Two Greats Move Up All-Time Records List
AP - When you think of all-time great receivers, you think of Steve Largent, Don Hutson, Don Maynard, Lance Alworth, Paul Warfield, and Charlie Joiner. When you think of all-time great quarterbacks, you think of Fran Tarkenton, Johnny Unitas, Ken Anderson, George Blanda, Sonny Jurgensen, and Len Dawson. But now you can add two names to those lists, Jerry Rice, and Dave Krieg.
Jerry Rice is no slouch when it comes to catching the football, he is currently the San Francisco 49ers all-time leading receiver in yards with 7,923 yards through week 9 of the 1991 regular season. He's under 1,000 away from entering the top 15 all-time in NFL history as John Stallworth sits there with 8,723. He has made 470 receptions so far through his career, and is only 89 away from the 15th best all-time, Wes Chandler. But there is one that he has already cracked the top 15, in fact, now the top 5 even, as he caught his 86th touchdown pass earlier this week in the 49ers 41-14 stomping of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That 86th touchdown interception moved him over Lance Alworth and Paul Warfield (85 each) into the 4th all-time in NFL history for receiving touchdowns. Rice is now just 2 short of Don Maynard (88), 13 from Don Hutson (99), and 14 from the league's all-time leader, Steve Largent (100). There is no question that the next two to three years of Jerry Rice's career, barring injury, will become the most lauded seasons any NFL wide receiver has ever had in NFL history. Jerry Rice is quickly making a mark for himself in this league, and in some circles within it, is already being talked about as one of the greatest, and possibly
the greatest to play the position.
When you ask most fans who they think the best quarterback in the league is you'll get a mixed response. Usually the names Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Bernie Kosar, Jim Kelly, or even Warren Moon are uttered. But if somebody said Dave Krieg, you would probably laugh. Dave Krieg had a slow start to his career ever since being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks back in 1980. It wasn't until mid-way through the 1983 season that he got to start at quarterback for the franchise, and he has ever since. With six 20+ touchdown seasons, three 3,000+ yard seasons, and four Pro bowls (1984, 1988, 1989, 1990) Krieg is making a name for himself at 33 years of age. Last season he had the help of Brian Blades 15 touchdown receptions to really expand and throw for 2,885 yards and 27 touchdowns through the regular season, leading Seattle to a 9-7 playoff birth, only to stutter slightly and not go to deep. This year has been less style and flash with a 4-4 team record through week 9, and 1,903 yards with 9 touchdowns.
However despite this years mediocrity, Dave Krieg has just launched himself as the 14th best all-time passing yards leader in NFL history. Despite loosing the the Los Angeles Rams 34 to 37, Krieg still managed to surpass Steve Deberg (25,624) on the all-time list and push himself onto it. Krieg now sit just behind fellow current NFL player John Elway (25,980) as they'll both probably close in and surpass on 12th best, Steve Grogan (26,345) and 11th best George Blanda (26,920) before the season's end. Krieg certainly has surprised many around the league as he has seemed to fly under the radar in terms of notoriety. If he continues to play at a high level, and manage to tip over the scales this year and once again put Seattle in the playoffs, maybe then his name might be whispered amongst the league's best quarterbacks.
There is no doubt amongst the NFL fans that Jerry Rice is certainly going to finish his career as one of the top, if not, the best, player to ever play at his position. Although those same fans may be reluctant to say the same about Dave Krieg, as their opinions of him have yet to be determined. Being the 14th best all-time passing yards leader though is something that isn't left to opinion, and is a fact, that NFL fans will always see as a testament to his ability.
