Straight cash homey! The man who popularized this brilliant catch phrase, Randy Moss, is reportedly considering his triumphant return to the football field.
Joel Segal, Moss's agent, told the Boston Herald about Randy's revelation.
"Randy and I have discussed [the options]," Segal said. "He still has his fire and he's looking forward to playing football. He's excited."
Good for him. Perhaps the 34 year old wide out does indeed have something left in the tank; something he could utilize to help a team bolster their offense. But is that team the San Francisco 49ers? My answer - indefinitely, hell no.
Moss was certainly a prolific playmaker in his day. His career stats speak for themselves: 954 catches, 14,858 yards, 153 touchdowns. But if you take a closer look, Moss's performance on second tier football teams - or more specifically with second tier quarterbacks - leaves much to be desired. In two years with the Oakland Raiders Moss had 1,558 yards and 11 touchdowns - numbers that were skewed by a more successful first year when his motivation was higher. His second year in Oakland - 2006 - marked a significant drop in his production, correlating to the fact that the team was going nowhere fast.
More startling perhaps was the drop in production for 2010, the last year of Moss’s career. He played for three (yes, THREE) teams in the 2010 season - the Patriots, the Vikings and the Titans. The entire season amounted to 27 catches for 393 yards and 5 touchdowns. Moss's greatest motivation to produce was probably in New England, but there had to be a reason that they didn't want him or they wouldn’t have handed him the pink slip.
Now the veteran wide receiver, after an entire year away from football, is making noise about wanting to return in true TO'esque fashion. He has dropped bait in hopes that teams will give him a nibble, but if his fate is anything like Owens’, no one will bite.
Let's dispel the Moss to the 49ers talk now. San Francisco doesn't like to take chances on problem children. They took a risk with Braylon Edwards and it didn't end well. For one reason or another, receivers with checkered pasts and attitude problems simply do not succeed in the Bay Area and Braylon was the most recent evidence of that. Throw into the mix that Alex Smith would be the man playing catch with Moss and you have a recipe for one extremely disgruntled wide receiver.
Even if Moss did still have something in the tank - which I suspect he doesn't - this is not a move that Trent Baalke will make. Baalke's formula for signing talent is a low risk one, and Randy Moss comes draped in red flags. Baalke probably won't even field a phone call from Moss's agent. Case closed.
What the future holds for Randy Moss is something we can only speculate, but San Francisco is definitely not a fate that Moss will realize, regardless of whether or not he wants to be here. Most NFL GM's won't be willing to take the risk either. Yet and still, Moss wants to play and I suspect that he'll try.
My guess is that Moss's career future will be similar to Terrell Owens. That is, the Allen Wranglers are calling: I hear they're looking for a little more depth at the wide out spot.
I'm not so sure the Owens comparison is fair. Owens' career-altering injury and his brush with suicide precluded his return to the NFL. Moss, on the other hand, has had no such injury history (whether physical or otherwise). He chose to simply sit out a season.
ReplyDeleteI also think that there might be interest in Moss, but of course, this interest hinges upon his present condition. He could alleviate (thought not all together rectify) some RZ issues, while possibly (slim possibility, but still) helping with the sideline and deep passing game.
What's more, that the 49ers took a risk on Edwards and that they should an interest in Burress further suggests that their could be some amount of interest.
All points well taken - however the fact that there wasnt an injury involved in Moss's absence speaks further to his attitude and motivation issues. Had it been an injury that held Moss out of playing time, teams might look at it and say "okay, perhaps when healthy Moss can produce." he has proved most recently that a team must have all the right pieces in place in order to flourish.
DeleteYes, there is the possibility of help that Moss could provide for the 49ers, but I'm looking at Alex Smith sailing all those sideline passes 10 yards into the bench area and all I can think about is the trouble that would cause with Moss. People talk about "poisoning chemistry" ad nauseum, but this is a situation where I think it is a real possibility. Plus, Crabtree taking his cues from Moss? Yikes.
The potential for "poison" is great. But is it any greater than that of Edwards? Actually, it probably is. Still, that Edwards was released prior to any huge blow up suggests that the 49ers are capable of handling "poisonous" players.
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest with each other here Scotty - can I call you Scotty? Of course I can - do you really want to see the niners take a shot at Moss or are you just playing the contrarian?
ReplyDeleteMhmmm... my answer is contingent on a few variables: contract and available alternatives. No, he is not my first choice of FAs. But, given that he comes at the right price, I'd be open to signing him.
ReplyDeleteWell, again, this is all based in ridiculous fantasy. I will give all credit to you if Baalke does the unthinkable and signs Moss, but I'm certain the 49ers won't do that again. Braylon was bad, but Moss's attitude issues are worse
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