49ers Dominate With Two Legends Named Among Top 5 Players In NFL History

What is "The Golden Age'' of the NFL? Like movies and music, the usual answer is about your personal "coming of age'' time.

But you didn't need to "come of age'' in the 1980's - and we don't think you need to have been a San Francisco 49ers fan, either - to recognize the all-time golden greatness of two legends who are now being recognized according to a new ranking by CBS Sports.

Is today "golden''? Maybe, though the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the only active player listed as being among the 25 best to ever play the game.

Was yesterday "golden''? It was for Joe Montana and it was for Jerry Rice.

In coming up with its list, CBS said it considered criteria including:

*Individual success/accolades won

*Dominance during his era

*Longevity and career milestones achieved

*Enduring impact/legacy

*Team success/championships won

*Ranking relative to his position

And who are the five guys to top the list? Per CBS Sports ...

1. Tom Brady, Quarterback 

2. Jerry Rice, Wide Receiver

3. Jim Brown, Running Back 

4. Walter Payton, Running Back

5. Joe Montana, Quarterback

There are, of course, barroom arguments to be had here (which is actually the main purpose of "listicles'' like this). 

For instance ... there are other QBs who can be right there alongside Montana ... and a few NFL cities are ready to argue for their guy - meaning no disrespect to the Hall of Famer.

Examples? Mahomes, who has won three Super Bowl MVPs before age 30, comes in at No. 11. And John Elway (18) and Johnny Unitas (13) and Dan Marino (10) and Peyton Manning (6) and then Montana (5) and then Brady (1).

But Rice? He is considered by folks in and out of San Francisco as the great wideout in NFL history - by a wide margin - so there's not much debate to be had there. 

It's a fun parlor game. ... and Mahomes, still just 29 and  two-time league MVP and three-time Super Bowl winner, gets to be in the QB debate right up there with Joe.

But nobody gets to be right up there with Jerry.