have some "anti-49er bias" in me. It is clear Rice's longevity allowed him to amass most / all of the wide receiver career records.
While Rice is obviously a "superior wide receiving talent", I never remember saying to myself, "Oh crap, we have to worry about playing against Jerry Rice.", when watching Giants-49er games in the 1980s and 90s. It was more, "Oh crap, we are playing against a Bill Walsh coached, Joe Montana (and later Steve Young) QB's team, with an outstanding defense, running backs, tight ends and wide receiver corps."
My point is Rice played with HOF QBs for a significant portion of his career and the 49er teams he was on had all world talent.
Randy Moss was scary in his prime (on multiple teams). Terrell Owens was scary in his prime (on multiple teams). Was Jerry Rice himself ever scary?
I just hate when Rice is referred to as the GOAT player when he may not be the GOAT wide receiver other than for his amazing longevity.
LT was the best ever at his position. Jim Brown was very likely the best ever at his position. Are we sure Jerry Rice is the best ever at this position?
Seriously? I know what you're trying to say, but you're writing off Rice like he was just compiling years and inflating his stats. His peak lasted a decade.
Exactly. The "longevity" argument really has no relevance. He has 7,000 more receiving yards then the #2 all-time (T.O.). SEVEN THOUSAND. He has 41 more receiving TDs than the #2 all-time (Moss).
He would still have those records and still be the greatest even if his career was several seasons shorter.
That's a silly comment. It wasn't Rice's longevity that allowed him to achieve those career records, it was also playing at an elite level all those years also.
As I posted above, if you take Odell Beckham's average from the last two years, 94 receptions - 1,378 rec yards - 13 TDs. Then Beckham would need to play at that same level for over 16.5 years to come close to Rice.
Plus Rice was very feared each time the 49ers played the Giants. Just look at his week 2 game against the Giants in 1988. With the Giants winning 17-13 late in the 4th quarter in a game Rice was pretty much held in check. It took just one play, an 78 yard TD, to break the game open with the 49ers winning 20-17. It was that type of big play ability like that TD reception, along with his elite hands and route running that made him so dangerous and feared when he was in his prime.
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player I have ever seen. Uncanny how many slants and short passes he took to the house and made several defenders miss on his way.
Yep. But he wasn't duking guys out. Again, not a jab--just seems that people are misremembering him.
After all these years, it does work both ways, as it also just seems that people don't remember how lethal of a weapon he was in his prime.
While Rice is obviously a "superior wide receiving talent", I never remember saying to myself, "Oh crap, we have to worry about playing against Jerry Rice.", when watching Giants-49er games in the 1980s and 90s. It was more, "Oh crap, we are playing against a Bill Walsh coached, Joe Montana (and later Steve Young) QB's team, with an outstanding defense, running backs, tight ends and wide receiver corps."
Pretty sure you're the only one that thought this because every Giant fan I knew back then reacted with "Oh fuck, how do we even slow down Rice" let alone stop him. Montana was a close second.
I don't have time to check into the stats, I'm going off of my recollection / impression, but at his peak, I don't think Rice was a scary as, say Randy Moss was.
I don't think Rice deserves to be the greatest of all time NFL player. Lawrence Taylor fundamentally changed the game (the way Bob Gibson changed baseball in the late 1960s). I don't think Jerry Rice did. I don't know of another player that had the size, speed, ability to play hurt, ability to strike fear in his opponents, football intelligence and passion that LT did. Jim Brown comes close.
Rice was a very great player, just not the greatest IMHO.
They won a superbowl with Dwight Clark playing WR BEFORE Rice got there.
Further proof? Steve Young was a bust with the Continental league, a bust with the NFL. He comes to SF late in his career and becomes all world. Why? The system!!
The thing is taking a tack like this is taken as a slap at Rice, he was a great receiver just as Montana was a great QB, but both profited enormously by playing in an advanced form or the West Coast and neither was, in my opinion, close to be the very best at their position.
They won a superbowl with Dwight Clark playing WR BEFORE Rice got there.
Further proof? Steve Young was a bust with the Continental league, a bust with the NFL. He comes to SF late in his career and becomes all world. Why? The system!!
The thing is taking a tack like this is taken as a slap at Rice, he was a great receiver just as Montana was a great QB, but both profited enormously by playing in an advanced form or the West Coast and neither was, in my opinion, close to be the very best at their position.
I think you're undervaluing Steve Young just a bit?? LOL
moss was an excellent receiver too, but how many super bowls did he win? how many times did he not show up in a big game?
He said every game/season he played, he was afraid of not being as successful as he was in the last. As a result, he was never satisfied and always pushed himself harder.
It's remarkable how the fear of not succeeding motivates some athletes as much as the drive to succeed.
I agree. But maybe more remarkable to me is how many athletes seem to make it to the pros and lose motivation or not seem to care as much about the things that even fans would. Like appearing to put forth a total effort. Trying to get better. Being upset at losses etc...Some athletes seem so casual its like why?
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that what made him great was his constant fear of failure.
He said every game/season he played, he was afraid of not being as successful as he was in the last. As a result, he was never satisfied and always pushed himself harder.
It's remarkable how the fear of not succeeding motivates some athletes as much as the drive to succeed.
I agree. But maybe more remarkable to me is how many athletes seem to make it to the pros and lose motivation or not seem to care as much about the things that even fans would. Like appearing to put forth a total effort. Trying to get better. Being upset at losses etc...Some athletes seem so casual its like why?
moss was an excellent receiver too, but how many super bowls did he win? how many times did he not show up in a big game?
Actually, he played at an elite level under 4 head coaches and 3 different quarterbacks.
Everyone forgets how good he was with the Raiders in 2001 (under Gruden) and 2002 (under Callahan). He made Rich Gannon an MVP!
Ever wonder why the TE was wide open all the time for Montana? It's because at his peak, you couldn't cover him with two DB's. Not only is he the greatest WR of all time, there's a very good case (as mentioned above) that he is the #1 player of all time.
I don't know of any player that maintained his level of play for as long as Rice did. And he might have been the best practice player of all time, too, from what I heard.
His workouts were insane and all day everyday season and off season for year after year.
Was not an accident. Was not the qb. Not when its seven thousand yards better than second place. Was not a longevity compiler.
As Bill Parcells said:
After a while you are what your record says you are.
Then you see Eli Manning. And you hear people complain about his salary. And it makes you mad as hell because he is who you pay every time. Not Desean Jackson....Eli Manning. Not Johnny Football but Andrew Luck.
I think so, but I find what Rice did more impressive vs. guys like Emmitt. Emmitt, toward the end, seemed to get the ball more because of rep and the record and not because he was the best option.
When you watch Rice, the combination of his acceleration after the catch + Montana/Young's unreal accuracy + Walsh's futuristic WCO just makes it unfair for the NFL defenses of that time.
IMO, Jerry Rice is Kareem (all-around excellence + longevity) and Randy Moss is Shaq (One dimensional, amazing at that dimension but could've become more complete). If the latter two had the maturity and effort-level of the former pair, they would've been the better pair. But they weren't and that's because they didn't possess that special iron will and insatiable desire to maximize every ounce of their ability.
Odell is awesome. Hopefully he can learn how to be even better from Rice.
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compiling in the NFL actually at least equally as impressive?
I think so, but I find what Rice did more impressive vs. guys like Emmitt. Emmitt, toward the end, seemed to get the ball more because of rep and the record and not because he was the best option.
oh i didn't mean to inadvertently compliment Emmitt Smith.
But this:
This is just crazy talk. He not only is the greatest player at WR ever, he is also in the GOAT debate.