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.