Randy Moss vs.........

I've often engaged in debates in locker rooms, on buses, and just generally about who the best receiver in the NFL is. Ever since his 1998 rookie season in which he caught a rookie record 17 touchdowns, Randy Moss has been the player that I've defended for this title. His last years in Minnesota and the disgraceful two years in Oakland (In which he still combined for 102 catches, 1557 yards, and 11 touchdowns) caused for more heated debates on this topic. Most commonly someone defended Terrell Owens' brute strength and his dazzling ability to get yards after the catch, Torry Holt or Marvin Harrison's uncanny route running ability, or the ability for the 5' 9 Steve Smith to play like a 6'5 beast. An argument for any of the following men can be made compelling but the truth is no receiver causes as many defensive adjustments as Randy Moss.

The deep threat that Moss poses opens up other underneath receivers and the running game. Teams like the Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers that like to bring a safety into the box (Bob Sanders, Troy Polamalu) have to change their philosophy to account for Moss. He could literally go deep on any play. Moss's record breaking touchdown catch highlighted this threat. After Tom Brady short armed a deep ball that would have set the passing touchdown and receiving touchdown records, Brady went right back to Moss on the very next play to make up for the miscue. With Randy, even if you know he's going deep you still cannot stop it. Even if he is covered or double covered he may still out jump the defenders for yet another highlight reel catch.

The redzone is where Moss shows his dominance. Like Shaq with the ball right under the basket, Big Papi up to bat in the ninth with a man on second, or Sidney Crosby approaching the goal on a fast break, a fade to Moss is a virtual guaranteed touchdown. It is in the redzone where cornerbacks are singled up with Moss with the defense loading up the box to stop the run. It is here where Moss's 6'4 lanky frame is just too much for even the best of the NFL's DBs. No receiver in the NFL's present or past, including the great Jerry Rice, could do the things that Moss can do. Now that he has the NFL's receiving touchdown record, I don't have to defend Moss as much as I used to. If you still question his greatness just think of what people say whenever a great catch is made over a defender. Anyone with football experience has heard the term. If a receiver makes a great catch over a defender, then that man just got "MOSSED!". Not "T.O.ed" not "Holted", not "Harrisoned", and not even "Riced". The correct term is "MOSSED" and too many NFL defenders know exactly why...