The Patriots have traded for Randy Moss, giving Tom Brady by
far the best receiver he has ever had and thereby guaranteeing the Patriots
another Super Bowl. That will be the
conventional wisdom. The only red flag
anyone will bring up is Moss' character concerns and whether he can fit into
the team-first approach in New England. Maybe that is an issue (it certainly was not
for Corey Dillon), but a bigger problem could be that Moss is simply no longer
a star player.
Similarity scores are a tool used to compare people to other
players who posted similar numbers over a given time period. A quick glance at
Moss’ three-year similarity profile is very alarming. (Only yards are listed,
but similarity scores also compare catches, touchdowns, and average yards per
catch.)
The names on the left are acceptable if not overly
impressive. More than half had over 7,000 receiving yards in their careers. The
numbers on the right represent the next season after the similar three-year
stretch. Only one receiver had more than 700 yards. Some of these guys had
another good season or two in them, but nobody hit 1,000 yards again.
Moss is a different animal because his peak was higher even
than that of Rison or Pearson. The other assumption is that Oakland was too dysfunctional and/or Moss
just did not care when he was there. Of course, both Doug Gabriel and Ronald
Curry had success there the past two seasons. Gabriel, of course, came to the
Patriots a season ago and struggled to get consistent playing time. Curry was actually the leading receiver on
the Raiders last season.
Tom Brady is a better quarterback than Aaron Brooks, Andrew
Walter, and Kerry Collins put together, but this is not Randy Moss circa
2002. Moss averaged a whopping 3.3
catches per game last season, and the once-dominant red zone threat scored just
three touchdowns. He caught only 43% of
the passes intended for him.
The truth is that Moss is 30 years old, and he always relied
heavily on his speed to get open. He is not the physical receiver that Terrell
Owens is or the master route-runner that Marvin Harrison is. As such, he is not
likely to age gracefully. Moss always
played better on the fast track of the Metrodome, so it is good news that the
Patriots have gotten rid of their grass field.
Is Randy Moss an upgrade for the Patriots? Certainly, considering Jabar Gaffney and
Reche Caldwell were their second and third receivers. But, I think it is a little wishful thinking
to see Moss as a better player than Deion Branch at this point in his
career. Branch also would have been a better fit
opposite Donte Stallworth than the supposed deep threat in Moss. Only once in the last six years has Moss
caught 60% of the passes intended for him, a total Branch hit three times in
four years with the Patriots.
Still, the Patriots have to be commended for playing this
one right. They unloaded Branch at the
height of his value for a first-round pick and now steal Moss away for a
fourth-round pick. His reputation alone
should help open up the running game and get Stallworth one-on-one
opportunities. Moss could easily get his
900 yards, 65 catches, and eight touchdowns, and the Patriots will be a better
team. Just don't expect Moss to team
with Brady to form some sort of Montana-Rice unstoppable duo.
Randy Moss is now a pariah who has lost more than a step, which was all he ever had to his game. Speed bra-man, speed no longer his to have. No more can he burn; he just doesn't bust it anytime he's playin' dese dayz. Having D.Stallworth will be the saving grace so Moss
won't see the writing on the wall for another year. But he's gone baby gone. No longer the threat he once was, his ego not able to be second banana. He'll go into a funk and with too many raw rooks listening to his downtime song; the offense will slide. One day it will be on Belichek to decide; him or me.
Nothing stops New England now. They made so many great moves this off season and now they get Randy Moss, still the best receiver in the game -- WHEN RANDY MOSS WANTS TO BE! His talent is still there, his speed for the most part is still there. With Moss on one side and Stallworth on the other side, Brady will frequently find Moss open to gobble up his percision passes. New England will be the team to watch this year. It the team stay relatively healthy, I can't see them not going all the way -- and I am a NY Jets fan.
I disagree with your prediction. Given his current circumstances I would have to say that Randy Moss is no where close to being in the playmaking form that made him such a big name. For some reason people tend to want to ship 30 year old players off to the retirement home but if there is one thing i noticed in reports about Moss is that everyone agrees that his work ethic is beyond that of any other active player. Randy Moss will be happy in New England because he wanted to go there. Forget his added baggage he agreed to take a pay cut in order to play for the Patriots, a move he made clear that he would not do for the other teams interested in him. Although he may not be up to speed come opening day, you mark my words that legendary work ethic will be in full effect and by the end of the season he will be Randy Moss again and thats when he and Brady WILL become the dynamic duo that everyone is anticipating. Just in time for the playoffs and exactly when they will need him.
HA! You said "You're a ####" wrong. How bad is it when you try to insult someone and you can't even do that right. It's "You're" not "Your". Leave it to someone from Boston.
hey, da_truf - before you proclaim that he's lost a step, you should check your facts. he was clocked last month running a 4.29 & a 4.30 40.
and ned, the person that was somehow paid to write this "analysis"...wishful thinking that he's better than branch? the pats got a 1st rounder from SEA for branch & gave up only a 4th in a weak draft for Moss. so even if you are sniffing being correct (not likely) it's still a GREAT deal for new england.
The reports are that he ran a 4.29 40 yard dash earlier this week in Florida. Last year the Patriots were one minute from another super bowl with inferior receivers. You cannot tell me that Tom Brady will not do a lot better with this reloaded receiving corps. Half a Moss will be an upgrade.
As a Packer fan, I am disgusted that Ted Thompson could not gett his trade done with Randy Moss. I think Ted Thompson should've been here to witness Moss torch the Green Bay defense. I am disgusted..
The Pats are ROCK SOLID...Foget about it...give the Lombardi trophy a home for the next few years...New England is in another League now!
Deal with it!
Brady rolls out of the pocket...sees a wide..wide ...open Moss.....Touchdown!!!
Brady made playoffs and won Superbowls with No Names....NOW WHAT
Well, considering the Pats got Moss and SF's #1 pick next year (certainly better than a 28) for their second first round pick, it's a good deal. What happened to Corey Dillon when he came here? He went from malcontent to team-playing Super Bowl winner overnight. The same could be true here. Plus Moss WANTED to go to the Pats. He wants to win a ring, and he picked the right place.
BTW, brianspain, before you go correcting someone from Boston on grammar and spelling, why don't you edit your own posting for punctuation? You forgot a question mark, ####. Aren't MIT and Harvard located in the Boston area?
Well enjoy your short celebration. We're happy to get rid of Randy Moss. He's worthless and a big cry baby. You will all find out soon enougj. He's a had been.
if anyone can control Randy Moss its Bill Belichek. he has proven it in the past. Randy Moss will help the team and make them the favorite to win not only the division but the Super Bowl. being a die heart Patriot fan i am smiling from ear to ear over this trade.the Pats did it again stole someone everyone didnt want for a fourth round pick. i cant believe it a fourth round pick.GO PATS
Ned Macey is about the most mentally handicapped sportswriter I've ever read...can someone give me his job? Moss lost a step??? He ran 3 forties last week, timed 4.26, 4.29, and 4.32....all faster that Calvin "Please let me be the next Moss" Johnson. This is an absolute steal by the Patriots, my boys are going to dominate en route to another Super Bowl.
No other team were willing to offer a lot of money to Moss and if they were, the Raiders would have traded him. You think Al Davis cares where a player wants to go? No team wanted Moss and that's why the Raiders traded him to NE for a fouth round pick. If they wanted to get rid of Moss that bad then there must be something going on with him. Randy played horribly in Oakland where he dropped a bunch of passes that some drunk in the crowd could have caught. I predict Randy Moss will be sitting on the bench as a Patriot. The Patriots magic is gone, why do you Pats fans think if they sign big names they will get another ring? They had a special core of players for those three runs and that's it!
Let the games begin!Brady now has one of the most potent receiving groups in the NFL.Brady is already a smart passer who knows when and when not to throw the ball. Randy Moss will be a different kind of player when he is involved in Bill Belicheck's program. The best is yet to come, with a early first round pick in the 2008 draft the Patriots are setting themselves up for a long, long time! Go Pats!
to all new england fans, ya not gonna win another bowl. Try getting back to what won your super bowls-defense. Can you say biggest comeback ever in a AFC championship game. What lost the game last year is D-fense, not receivers. Peace.
aLL of yu gyus shu stomp tall king bout othe peopel wrigh ring, is it bery impo lite an dis R E S P E C T ful, rOndy Mass wills b de great est cachador of patrios jistory, ai bet mi spell ing 2 dat. your trully da yanky heater.
Hey, 54fulltiltfulltime, if you're going to insult somebody, at least have the decency to do it using proper English.
"your a ####" is not actually a sentence. I think what you were trying to say was, "You're a ####." Note that you're is the proper contraction for "you are."
A sentence it's not? LOL. A sentence it Definitely is. Yes, he spelled "you're" incorrectly and you do not know what makes a sentence a sentence. lol. Gotta love the pot calling the kettle black.
You Fucking dipshit
Last edited by jAXXBOSS on April 29th at 12:03 PM.
the raiders are idiots!!! They finnally get the QB with the big arm and they trade away the games biggest downield WR. well its not like hes going to go all out for the freakin pats. even if bellchik is breathing down his neck.
the raiders are idiots!!! They finnally get the QB with the big arm and they trade away the games biggest downield WR. well its not like hes going to go all out for the freakin pats. even if bellchik is breathing down his neck.
Moss fits right in with the Patriots draft..
Completely full of bad character guys.
This team is becoming Bengals part 2.
Billechich must be deperate for talent because he has spent the last 2 ofseasons filling up on talented guys with major head issues
The reason why people think Randy Moss has fallen off is because he's been playing for the Raiders the last couple of seasons. I'm not a Moss fan nor am I a patriots fan so I have an un-bias opinion and mark my words his career will be rejuvinated once again and he will be burning corners and safteys all over the leage because Tom Brady can get the ball to him in mid-stride so everyone might as well welcome the Patriots back to the superbowl
All you guys that are pat fans can feel great about Moss, but there are 2 things thats going to knawl at you guys is Mosses attitude and he is not as young as he use to be either. I would not say anything great about him until I would see him play in this season.
Yo ####ey;
It dont have to be a word because I wasnt calling anyone out on their spelling like you were. hahaha. Now do us all a favor and shut the Fuck up. hehehehe
Last edited by jAXXBOSS on April 29th at 12:19 PM.
Great move for the PATS. Over the past couple of years this guy has been hurt both physically and by bad quarterbacking. If he's healthy and back running the way he did he will be the best pickup this off season.
Yeah we Minnesotans sure know how to make trades, just ask Dallas!!! randy for nothing great DEAL. Considering he has been the best receiver in history HANDS DOWN over a 3 year period. not having a QB not having a line( devensive and offensive) what should he play for, if I had the money I would do the same as him, being a Minnesotan natvie I WOULD FISH! Only difference I would be in Minnesota and not in Florida living in a retired old folks home..... GOTTA LOVE RANDY BUT I HATE THE PATS! Why does the only true NFL player I like have to go to the patrioctic american team??? My guess RICH ownership with there own bad attitudes...true
This guy is an over rated clown. Sure, he ran a 4.29 40. But I can guarentee you it was in shorts.
No pads, no helmet, no one covering him. Chuck him at the line of scrimmage. He's average at best. The fact that the Raiders got a whopping 4th rounder for supposedly the greatest threat in the league tells it all. Give me T.O. anyday.
Carl Lewis ran a damn good 40. But he sucked as a wide out. Just like Moss. Moss just doesn't have the heart of say, Jerry Rice. Or Michael Irvin. Speed doesn't kill. Heart and desire do. None of which Moss posseses.
Are you out of ur fucking mind? The 40 was brought up by another Moss hater and that was addressed, then you babble about him doing his 40 in shorts and that was addressed, then you harp about how is isnt a Rice or T.O or Sneaky pete or what the fuck ever. The guy is proven and he is still fast and the guy knows he is going to a no nonsense super bowl calibur team and in light of recent events aka pacman's fine, I see Moss walking the straight and narrow and catching 90 plus.
He wants a SB ring and he knows he will get it in New England.
Now kindly eat shit and die.
Raiders are THE DUMBEST ORGANIZATION FOR TRADING MOSS. Who is Russel goin to through the ball to Lamont Jordan? Moss still is good, he jus didnt like his situation. Pats are guarunteed another championship. What a bonehead trade, Moss is worth more than just a fourth round pick. Just IDIOTIC!
Your use of the f word is impressive. If only your knowledge of NFL talent was quite so. I don't hate Moss. No reason to. The fact of the matter is, he has no heart an diminishing skills. He takes plays off and couldn't block my little sister.
AFTER READING THE COMMENTS LEFT BY ALL THE SO CALLED SPORTS FANS, I REALIZED, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE, WHAT, WITH ALL THE NAME CALLING, &
STUPID CHATTER.
Carl Lewis ran a damn good 40. But he sucked as a wide out.
Oh yeah, thats a true indication of your knowledge of NFL talent !! whats next? u gonna tell us that water is wet?
Moss just doesn't have the heart of say, Jerry Rice. Or Michael Irvin.
Again, amazing insight there.
Speed doesn't kill. Heart and desire do. None of which Moss posseses.
He sure looked good @ Minn. and giving up a sparable 4th rounder its quite a grab. Dont deny it.
Brady to Moss, Brady to Stallworth, Brady to Super Bowl XLII. These two receivers can make it to the hall of fame. All they have to do is catch future Hall of Famer Tom Brady's thows. Can you say 'Slam Dunk'.
Randy Moss is a crybaby! Things don't go his way and he hangs his head, goes and sits at the end of the bench, and pouts like a spoiled brat. It's all about character; of which he has none. Randy is the kiss of death for any team. The Raiders did good by cutting their losses and moving on.
Gotta respect Moss for puting it all on the line. For his whole career when things got tough he's complained about his teammates & coaches. Now, by essentially hand picking NE he's got to put up or shut up, and I think he knows it and should be motivated like never before. I look for him to "tear up the league" like in '98 except maybe with a happier ending this time.
Last edited by diehardMNfan on April 29th at 2:02 PM.
For some reason i don't see Brady and Randy's egos coexisting together. Randy maybe will be there for a year and a half. An for them going to the super bowl i have three words for you people Colts Ravens Chargers!
How many championships did the Vikings win with Moss? Zip. How many NFC championships did they win while he was there. Zip again. How many people have said he takes of plays and doesn't really care about blocking. Almost everyone he's played with. He still couldn't block my sister, and by this time next year probably won't be able to match her 40 time. By the way, I'll passon the s___
meal. But thanks anyway.
Haters taters goofs and clowns look what Randy Moss threw down. Randys back kickin the fro and catchin passes like yo mamas catch the clap
He be straight up clownin DBs all over the league.
Catchin mad balls from the main baller. Actress impregnating, supermodel world rocker 2time superbowl MVP shocker. Mr GQ hisself lil Tommy B
They can't be stopped. They won't be stopped Shades of Joe and Jerry.Other teams should worry
They be bringing the heat, your only option defeat
They be kickin #### and takin names beatin y'all at your own damn game. Cause haters hate an ballers ball so check yourself your bout to fall
word to your mothers
Randy Moss is a 10 million a year baby...Not only does he not get his 10 million as he will have to restructure his contact, his attitude will tear up the Patriots... A 4th rounder is nothing but, the Pats were suckered on this one. He is just like Terrel Owens without the talent.... A WHINER, if he isn't the first or second read, he will dog it and be of no value....
Good riddance to him, as an Oakland fan, I'm glad to see him go. A new coach, new philosophy, new QB and he just wanted out...It' all about him, hopefully the Pts will not be able to give him what he wants a super bowl.....
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