What's more impressive (1 Viewer)

[bigmarc27]

1549 receptions as a WR (5.1 receptions per game played)

Or

1161 receptions as a TE (4.8 receptions per game played)

Rice and Tony Gonzalez. It's hard to argue that either is not the best ever at their respective positions, but is the gap wider from Rice to the #2 WR or Gonzalez to the #2 TE?

 

[Shutout]

I'm gonna say Rice because 1)He's Jerry "Jesus in cleats" Rice and

2) A TE can have a longer career once skills decline if he can be of service as a blocker and he can muddle through padding on stats as he catches a few short-range balls here and there as his career winds down. The majority of WRs, on the other hand, don't have that luxury.

Of course, Gonzo isn't that type of TE I described. Both are awesome. But I think the Rice stat is the more impressive and harder to duplicate.

Another way of thinking of Rice's stat: All Calvin Johnson has to do to break that record is to repeat his season from last year for the next 12 years.

 

[The_Wolfman]

I think both are pretty impressive. It's amazing that Gonzo as a TE has more receptions than any other receiver except Rice. The guy revolutionized the position and played (and is still playing) at a high level for a long time.

That said, with nearly 400 more receptions, Rice's feat is more impressive. A lot of guys go their whole careers without getting 400 receptions, that's still a pretty sizeable gap that I'm not sure anyone will ever even come close to.

 

[DoubleG]

I think both are pretty impressive. It's amazing that Gonzo as a TE has more receptions than any other receiver except Rice. The guy revolutionized the position and played (and is still playing) at a high level for a long time.

That said, with nearly 400 more receptions, Rice's feat is more impressive. A lot of guys go their whole careers without getting 400 receptions, that's still a pretty sizeable gap that I'm not sure anyone will ever even come close to.

I do agree that a TE can lose speed and still be productive for several years. Being able to be that productive at WR for so long is amazing. Gonzalez is a stud, no doubt. Jerry Rice, though, was A BEAST!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry. Couldn't help it.

 

[Shutout]

I think both are pretty impressive. It's amazing that Gonzo as a TE has more receptions than any other receiver except Rice. The guy revolutionized the position and played (and is still playing) at a high level for a long time.

That said, with nearly 400 more receptions, Rice's feat is more impressive. A lot of guys go their whole careers without getting 400 receptions, that's still a pretty sizeable gap that I'm not sure anyone will ever even come close to.

I do agree that a TE can lose speed and still be productive for several years. Being able to be that productive at WR for so long is amazing. Gonzalez is a stud, no doubt. Jerry Rice, though, was A BEAST!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry. Couldn't help it.

It really is. At the age of 39 and 40, Rice caught 175 balls for almost 2400 yards and nearly 20 TDs. Think about that. We got guys in their mid 20's in the most pass-happy version of the NFL there has ever been and nobody outside 2-3 guys in the league can have a legit chance at having a 2-year run like that Now..today.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I think the state of the tight end position today is such that Gonzalez is already being eclipsed.

Rice with Montana regularly beat teams, they were the single most important focus in any given game, and together they won 4 Super Bowls.

Gonzalez created a new prototype for the position like Tom Fears or Don Hutson. I think the most amazing thing is it took so long after his best years with Vermeil for the rest of the NFL to catch on.

 

[FUBAR]

Gonzo is more impressive to me because he was also such a good blocker that there were many games the Chiefs would keep him in to help block. Maybe the stats can show otherwise, but I lived in Kansas for 6 years during Gonzo's time there and it seemed whenever an offensive lineman was injured they would rely heavily on Gonzo to keep their QB upright and in their running game.

Gonzo and Rice are both among the top 5 players to ever play the game, but I rank Gonzo just slightly ahead of Rice.

 

[FUBAR]

I think the state of the tight end position today is such that Gonzalez is already being eclipsed.

Rice with Montana regularly beat teams, they were the single most important focus in any given game, and together they won 4 Super Bowls.

Gonzalez created a new prototype for the position like Tom Fears or Don Hutson. I think the most amazing thing is it took so long after his best years with Vermeil for the rest of the NFL to catch on.

I assume you're only looking at stats with this comment.

 

[sharptongued1]

I think the state of the tight end position today is such that Gonzalez is already being eclipsed.

Rice with Montana regularly beat teams, they were the single most important focus in any given game, and together they won 4 Super Bowls.

Gonzalez created a new prototype for the position like Tom Fears or Don Hutson. I think the most amazing thing is it took so long after his best years with Vermeil for the rest of the NFL to catch on.

No they didn't.

 

[Dentist]

Rice is still a lot more amazing to me.

I'd still take Rice 1.1 off the board as the first WR all-time and it's not really up for debate.

Gonzalez has had the best career of any TE.. and it will be tough for even this unreal crop of TE's like Gronk or J.Graham to catch him.

But I'd still take Rice over any receiver playing out there now for one game, one season, one career... but at TE for one game, one season.. I'm not so sure i'd take Gonzo over some of Gates' best work, or even Jimmy Graham who just seems so gifted for the position. But for a career? It's going to be hard to beat Gonzo.

Maybe this is his best shot at actually winning a playoff game this season.