January 26, 2022: Mix and Match

OK, back to my all time NFL team. We started with Montana, Payton, and Rice. I decided no fullback and a 3rd WR. So… we need our WR2 and WR3 for the squad. This took a little time to think about, but I think I’ve made my choices. Here we go.

I’m not necessarily going to go with the best WRs to fill my starting lineup… What I mean, is that I’m going to mix and match to compile a team that complements itself well. Rice is a no brainer. I think this next guy is a no brainer too. So with Rice, you don’t necessarily have the fastest straight line speed, nor the tallest wide out. He’s quick, the ultimate route runner, hands of glue, TD getter, Super Bowl winner. My next guy is going to complement him. So… looking for some speed. Also, looking for that tall WR that can go up and get it. Randy Moss fits those bills. I didn’t want to add a head case to the team; you can make the argument that Moss falls into that category. However, when surrounded by other great players, I think we’ll get the best out of him. Remember Moss in New England for that year? Of course, lots of memories of Moss in Minnesota. Seeing him twice a year wasn’t fun, although it was fun when Peanut went up and grabbed that ball from him in the end zone. That was not the norm though. Ball goes up, Moss goes up and gets it… if someone is close enough to jump, because if Moss turns on the burners, he’s gone; not many guys will be able to keep up. Of course, the stats are there too; 2nd most receiving TDs of all time next to Jerry, and 4th overall in receiving yards. Not too shabby lining those guys up opposite of each other, or even on the same side of the formation… The options are endless. Moss doesn’t have a Super Bowl on his resume; the first guy of this type on this roster. We’d get him one on this squad though. Not all of our guys will have rings yet; those guys will be really hungry to win it all… haha. Picking Randy Moss behind Jerry Rice wasn’t that hard; the next choice was much harder.

Plenty of options out there. I thought about Steve Largent; I always liked him. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne were quite the combo for the Colts for a long time. Larry Fitzgerald, Isaac Bruce, and even Terrell Owens are no slouches. If I wanted to go back in the day, Lance Alworth, Cliff Branch, the Steelers duo of Swann and Stallworth. Shit, Art Monk, Charlie Joiner, Fred Biletnikoff… what about Calvin Johnson? Well, I have somebody different in mind. Not only am I looking for an all time great WR (Hall of Fame WR???), I’m looking for someone who is going to fill a role on this team. So I started thinking about what I’m missing… if that’s even possible, from the current WR tandem of Rice and Moss. I’m thinking about a guy going across the middle, making a tough catch in traffic. I’m thinking about a guy that will be able to lay the wood, helping clear the way for Walter in the absence of a fullback. Yeah, a hard nosed, tough catch maker, great blocker as my 3rd WR; I like that. My 3rd WR is… Hines Ward. Surprised? Yeah, me too, but I like it. And oh yeah, he does have the stats too. He’s 1 of 12 WRs that has 1,000 career catches. 12,000+ yards, 85 TDs, 4 Pro Bowls, and 2 Super Bowl rings, including the MVP in 1 of them… not like I just picked somebody off the trash heap. Hines Ward is absolutely a great WR. As of today, he is not in the Hall of Fame, reaching the semifinal round, but that’s it. Will he make the HOF one day? Who knows. Does it matter for my squad? Yes, but it’s not the be all end all either. Why do I feel like I’m really defending this decision? It’s my team dammit, and I’m going to pick who I think is the best. There…take that… haha.

OK, that’s over. Montana, Payton, Rice, Moss, and Ward. Next up is the TE position, before I get into the trenches. Some interesting options there… hmmm…