During a recent appearance on the “Richard Sherman Podcast,” Cowboys legend Michael Irvin compared Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams (when they were a tandem) to Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, the greatest QB-WR duo in NFL history.
Rodgers and Adams were undoubtedly the best quarterback and receiver duo in the NFL prior to their split last offseason.
Michael Irvin Compares Aaron Rodgers & Davante Adams To Montana & Rice
The former Green Bay Packers duo was so good that Irvin likened them to Montana and Rice.
“I said it last year when I watched them, I said I got to do it, I never did it, but I finally have to do it. I said, man, watching the show, I never thought I will stand on myself that I’m going to put somebody on the sacred ground of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice.”
Irvin continued, “I’ve never said another combination was up there on Joe Montana and Jerry Rice level, because we’ve seen them do the same thing, but this group, that group belonged up there for what they were doing, they belonged up there, and why did you tear that apart?”
Irvin has the tendency to be a little overzealous in his applause for players, and this is no different. As great as Rodgers and Adams were together, they routinely came up small in the playoffs, unlike Montana and Rice.
Asked Aaron Rodgers if he tried to recruit Davante Adams into staying with #Packers before the trade. "Not really, because we were talking almost every single day. If I feel like I've got to recruit a guy like that back to the Packers, I've already lost."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) June 7, 2022
Is Comparing Them To Montana And Rice Disrespectful?
In 77 games together Montana and Rice combined for 6,710 yards and 67 touchdowns. Rodgers to Adams accounted for one more touchdown than the Montana and Rice connection.
But stats don’t tell the entire story, as Montana and Rice performed much better in the postseason, winning two Super Bowl rings together. Rodgers and Adams routinely came up short in their quest despite boasting the NFC’s best record on numerous occasions.
Davante Adams: Comparing Derek Carr and Aaron Rodgers is like comparing me to Jerry Rice. https://t.co/xF48i1BTMG
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 10, 2022
While Irvin’s point is numbers-based, that’s not enough when comparing someone to NFL royalty like Montana and Rice.
Aaron Rodgers And Davante Adams Haven’t Had Much Success Apart
This is the first season since Adams was drafted in 2014 that he hasn’t had Rodgers as his signal-caller. And while he’s still putting up great numbers with the Las Vegas Raiders (64 receptions for 925 yards and 10 touchdowns), that hasn’t resulted in team wins, as the Raiders are a disappointing 3-7.
What’s Wrong With Aaron Rodgers?
As for Rodgers, it’s been a struggle all season for the league’s highest-paid player. While he’s passed for over 2,500 yards with 19 touchdowns, it hasn’t been easy minus Adams.
Their relationship didn’t have to end, but Adams grew tired of Rodgers’ offseason indecisiveness about retiring. This time Adams made the decision to go on his own and rejoin his former collegiate quarterback, Derek Carr, in Vegas.
We’ll never know how much more Aaron and Adams could have done together. It really doesn’t matter. Maybe they are the Rice and Montana of this era, without the rings. Michael Irving is just rubbing the fall of the Packers in fans’ faces at this point.
