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Five reasons why Randy Moss won’t be back with the Patriots 02.13.12 at 4:51 pm ET
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Randy Moss was with the Patriots from 2007 until early in the 2010 season. (AP)

Randy Moss announced Monday morning that he hopes to return to the NFL in 2012. While he will inevitably be linked to the Patriots when it comes to a possible return to the NFL, here are five reasons why Moss won’t be walking through that door in Foxboro any time soon:

1. Moss’s skills have declined: Moss had a combined 28 catches for the three teams he played for in 2010 (nine for the Patriots, six for Tennessee and 13 for Minnesota). For most receivers in their thirties, that sort of stat line is a red flag, and that was more than a year ago. And history tells us that any time a player on the other side of 30 takes that much time away from the game, the skill set just isn’t there when they return. In his prime, Moss was a freakish athlete who did things on a football field that almost no one had ever seen before. (His 2007 season was one of the best of all time.) But the 35-year-old Moss isn’t going to be the same guy after a year away. It remains to be seen how he’d come to terms with his diminished skills (and role), and whether or not be accept a different job other than designated deep threat.

2. The Patriots offense has changed: When Moss was traded in October 2010 to Minnesota, it was the first step in a complete overhaul of the New England offense. Prior to that, the Patriots passing game could stretch the field and taking their shots deep. Now, the Patriots are more of a horizontal passing game, with slot receiver Wes Welker one of the best in the league when it comes to going over the middle, and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski now a complementary set of tight ends the likes of which the league has never seen. Deion Branch is not the receiver he once was (he no longer has the kind of wheels that he used to have), but has managed to get by on smarts and dependability. Even if Welker and/or Branch do not return, it seems unlikely the Patriots would try and reintroduce Moss into the offense. Remember — the Patriots had their opportunity to re-sign Moss last year. When they needed another receiver, they went for Tiquan Underwood instead of Moss, which should tell you all you need to know about where they think of Moss’ skill set at this point.

3. The Patriots must get younger at wide receiver: New England needs to go in the other direction at the receiver position. Branch (32), Welker (30) and Chad Ochocinco (34) are all closer to the end of their careers than the beginning. While the Patriots are a relatively young bunch at all of the other skill positions, they are starting to show their collective age at wide receiver, and the return of the 35-year-old Moss does nothing to make them younger. The free-agent market for wide receivers also doesn’t help Moss — it’s a group that includes Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson, Reggie Wayne, Marques Colston, Stevie Johnson, Dwayne Bowe and Welker, all of whom are younger than Moss.

4. His return would impede the progress of young pass catchers like Hernandez and Gronkowski: In 2012, the two young tight ends combined to form one of the most dynamic offensive options in the game. With Moss on the scene, that would mean fewer chances in the passing game for both Hernandez and Gronkowski, which would certainly set their development back.

5. The Patriots know that with Moss, you’re always living on borrowed time, and most of the time, on his terms: Since the end of the 2007 season, the Patriots knew they were in for a short marriage with Moss, one that ultimately came to an end early in the 2010 season following a much-discussed incident with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. At some point along the way, Moss transitioned from someone who was clearly interested in putting the team first to someone who was worried about himself and his numbers. (Remember this?) With the Patriots having spent the better part of the last two years meticulously building a positive infrastructure in the locker room, it would be a risk to reintroduce a historically combustible individual like Moss back into that environment.

Moss is still beloved by many in New England. He showed up to owner Robert Kraft’s house as Kraft sat shiva following the death of his wife, and Kevin Faulk told NESN in an interview that Moss was waiting for him in his driveway a week ago when the running back returned from the Super Bowl. In addition, Patriots Bill Belichick — who has had plenty of opportunities to publicly lambaste Moss — continues to have nothing but good things to say about the receiver. Meanwhile, Moss has taken every chance to tell everyone how much he loved his time in New England with Tom Brady and Belichick.

But even with all that, don’t look for Moss to rejoin Brady and Belichick. The bottom line is that Moss needs the Patriots more than they need him. And considering the New England passing game has enjoyed unparalleled success since he was shipped out of town 16 months ago, at this point in Moss’ career, the risk far outweighs the reward.

Read More: Aaron Hernandez, Bill Belichick, Bill O’Brien, Chad Ochocinco Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Truth

    much rather would’ve like to had moss this year vs ochocinco

  • CAPatsFan

    85 was a lost cause, basically. He never did catch on (no pun) with the system, even though he (apparently) tried to work with it. It’s a shame he didn’t get it. The Pats really could have utilized his skillsets in the SB, if for no other reason, to open it up for Welker and Hernandez. If 85 had been completely ready to play, I believe the SB outcome would probably have been different.
     

  • Patriotsfan

    Hey do you even know who “85″ is. He has a named dick face and its callled chad ochoccinco

  • innovator

    Sure,his skills declined to a point,but also remember that he was tanking it out of frustration because he didn’t get his extension.He wasnt busting it,,and he was very wrong for that…as for what he did in Minnesota and Tennessee,you cant learn the west coast offense in the matter of weeks,let alone months…..I think he’s over the money deal now,and feels like he has something to prove…He still draws the safety away from the short,and the middle of the field,to open it up for everyone else…i say draft a good young kid,,,Bring in Moss,and bring in laurent Robinson on the cheap,OR add Pierre Garcon with Moss,while retaining welker…..Only welker will eat any salary of significance…Moss has something to prove..

  • Anonymous

    moss wouldnt cost much and given a second chance, he would elevate his play , id be willin to bet you could get 2 very good yrs outta moss, which inturn would free up money for welker  and give the TEs some space to make catches . if anything it gives them more oppurtunitys.

  • Chimpy

    Looking at that list of “other” WRs is interesting.  I wouldn’t mind seeing a guy like Bowe on the field.

  • Kern

    My retort Mr. Price:

    1) How do you know if Moss’ skills have declined…It was over in 2006 as well, right. New day; new program. Guys are not only bigger and faster, they last too (Ray Lewis, anyone?) Besides, an 80 percent Moss will burn all but the absolute top cover corners in the league.

    2) The offense changes based on the players available. If we have a deep threat, we will use the deep threat. Anytime there are multiple guys on the field that can make plays offensively then the advantage belongs to you. You have no idea why they didn’t resign Moss, maybe he had something else to do……

    3) Younger doesn’t mean the same as talented. The Patriots need to be more talanted in the receiving core. All the receivers mentioned will cost….better to spend than money on defense; youth is for the draft.

    4) Ludacris (so much so, it gets the ATL spelling). Brady will throw to who he wants to throw to. Branch saw playing time ahead of Ochocinco. Anyone actually believes Branch is the faster or more talented or tougher of the two? He IS however, the guy Brady likes better. Brady likes Hernandez and Gronk, as well. There will be enough catches for everyone.

    5) If time is short, use it wisely. Moss has a couple of seasons left (but who really knows) so use him. It would take a lot to integrate Moss into the offense if he can’t play….but that’s what training camp is for. If Moss still has some skills…then teaming him with those tight ends and Welker would be like whoa!

    Now I don’t think Randy is coming back, but I can’t deny the “then” if the “if” is what it needs to be.

  • Bello

    DeSean Jackson is one of 3 pieces missing for the patriots to get back the super bowl….the Pats need a serious pass rusher…. and a D-back to complement Patrick Chung…..Can you just imagine how many yards Brady will pass for with the all world speed in Jackson at wide out….he passed for 5200 plus yards last year under the radar…he will shatter that record…

    As a canadian who loves the NFL..let me be the first to go on record regarding the above passing prediction….

    Regarding Randy Moss and Ochocino..its time to get seriuos at wide out period…..

     Mr.Kraft should be commened for the examples set in first class professionalizum…..the players and coaches are a reflection of him, calm demeanors and nothing but praise for other teams…..

    More than proud to be a Pat fan since 1969….yes, 1969

  • Anonymous

    Big difference between what Lewis does and what Moss’s whole thing was.   Moss took the top off the defense.   If he’s lost a step or two, Brady won’t have enough time to take advantage of this trait before he’s flat on his back or running for his life when facing even a moderately good pass rush.   Ray Lewis meanwhile can camouflage his decline in speed by his instinctive reads of what the offense is going do and still fly to the ball.   

  • Herb

    Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson, Reggie Wayne, Marques Colston, Stevie Johnson, Dwayne Bowe <—- Dad Kraft is WAY too cheap to sign any of these guys. If the Pats sign Moss it will be on the cheap so Dad Kraft has more cash to burn on his off the field ventures (i.e. Patriots Place and a Casino). 

  • Anonymous

    I don’t know. I love DeSean Jackson’s skills. But isn’t he kind of a Moss mini-me? I just worry that after a while we’ll see the attitude. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VX7BEFSQBWR6A7VUAVPQ3VLSKI Bolaka

    A 35 year-old Moss is still better than most of the alternatives.  I say if he’s willing to come back for low pay, it will be a low risk/high reward investment and a no-brainer.  At the very worst he’ll give the Boston media and fans a hot topic to debate.

  • Jigger

    Moss will be a Patriot in 2012 at league minimum and he will shine!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_J6CSXCU4KVZJYCXEG3AIW3GNRA Paul Sousa

    Brandon Lloyd has made it known he wants to follow McDaniel that would be more than enough.  I realize Lloyd is not a boy scout but why would anyone want to shell out $ for Desean Jackson or Steve Johnson.  Never their fault when something goes wrong.  Offense isn’t much of an issue.  Defense Defense Defense.   

  • Ya rite

    I couldn’t disagree more..

  • D.Rose

    Sign Moss and dump Chad Johnson. 

  • Kern

    Absolutely…but you’re selling the O-line short; not every play will be deep to Moss…The idea is: Moss doesn’t have to take a safety with him. If he still has the ability to beat a corner one on one (and it’s Moss, so yeah, he does) then that helps tremendously. Let Gronk take care of the double team, while Welker and Hernandez find the soft spots in the zone and the mismatches in man. Dude, Randy was more than speed, his hands man, his hands.

  • BigFanNH

    All are valid reasons, which is why it would not surprise me to see Randy get an invite to camp (two words….. Albert Haynesworth).

  • Szruba

    Moss would Not Hinder Gronk and Hernandez! Please! Lets see if one and a half years rest preserved his speed. He’d open up the middle for The slot and TE’s. Frankly, the Patriots are the ONLY team he could produce for!

  • Brendanmcdonnell

    Yes! Exactly man!

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