By Mark Vasto
King Features Syndicate
Ask me if I think Jerry Rice is the greatest wide receiver who ever lived and whether or not I think Emmitt Smith is the greatest running back of all time, and I'll say, "sure, why not?" Both stand as supremely talented professionals, championship winners and the all-time statistical leaders for their respective positions.
Ask me similar, less-specific questions, and I'll offer another set of answers. Of the players I've seen and/or reported on, who was the best running back of all time? Walter Payton. Who was the best running back for a short period of time? I'll take Bo Jackson. The most talented running back I've ever seen was Barry Sanders, the most entertaining was Tony Dorsett, but Eric Dickerson would be the guy I'd choose from all of them if starting a franchise. Ask my dad who was the best of all time at each spot and he'd probably say Jim Brown or Gayle Sayers, Ray Berry or Don Hutson.
When it comes to the wide receiver position, Jim Rice is actually the reason why I de-emphasize the importance of wide receivers come draft day. Here's a guy who couldn't get a Division-1 team to take a chance on him, so he hits Division-II so hard he ends up the key piece on Bill Walsh's '49ers late-century juggernaut in San Francisco--a 16th-round draft pick. Given the benefit of hindsight, is there any team that wouldn't have drafted him second to Bruce Smith that year? Questionable, to say the least.
Detractors of Rice generally point to two things: he was the centerpiece of Bill Walsh's "West Coast Offense"--an offence that featured short, accurate throws by the quarterback--and his quarterbacks just happened to be two guys named Joe Montana and Steve Young. Would we be having this same discussion if he was playing for Ray Handley and his quarterback was Ryan Leaf? Conversely, could Lionel Manuel be enshrined if he played for Walsh, Montana and Young? Probably not, but maybe Al Toon--drafted six slots before Rice in '84--would have.
And while there is no question Smith is the all-time leading league rusher, whether or not he was the best of all-time or even of his era, is a far different argument. Smith benefited from a dominant offensive line and a more balanced attack with Troy Aikman and Michael Irving in the mix. That gave him the longevity needed to break Payton's record. Others, in the same setup, could be the all time-leader.
But there are no others, Rice and Smith are the leaders, and a few weeks ago took their place among the greats at Canton, Ohio, a place they certainly belonged--without question.