Zulgad: You can't be serious: Cris Carter says Randy Moss is third-best receiver in Vikings history
Carter has Justin Jefferson atop the list and puts himself second. No one is debating the greatness of both, but putting Moss third is ridiculous. Here's why.
Randy Moss could be churlish. He could be a challenge to coach. He could be a pain in the behind for everyone around him.
This is all true.
But so is this: Randy Moss is the best wide receiver in the 64-year history of the Minnesota Vikings — even if Cris Carter doesn’t agree.
Carter, one of the greatest wide receivers to play for the Vikings, was asked by former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall at the Vikings-Jets game in London to name the top five receivers in franchise history.
Carter put former teammate, Jake Reed, at No. 5 and Anthony Carter at No. 4. He then ranked Moss at No. 3, himself at No. 2 and Justin Jefferson at No. 1.
There’s a case to be made that Jefferson is the best receiver in the NFL right now, and Carter made some incredible catches and posted phenomenal numbers in his 12 years with the Vikings (1,004 catches, 12,838 yards and 110 touchdowns in 188 games). There’s a solid case to be made that Carter should be ranked ahead of Jefferson.
But Moss should be ahead of both of them.
The why goes beyond the statistics Moss accumulated during his first seven NFL seasons, all spent in purple. Those were eye-popping. Moss caught 574 passes for 9,142 yards with 90 touchdowns in 109 games and 104 starts. Despite the famous “I play when I want to play” quote he gave legendary Star Tribune sports columnist Sid Hartman, Moss did not miss a game in his first six seasons. Did he take plays off at times? Yes.
But if you saw Moss from opening day of his rookie season against Tampa Bay — four catches, 95 yards, touchdown receptions of 48 and 31 yards — until he was traded to Oakland after the 2004 season, you wouldn’t put Carter or Jefferson above him.
There are two primary reasons for this: 1) Moss’ arrival as the 21st pick in the first round in 1998 changed the game. His blinding speed and incredible downfield catches are more common today because of what Moss did then. 2) Moss’ success transformed the Vikings from a team that had its final home game in 1997 blacked out to one that suddenly had a rabid, young fan base that came ready to party and watch Moss electrify the Metrodome.
Ask Vikings fans between the ages of 45 and 50 what made them fall in love with the team and many will say Moss. The heartbreak of the loss to Atlanta in the 1998 NFC championship game was proceeded by a 15-1 regular season in which Moss played the starring role.
Coach Dennis Green’s team set since broken single-season record for scoring with 556 points. Moss had a rookie-record and NFL leading 17 touchdown receptions. He had five catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-24 victory on Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field and three catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns in a 46-36 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.
Moss’ 13 receptions for 343 yards and three touchdowns in two victories over Green Bay resulted in Packers general manager Ron Wolf using his first three draft picks in 1999 on defensive backs.