Gathering No Moss
Dorian “The Trashman” Colbert

A friend recently asked me where I would draft new 49er Randy Moss in a redraft league. Most mocks drafts are putting him somewhere in the seventh round so I toyed around with saying the sixth… I’m trashy like that. Before I could come up with an answer he splurted (spit and blurted), “Third round! Ahh, whatever you say I’m taking him a round earlier!” Now bear in mind my friend was a few drinks in. Just looking at the female specimen he was zeroing in on, I knew to take his judgement with a grain of salt. There was a glimpse of lucidity on his face when he made the statement though. Was he really prepared to take a player who wasn’t even on a  team last year as perhaps his FIRST wide receiver off the board? I didn’t ponder too long, there were awkward conversations to be had and beautiful women to be ignored by, but the more I’ve thought about it I wonder if he might be on to something.

Coach Harbaugh certainly seems to think the 35 year old Moss has been the best receiver on the team this offseason. In fact, every report that has come out of San Fran since he’s been signed has lauded the effort and dedication the journeyman (yeah, it’s crazy to be able to address him as such) has presented thus far on the practice field. Maybe the time off did him some good. Or maybe not. I’m sure Randy would like to forget his last go round in the NFL with the Titans where he garnered a total of 393 yds on the season (a respectable 5 tds though). And even if the time off has helped Moss get to a good place mentally, he hasn’t gotten any younger, and who knows how those legs will hold up for an entire season? Still, how many better receivers are there in the league when Randy Moss is in top form? Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson…and then?

For me, it’s not so much an issue of time so much as the place. Is San Francisco a team where Moss, or any other elite receiver, can really thrive? When’s the last time Alex Smith produced a 1,000 yd receiver? Wait, he hasn’t.

And don’t forget he has Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, and Vernon Davis to get the ball to as well; this on top of a game plan that has been predicated on the run. If Moss has a particular chance to flourish it will be in the end zone. He’s a lightning rod for footballs there, and I can see him flirting with 10 or so touchdowns.  Whenever you happen to have your draft this year, you would be ill advised to take Randy Moss as your first receiver. Anyhing after that is fair game.