Randy Moss Retires

Randy Moss called it quits and retired from the NFL after 13 entertaining seasons Monday in a career that spanned four different teams.

In the 1998 NFL Draft Randy Moss was selected 21st overall by the Minnesota Vikings out of Marshall.  Many teams passed on him and he made every one of those team regret that decision over his 13 year career.

Moss electrified the league from day one in Minnesota as quite possibly the greatest physical specimen to every play wide receiver in the NFL.  His combination of size and speed made him an all time great deep threat on his patented "9" route.

The numbers are absolutely incredible, 153 touchdown catches (2nd all-time), fastest to 5,000 receiving yards, youngest to get to 100 receiving touchdowns and of course the 23 touchdown 2007 season with the New England Patriots.

Throughout his career many people criticized Moss for his "I play when I want to play" attitude but the talent was unquestionable.  The controversy continued to follow Moss throughout his career, after Moss scored a touchdown in the Wild Card Playoff game in 2004 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and did a "fake mooning" celebration to the crowd, he was fined $10,000.  Upon being asked how he would pay the fine to the league office he uttered this gem to reporters, "Straight Cash Homey."

After spending two years wasting away in Oakland, Moss was traded on draft day 2007 to the New England Patriots for a fourth round pick and the result was the greatest offensive combination between a receiver (Moss) and a quarterback (Tom Brady) for one season in NFL history.  Brady threw for 50 touchdowns and Moss caught 23, both all time records.  The Patriots fell short of their perfect season losing to the Giants 17-14, Moss did have the go ahead touchdown late in the 4th quarter.

Moss played on a 15-1 team ('99 Minnesota Vikings) and 16-0 team ('07 Patriots) and neither won the Super Bowl.  Moss was often compared to Terrell Owens, but Moss had better speed and had much better hands. 

Moss' overall body of work is the closest thing we have seen to Jerry Rice in his prime.  Moss was one of a kind and we will likely never see another Randy Moss.