The "other 81" has caught up to the "original 81."
Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss caught a touchdown pass today against the Dolphins, giving him 140 touchdown catches in his career -- the same number as Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens. The two are tied for second place on the all-time receiving touchdowns list, well behind Jerry Rice, who's first with 197.
For Moss, moving up the career receiving touchdowns list is an occasion to consider just what a great career he's had. But for Owens, it's probably an occasion to feel just a little bit perturbed.
Prior to the 2007 Cowboys-Patriots game, Owens informed the press that he would only take questions in writing because he was sure there would be too many reporters crowding him to ask questions about the match-up between the "original 81" (himself) and the "other 81" (Moss). At the time, it was legitimate for Owens to put himself in Moss's company.
But considering that Moss has now caught up to Owens on the career touchdowns list, and considering that Moss is younger than Owens, it's safe to say that Moss will eventually put up career numbers that far exceed those of Owens. Owens can't feel good about that.
So we can all offer congratulations to Moss for moving into second place on the career receiving touchdowns list. But Owens probably won't be joining us.
Moss ties Owens on TD list
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 8, 2009 8:45 PM ET
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Latest stories in: Buffalo Bills, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, New England Patriots, Top Stories
Looks like that Moss guy has a little something left in the tank.
He might help Brady occasionally.
There is 4 years difference between them in age.
Plus Moss is able to actually keep a job.
If he can stick around, and continue to perform at a high level for another 6 years, Moss may actually have a shot at Rice's record. It probably won't happen, but it is a possibility.
(Loved having to retype this post. Anyone ever going to fix the registration logout thing? Maybe install a filter while you're at it, so I can see responses to this post sometime in the next three hours)
I thought Owens was playing in Canada.
Is he the 2nd best WR of all time? A few years ago I would have said "No", but after watching the catches that he makes game after game I would have to say, "Yes".
57 more? thats 5 or 6 more solid seasons. if brett favre has taught us anything, its that people hang on until they get the record. and i think thats what hes gonna try to do. try.
Terrell Owens has been a great receiver. There's no shame in being in the same company as Randy Moss, and that's how Owens will be remembered.
Love Randy Moss, hes simply amazing, always has and always will be.
In the press conference after the game Moss is humble, giving credit to all the guys on the field doing their jobs
I kindof have a tough time imagining TO doing that.
I can see him blaming 10 other guys... but not giving them credit.
I have to say that I was very nervous about Moss coming to New England, not just for his reputation of behavior, but for the performance he had shown on the field in Oakland.
Randy Moss has instead become an absolute joy to Patriots fans. He has become a dedicated, true "team" player, and a model citizen. I consider him a team leader by example. And performance??? Can anyone question this man's talents after watching even a single Patriots game?
He runs the patterns, he's where he's supposed to be, and if the called play isn't developing, he makes adjustments and is in incredible sync with Tom Brady.
And can this cat catch a football! High, low, between defenders, on his back, you name it, this guy's done it for New England, and dude has played with an tormenting back injury, without complaint ("dogging it" my a$$, Freeman).
Randy Moss has been an unbelievable addition to the Patriots, as has been Wes "you throw it, I'll catch it" Welker, another amazing receiver.
We are blessed to have talented receivers like these two, and a talented QB like Tom Brady to get the balls to them.
Anyone who says that any of these three guys suck, you'd give your left nut to have any one of them on your team right now, and both nuts to have all three, and you know it.
Job well done, Randy; Patriots fans love you and thank you for all you've brought to this team.
How does that feel, Al Davis?
Congrats to one of the greatest Vikings of all time. I hated how it ended for Moss in Minny, but it is good to see him succeeding somewhere else. Funny how just 5 years ago vikings fans like myself were complaining about how John Madden had a hard on for Favre but hated Moss.
night train lane
calvin megatron johnson
torry holt
anquan boldin
all wore or wear #81.
2 may have careers better than she-ho.
one db arguably did.
one wr is arguably still as good as him.
not even talking moss here yet...
that should piss T.O. off
I'll always consider Moss #84 in my heart
It's so weird to think that Moss is getting that old already. I remember him coming into the Vikings as a rookie and absolutely lighting the league on fire. Damn I'm old.
hooby, your comment about Favre displayed a level of stupidity that is simply staggering - even for this web site.
Please, hoobster, do your fellow human beings a favor and have yourself spayed and/or neutered so that you do not contaminate the world with the fruit of your ignorant loins.
Thank you all, and may God bless America!
The worst thing Moss has to live with is the constant comparisons to Owens.
Moss was always a great player and an awesome teammate. Always. The Twin Cities media just created a bunch of garbage and lies, and as a result the Vikings were dumb enough to trade him.
Old business.
Wait a minute..i thought he was dogging it this yr to end up playing with brett favre. As always florio has ignored to acknowledge his baseless reach ...
If Owens was in a different offense he'd still be ahead. the Bucs should make a run for Owens next year. GO BUCS!!!!!!
Randy Moss is going to the HOF. Owens isn't. Mark it down. You don't burn that many bridges and then get in the HOF. If Owens would have kept his mouth shut in Philly, he would go down as an all-time great.
Something tells me this Randy Moss guy is kind of good... (actually, I think he's better than Rice... Let the blasphemy talk begin).
Moss IS more talented than Rice was, although he may not have the drive and will probably never get the same amount of credit, even if he did catch Jerry's stats. Since he started playing teams have had to formulate entire defensive strategies around him. He's made mediocre QB's look like Pro Bowlers and gave Tom Brady the best season ever.
It will be interesting to see what the Pats do with Moss' contract after next season...who knows - maybe they'll trade him back to the Raiders considering their propensity for doing those kinds of things [laugh]. Personally, I'd like to see him come back to Minnesota, but thats a long shot if there isn't a decent QB here in 2011 (Favre will be dead by then). Moss' best interest would probably be to stay with the Patriots (likely at a discount) to finish out his career if he wants to have a legit shot at getting a ring or two before its all over. Money talks, but I don't think Moss really cares about money anymore [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07G23zMGa4g ] and I can't see him being happy going to a sh!t team and rotting for the duration of his career while a guy like a Trent Edwards of Jason Campell struggles to get him the ball.
On this one item, the Bed n' Breakfast boy was right: Moss' legs are starting to go. He's a 1/2 season guy. The first eight games or so, Moss looks unstoppable. He did last year. The last eight games he fades into obscurity. He doesn't have the 4.2 speed he had when he came into the league and he was never overpowering like Owens. Let's look at Moss' states from this point until the end of the season and let's see how he does.
Moss as a rookie had more talent than Rice as a rookie. However, Rice worked at his craft his entire year. Rice was productive everywhere he went until it was clear he had to retire. Moss took whole seasons off. I would honestly be surprised if Moss gets into the HoF after what he did in MN and Oakland. HoF players do not take plays off.
TO only has himself to blame. Every QB he has had (elite ones and not) he's thrown under the bus. If he came to NE or Indy or anywhere with a big QB and played for the league minimum for 1 year, he'd have gotten his big contract and franchise QB throwing to him, but he ran his mouth off and got kicked out of town.
That said, TO is an all time great at WR, like him or not.
24seven you are a mindless hater. Watch a game sometime without hate in your eyes. Observe what happens the first time a very deep safety isn't shaded to Moss' side of the field. He never could, and still can't, be covered by one man an entire game. Listen to the DB's who cover him. They don't say he takes plays off. Listen to the coaches who coach against him. Listen to his teamates not Joe Buck.
I think it probably closer to true that you have mindless love. I have no hate. I'm looking at the film and his numbers. In 2008 he average 10 less yards per catch and one less catch per game in the second half of the season. In the first half of the season he's great. Right after a bye he's great. However, he shows consistent degradation near the end of a season. That was true in Oakland and it's true in NE. You would think he'd have better numbers in the second half of the season given the wear and tear on corners and safeties over the course of the season. So, while it is true that *at times* he cannot be covered by one man, near the end of the season he most definitely can. Moss' current stats for the first eight games look great. However, as I said, let's see how he does in the next eight games.