Randy Moss: End of an Era?

Football is back. Training camps are opening across the country. Yet, despite his previously leaked wishes to play one more year, Randy Moss is nowhere to be found.

Sources close to Moss, included an unnamed 49ers teammate, have indicated that Moss wishes to play one more season throughout the offseason. However, it has also been widely speculated that Moss's desires to play on a championship contender with a franchise quarterback who will utilize him far more than the Niners did last season. If that's the only scenario that will bring Moss back, it's very likely we've seen the last of the legendary receiver.

Moss put up pedestrian numbers (28 catches, 434 yards, 3 touchdowns) in a supporting role last season with San Francisco. He was, by all accounts, a good teammate with Niners, although he did admit to being unhappy with his diminished role the week leading up to the Super Bowl.

Oddly enough, the only team in the NFL that really comes close to fitting the profile Moss desires is your New England Patriots. The Pats should be a contender largely due to their great quarterback, despite some uncertainty at the receiver position. If anyone can get the best out of Moss, it is Brady and Belichick, both whom Moss has spoken very fondly of since leaving New England. Even in Moss's brief stint with the 2010 Patriots, he caught 3 touchdowns in four games, including this beaut.



Despite this, it's most likely that the Pats take a "that ship has sailed" approach towards signing the 36 year old Moss. Randy still has enough talent to play in the NFL, but has lost too much of a step to be the kind of dominant, "feed me the ball" receiver he still believes he is. As much as Brady loves Moss, it doesn't seem worth the risk. Belichick is likely trying to galvanize the locker room over the Hernandez situation; bringing in a notoriously moody individual who will demand the ball and take valuable reps away from promising young players doesn't seem to fit what the team is trying to accomplish. The Moss of a few years ago was worth the extra attention required to keep him happy and in-line. Unfortunately, the production no longer justifies the sideshow.

If the Pats don't bite, it's very possible we've seen the last of Randy Moss. This would leave Randy with career totals of 982 receptions (9th all time), 15,292 receiving yards (3rd all time) and 156 receiving touchdowns (2nd all time), as well as the most touchdown receptions in a single season in NFL history (that unforgettable 23 touchdown 2007 season). Oddly enough, it would mean Moss scored his last career touchdown in Gillette Stadium in a 49ers win over the Patriots.


Most importantly, it would be the end of one of the most entertaining, misunderstood (those who write Randy off as simply a jerk should read up on why he has serious trust issues) and flat-out dominant careers of all time. In his prime, the man was like a video game cheat code come to life. If this is it, you will be missed, Randy. Take a look at his career highlights and respect the greatest deep receiver of all time. Straight cash, homie.