Top 20 feature receiving - start of 2002

General Published on : 1/1/2005







Top 20 Receiving

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Jerry Rice (Photo: Associated Press)
In his first season with the Raiders, Jerry Rice added another 1,000-yard season to his career record. Along the way, he became the first receiver in history to amass 20,000 yards receiving. (Photo: Associated Press).

Jerry Rice joined a new team, the Oakland Raiders, in 2001 but reverted back to his same old ways. Already history's most prolific pass catcher, the 17-year veteran added yet another amazing season to his pro football résumé. In 1999, Rice had 830 yards receiving followed by 805 yards in receptions in 2000. It marked the only two-year span in his entire career where he did not reach the 1,000-yard mark. He made sure that the streak didn't reach three straight years in 2001 when he hauled in 83 passes for 1,139 yards and 9 touchdowns. Rice increased his NFL record for 1,000-yard seasons receiving to 13.

Meanwhile, Rice's new teammate, Tim Brown recorded his ninth consecutive 1,000-yard season as he caught 91 passes for 1,165 yards and 9 touchdowns to advance to fifth place among career reception leaders.

The Top 20 receiving category welcomed two new receivers in 2001. The Baltimore Ravens' Shannon Sharpe entered the Top 20 in Week 2, and Terance Mathis of the Atlanta Falcons joined the receiving elite three weeks later. Three other active players also rank in the Top 20: Cris Carter (No. 2), Larry Centers (No. 9), and Herman Moore (No. 16).

Leading Lifetime Receivers

(At the Start of 2002 Season)

Rank Player League Yrs No. Yds Avg TD
1
 (1) JERRY RICE NFL 17 1,364 20,386 14.9 185
2 (2) CRIS CARTER NFL 15 1,093
 13,833 12.7 129
3 (3) Andre Reed NFL 16 951 13,198 13.9 87
4 (4) Art Monk NFL 16 940 12,721 13.5 68
5 (6) TIM BROWN NFL 14 937
 13,237 14.1 95
6 (5) Irving Fryar NFL 17 851 12,785 15.0 84
7 (7) Steve Largent* NFL 14 819 13,089 16.0 100
8 (8) Henry Ellard NFL 16 814 13,777 16.9 65
9 (14) LARRY CENTERS NFL 12 765
 6,303 8.2 27
10 (9) James Lofton NFL 16 764 14,004 18.3 75
11T (10T) Charlie Joiner* AFL-NFL 18 750 12,146 16.2 65
11T (10T) Michael Irvin NFL 12 750 11,904 15.9 65
13 (12) Andre Rison NFL 12 743 10,205 13.7 84
14 (13) Gary Clark NFL 11 699 10,856 15.5 65
15 (--) SHANNON SHARPE NFL 12 692
 8,604 12.4 51
16 (15) HERMAN MOORE NFL 11 670 9,174 13.7 62
17 (--) TERANCE MATHIS NFL 12 666 8,591 12.9 61
18 (16) Ozzie Newsome* NFL 13 662 7,980 12.1 47
19 (17) Charley Taylor* NFL 13 649 9,110 14.0 79
20 (18) Drew Hill NFL 15 634 9,831 15.5 60

2001 Notes:
Shannon Sharpe entered the Top 20 in Week 2. Terance Mathis entered in Week 5. Raymond Berry* (631 receptions for 9,275 yards, 68 TDs) and Don Maynard* (633 receptions for 11,834 yards, 88 TDs) were displaced from the Top 20.

Next in Line:
Players active in 2001 who rank closest to a Top Twenty ranking: Rob Moore# (628), Tony Martin (593), Jimmy Smith (584), Keenan McCardell (579), and Marshall Faulk (548). # Moore injured in 2001.

* Pro Football Hall of Fame Member
( ) — Indicates Rank at the Start of the 2001 Season
ACTIVE IN 2001

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