10 best receiver-defensive back rivalries in NFL history

By Kinnu Singh | May 15, 2023

IRVING, TX - NOVEMBER 12: Wide receiver Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers runs a pass pattern against cornerback Deion Sanders #21 of the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas on November 12, 1995. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys 38-20. (Photo by Joseph Patronite/Getty Images) /

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OAKLAND, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Michael Crabtree No. 15 of the Oakland Raiders has his helmet pulled off during a fight with Aqib Talib No. 21 of the Denver Broncos in their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 26, 2017 in Oakland, California. Both players were ejected from the game. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

2. Michael Crabtree vs. Aqib Talib

In 2016, fodder for a perfect rivalry finally caught flame. Two Dallas natives who had known each other through high school and college were in the same division, playing opposing positions, and knew how to push one another’s buttons. Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib believed Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree made his trash-talking too personal. So, he snatched his chain — twice.

Joe Ali of SB Nation’s Secret Base does a thorough job of explaining the history of this rivalry, but an amended version would be this: Talib had experienced Crabtree’s trash-talking over the years and thought it was excessive, and he was also irritated by the fact that Crabtree seemed to flaunt his ego by wearing a gold chain on the field. When the two faced each other in Week 17 of the 2016 season, Talib tackled Crabtree and ripped off his chain while he was on the ground.

The chain broke, Crabtree fumed and Talib laughed on the sideline as he reenacted the moment for his Broncos teammates. Crabtree later said he didn’t react then as a “business decision” for the benefit of his team. But when the next two saw each other, Talib successfully grabbed his chain, Crabtree pummeled him through the sideline, and an all-out brawl between the Broncos and Raiders ensued.

Both players were penalized, a decision which frustrated Crabtree as he did not consider himself the aggressor. Talib and Broncos teammate Chris Harris Jr. insisted that Crabtree “came out wanting to fight”, as Harris put it.

Even if Crabtree antagonized Talib on the field, it was Talib who ignited this rivalry with insidious intentions. According to Talib, his plan was to steal “Crab Boy’s” chain and drape around his pitbull’s neck in an Instagram photo. But Talib never secured the chain, the two players went on to different divisions, and by the time they reunited on the field, the rivalry was no longer relevant.

Ali notes that the closest the two came to a rematch was a chance encounter at a Dallas Go-Kart track where the two reportedly talked and made peace with one another. At its height, this was an NFL rivalry where trash-talking and general dislike went to a whole new level of disrespect.

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