Why Randy Moss And Terrell Owens Are Hall of Famers

December 23, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers former wide receiver Jerry Rice (left) hugs former wide receiver Terrell Owens (right) after the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Listen, this isn’t Major League Baseball.  The NFL is not the kind of league to hold out a player from the Hall of Fame because of poor decisions he made off the field.  Especially not someone of the caliber of Pete Rose.  Agree or disagree with their choices, the league has maintained a focus on second chances and what players accomplished on the field.

That is why O.J. Simpson still has a bust in Canton.

It’s why Lawrence Taylor got in despite a litany of poor decisions during his Giants career.

It’s why Paul Hornung still made it in despite being suspended for a year for betting on football.

The Hall of Fame is about what players did for those 60 minutes on Sundays.  Nothing more and nothing less.  Keeping in that frame of mind, there can be no question that despite their own personal indifference about the idea, wide receivers Randy Moss and Terrell Owens belong in Canton.

While arguments continue to swirl around guys like Marvin Harrison and Tory Holt, there really is no debating Owens and Moss.  Though both don’t have the added bonus of a Super Bowl ring, they have one inarguable defense against anybody trying to bring down their worthiness.

NFL Career Receiving Leaders

1. Jerry Rice – 22,895 yards
2. Terrell Owens – 15,934 yards
3. Randy Moss – 15,292 yards
4. Isaac Bruce – 15,208 yards
5. Tony Gonzalez – 15,127 yards

They are second and third respectively on the all-time list for receivers behind what NFL Network voted as the greatest player ever in Jerry Rice.  That is as good a company as players can find and a testament to just how great they were.  Owens held the record for most receptions in a game at 20 for a long time and is one of a chosen few receivers to ever post at least 1,000 yards and double digit touchdowns with three different teams.  Moss still holds the rookie receiving record and the single-season record for touchdowns at 23.

Nobody is debating the two have a long history of being headaches in the league.  Owens was arguably the greatest diva to ever grace the league, from his celebrations on the Dallas star to his reality show plugs.  Moss can be criticized for quitting at one point and had his fair share of problems with the law.

Still, worse people are in the Hall of Fame or have entered the Hall of Fame.  When the time comes for those two to get their first shot, here’s hoping the voters recognize their contributions to help make the NFL the exciting show it is today.