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Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Is Moss the greatest receiver ever? Just ask him
Posted by: Mark Craig under NFC, Super Bowl Updated: January 30, 2013 - 10:36 AM
NEW ORLEANS -- Is Randy Moss the greatest receiver in NFL history?
Probably not, but he's close. And he's definitely the only one brave enough to sit in a 49ers jersey at Super Bowl media day and proclaim that he is.
"I really do think I'm the greatest receiver to ever play this game," he said Tuesday during media day.
Somewhere, Jerry Rice had to be wondering if Moss realizes he's more likely to rank No. 2 all-time on his own current TEAM.
Rice works as an ESPN analyst (who doesn't?). So he had this to say: "I let my career speak for itself."
This is new ground for Rice, although this isn't the first time Moss has said he thinks he's the best receiver to play the game. Since the late 80s, it's been pretty much universally accepted that Rice is the best receiver in NFL history.
Moss wasn't disrespectful to Rice. He was engaging, honest and entertaining while answering more than 70 questions during the one-hour interview period.
"I like to keep it real," Moss said.
That included his reasoning for thinking he's had a bigger impact on the game than Rice. Moss is generally credited for the evolution of the two-deep safety alignment that's been termed the "Tampa 2."
"I think back to when Jerry was playing -- and no disrespect to Jerry Rice because he's arguably the greatest -- but for me to revolutionize the game, that's what I really put my hat on," Moss said.
I asked Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton, now a member of the media, how Moss will be remembered. He said Moss was the best "deep" threat in NFL history, but puts him in his top five in no particular order, other than somewhere behind Rice.
The other five are former Packer Don Hutson, former Colt Raymond Berry and former Charger Lance Alworth.
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| Tampa Bay - LP: C. Archer | 1 | FINAL |
| Boston - WP: A. Aceves | 5 |
| NY Mets - WP: M. Harvey | 4 | FINAL |
| Atlanta - LP: A. Wood | 3 |
| Los Angeles | 0 | Postponed |
| NY Yankees | 0 |
| Washington | 0 | Delayed |
| Philadelphia | 0 |
| Kansas City | 2 | Bottom 3rd Inning |
| Cleveland | 0 |
| Colorado | 0 | Bottom 3rd Inning |
| Toronto | 4 |
| Baltimore | 0 | Top 3rd Inning |
| Detroit | 0 |
| NY Mets | 0 | Bottom 3rd Inning |
| Atlanta | 0 |
| Pittsburgh | 3 | Top 3rd Inning |
| Cincinnati | 0 |
| Oakland - J. Parker | 7:05 PM |
| Texas - Y. Darvish |
| Tampa Bay - J. Odorizzi | 7:05 PM |
| Boston - F. Doubront |
| Chicago WSox - D. Axelrod | 7:10 PM |
| Minnesota - M. Pelfrey |
| Milwaukee - A. Figaro | 7:10 PM |
| Houston - J. Lyles |
| Chicago Cubs - J. Samardzija | 7:15 PM |
| St. Louis - A. Wainwright |
| Miami - N. Eovaldi | 8:40 PM |
| Arizona - R. Delgado |
| Seattle - J. Bonderman | 9:05 PM |
| LA Angels - J. Blanton |
| San Diego - A. Cashner | 9:15 PM |
| San Francisco - M. Cain |
| San Antonio | 8:00 PM |
| Miami |
| Montreal | 6/20/13 6:00 PM |
| Toronto |
| Winnipeg | 6/20/13 6:00 PM |
| Hamilton |
| Calgary | 6/20/13 9:00 PM |
| Saskatchewan |
| Edmonton | 6/21/13 9:00 PM |
| Brt Columbia |
| Washington | 9:00 PM |
| Seattle |
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