Michael Crabtree and Darrius Heyward-Bey...the Next Jerry Rice and Tim Brown?

Rewind about 15 years. The biggest question amongst football fans in the Bay Area was...Who was better, Jerry Rice or Tim Brown? This was the question that fans constantly would debate.

If you look at the statistics, they would suggest that it would be Jerry Rice. But not by a landslide. Tim Brown as well put up Hall of Fame numbers that are very much respected. What if Tim Brown had better Quarterback play? What if Brown had a hard hitting defense? Would Tim Brown have numbers closer to Rice's? Would Tim Brown have a ring on his finger?

What made the debate so great was that it was between to great players who would eventually play side by side to basically close their Hall of Fame careers.

Now it's 2009 and a new question has presented itself. How will Heyward-Bey and Crabtree co-exist?

Like when the 49ers selected Jerry Rice, a polished receiver with good hands, who may not be that fast, the 49ers selected Michael Crabtree. The Raiders passed on Crabtree to select the speedy Darrius Heyward-Bey out of Maryland.

Though he lost his some of his speed late in his career, Tim Brown also was a speedster out of Notre Dame.

The difference is that Jerry Rice and Tim Brown were separated by draft classes. Crabtree and Heyward-Bey not only in the same draft, but also in the top 10, three picks apart.

As rookies, there is no way to compare them to Hall of Famers. But this is what people in the Bay will be talking about when the Battle of the Bay comes to town. Michael Crabtree and Darrius Heyward-Bey are going to be in almost identical situations.

Both players play for teams who have epic histories who have fallen on tough times. Both will be expected to be immediate play makers for their respected quarterbacks in a run oriented offense. They also will be learning from two formidable corner-backs in Nate Clements and Nnamdi Asomugha.

Both receivers have expressed their admiration for Jerry Rice's work ethic and compare their own work ethic to his legendary effort. This is good for their teams who have great expectations.

Darrius Heyward-Bey and Michael Crabtree should talk to Jerry Rice and Tim Brown both for advice on how to make plays for their teams.

The debate of Brown and Rice has almost officially turned into Bey and Crabtree, whether they have taken a NFL snap or not.

Like it or not Darrius Heyward-Bey and Michael Crabtree are forced to be forever linked.

Time will tell how strong the chain is.