Randy Moss: Effort and Humility

If Randy Moss were to come back with a perfect attitude, he would immediately improve any team in the NFL.  Anyone talking about how Moss’ play is falling off needs to put things in perspective, because the question is not one of ability.  No matter how much his skills have deteriorated, he is simply a better receiver than whatever scrub is filling out the depth chart on your favorite team.  Hall of Fame talent and experience do not simply disappear in a year.  If nothing us, Moss would be the ultimate decoy and red-zone jump-ball threat.

The question is whether Moss would accept such a role.  Any team looking at Moss has to worry about one of two things: effort or humility. 

At this point it isn’t totally clear what his motivations are for coming back, but it seems unlikely Moss will be content to toil in obscurity on a team like the Redskins, even though they would likely make him a focal point of their offense and throw to him constantly, if simply for lack of other talent.  Just taking a look at the debacle that was Moss and the Raiders, it seems any team that isn’t in championship contention would be wise to question whether Moss would give them effort.

Any team that is in championship contention probably already has a couple of solid receivers.  Even for a team like the Patriots, Moss would need to be a piece of the puzzle, not the entire solution.  Is it possible for Moss to come in without creating a disruption, in the media, in the offensive scheme, and in the scheme’s execution, that would upset the dynamic of a quality team?  Perhaps. It is easy to say Moss could help a good team as their red-zone receiver or decoy option, but to avoid disruption, even disruption through the media that is really no fault of his own, he would have to display an exceptional amount of humility.

Most teams will probably write Moss off without giving him a chance to display either of these qualities, just because of the media circus he represents.  It is unclear whether they are right to do so or foolish, as everything really depends on why Moss is coming back.  If he really just wants to play football, and can’t get enough of the game, he’ll be able to help everyone.  If he is returning for the glory, he might not be able to help anyone.