2 Vikings Land Among NFL’s 25 Greatest Players Ever
It’s the dry portion of the NFL calendar — between minicamps and training camps — creating time for outlets like CBS Sports to identify the best 25 players in NFL history.
CBS Sports dropped its list of the top 25 players in NFL history — and two Vikings made the cut. You will agree.
Thankfully, the Minnesota Vikings were not beset by too many snubs, as Alan Page checked in at No. 21 and Randy Moss a few spots higher at No. 17.
It’s Page and Moss for Vikings’ representation among the NFL’s 25 best players of all time, according to CBS Sports.
Alan Page at No. 21
Before appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1993 and Chief Justice in 2009 — how’s that for a full life? — Page played for the Vikings from 1967 to 1978, later trying on the Chicago Bears for size (yuck) to finish his career.
CBS Sports‘ Bryan DeArdo explained why Page is the 21st-best player in NFL history: “Along with anchoring the Vikings’ legendary ‘Purple People Eater’ defense, Page owns the distinction as the first defensive player to win NFL MVP.”
“A Pro Bowler each year from 1968-76, Page amassed 148.5 career sacks, an unheard of number for a defensive tackle. Page’s dominance helped the Vikings win three NFC titles and an NFL crown in 1969. He finished his career with three extremely solid seasons with the Bears, recording three sacks in his final game.”
The case is pretty damn open and shut for Page on the CBS Sports list.
CBS Sports Includes 2 Vikings in Top 25 of All Time List
Alan Page and Randy Moss represented the Vikings.
Randy Moss at No. 17
Then, Moss got the nod four spots higher. The Vikings found him in Round 1 of the 1998 NFL Draft, totally revolutionizing the sport thereafter with his athleticism, acrobatics, and badboy persona.
DeArdo defended the Moss selection: “Moss’ nickname, ‘The Freak,’ was fitting as he possessed talents that at times appeared to be otherworldly. Moss burst onto the scene as a rookie by catching 17 touchdowns for the 15-1 Vikings.”
“Nine years later, Moss enjoyed a historic partnership with Tom Brady that included both players setting individual records (Brady with 50 touchdown passes, Moss with 23 touchdown catches) for the NFL’s only undefeated team in a 16-game regular season. Moss is second all time behind Rice in career touchdown catches and is fourth all time in receiving yards.”
Moss could’ve checked in even higher, and few would’ve complained. There was not a wide receiver similar to him before 1998, and no man with his unique skill set has risen in the NFL since.
CBS Sports’ Criteria
In a nutshell, here’s how DeArdo arrived at his 25 best:
— Individual success/accolades won
— Dominance during his era
— Longevity and career milestones achieved
— Enduring impact/legacy
— Team success/championships won
— Ranking relative to his positionNaturally, championships dinged any Vikings players. They’ve never won the chip.
The Snubs?
Perhaps nitpicking from a Vikings-themed website, but a case could be made for these men to receive Top 25 love or at least honorable mentions:
- Cris Carter (WR, 1990-2001)
- Carl Eller (DE, 1964-1978)
- Randall McDaniel (G, 1988-1999)
- Paul Krause (S, 1968-1979)
- Jim Marshall (DE, 1961-1979)
- Adrian Peterson (RB, 2007-2016)
- Fran Tarkenton (QB, 1961-1978)
But let’s face it: a Top 25 list is extraordinarily tiny when adjudicating all of NFL history.
Tom Brady, Jerry Rice Lead the Way
Tom Brady earned the top spot from DeArdo: “It’s hard to pinpoint when Brady ended the argument as the NFL’s greatest player. He firmly entered the conversation after leading the Patriots from behind against Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX. Brady entered “arguably the greatest” territory after he and the Patriots pulled off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history against Atlanta.”
“His last two titles — especially his final one with the Buccaneers at age 43 — cemented his legacy as the greatest winner and player the sport has ever seen.”
And Jerry Rice at No. 2: “Rice belongs on any Mount Rushmore regarding the NFL’s all-time greatest players. His list of NFL records spans longer than a football field. A three-time Super Bowl champion with the 49ers, Rice caught his record eighth career Super Bowl touchdown with the Raiders at age 40.”
“His career tally of 22,895 receiving yards is over 5,000 yards more than the second-closest wideout, Larry Fitzgerald. In 1987, Rice caught 22 touchdowns — a record that stood for 20 years — despite playing in only 12 games.”
Jim Brown (RB, No. 3), Walter Payton (RB, No. 4), and Joe Montana (QB, No. 5) rounded out the Top 5.
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