Randy Moss Retires

Added on Aug 01, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

The circus train career of wide receiver Randy Moss appears to be over. According to his agent Joel Segal, the 34-year-old wide receiver has decided to retire after 13 strange, yet successful seasons. With the wide receiver market quickly thinning out, Moss found few suitors for his services. His awful 2010 swan song saw him catch only 28 passes for 393 yards and five touchdowns while playing for three teams.

Moss entered the league amid a swarm of controversy surrounding a mercurial college career that included him being kicked out of Florida State as a freshman for failing a drug test and smashing records in two seasons at Marshall. Despite catching 54 touchdowns in 28 games, Moss still slid in the first-round of the 1998 NFL Draft, landing with Minnesota at pick 21.

A record-setting rookie campaign that saw him snag 17 scores had the twenty teams that passed on him kicking themselves. His freakish speed and long, lean frame made him a nightmare for pro cornerbacks to handle. In seven years in purple and gold, Moss caught 90 touchdowns and was named to five Pro Bowls.

In 2005, he was shipped to Oakland. His two years in the Black Hole were memorable for all the wrong reasons. A petulant attitude and propensity to suffer “nagging” injuries quickly derailed his career and made him persona non grata throughout the league.

Then Bill Belichick swooped in during the 2007 Draft and acquired Moss for a fourth-round pick. Moss was on his best behavior in 2007 as the Patriots broke several league offensive records, led by his 23 touchdown catches. He would continue to post impressive numbers for the next two years in New England and kept his attitude in check.

The honeymoon crashed and burned prior to the 2010 season, when Moss engaged in a public contract squabble, going so far as saying he “felt unwanted.” A month later he was traded back to Minnesota for a third-round pick in this past April’s draft.

Moss proceeded to bash Vikings head coach Brad Childress and was a non-factor on the field. A month later he was released after only 13 receptions in four games. Next, the Titans took a chance by claiming him off waivers. In eight games, he caught six passes for 80 yards and zero touchdowns. His days as one the NFL’s most feared deep threats were finished.

So, a Hall of Fame career has come to an end. The numbers speak for themselves: 954 catches, 14,858 yards, 153 touchdowns. Love him or hate him, Randy Moss was easily one of the best receivers to ever play the game.

Source: NFL.com