Randy Moss, 49ers Agree To Contract Following Workout

The San Francisco 49ers made it official on Monday night and announced the addition of WR Randy Moss to a one-year contract. Moss sat out the 2011 season after announcing his retirement but just a few weeks ago he announced on UStream that he was returning to the league.

He previously had a workout with the New Orleans Saints before his Monday workout with the 49ers. SB Nation's 49ers blog, Niners Nation, wonders how much Moss has left in the tank.

It is hard to tell what Randy Moss' upside is at this point in his career given that he is 35 and took a year off from football. He should not be particularly banged up at this point, so that's a plus. But his speed and physicality in getting separation are essential to his skillset. Will he still have those tools of the trade?

Moss has always been a freak of an athlete so if anyone has something left in the tank at 35 years old and a year removed from playing football then it's Moss. The concern is that his success is predicated on his speed, which usually doesn't get better at age 35.

For more on Moss and the Niners, be sure to visit Niners Nation and SB Nation Bay Area.

Free agent wide receiver Randy Moss announced he was still looking to play in the NFL on an Internet video broadcast appropriately named "MossTV," during which Moss answered questions from fans. Since then, Randy Moss has held a workout with the New Orleans Saints and is now set to work out with the San Francisco 49ers. Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh will get an up close and personal viewing of Moss in the workout, because he'll be throwing him the passes.

Former Colt Pro Bowl QB throwing for #49ers tomorrow. Just to clarify, Coach Harbaugh is turning into Capt Comeback to throw to Randy Moss

— Jed York (@JedYork) March 12, 2012

By all accounts, Moss looked great in his workout with the Saints, some describing him as the Moss of old. The 49ers are certainly looking for an upgrade at the wide receiver position, especially one who can get down the football field and make some big plays, which has been Moss' calling card.

For more, check out SB Nation's latest YouTube video talking about Moss. For more on the San Francisco 49ers offseason, check out SB Nation's 49ers blog Niners Nation.

The New Orleans Saints hosted free agent Randy Moss for a workout on Tuesday and according to a report from Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com, things went very well. Moss "lit it up", according to those in attendance, and he looked like the "old Randy".

Moss took to UStream last month to announce he was returning to the NFL after retiring before the 2011 season. He also said he's in shape and can still run a 4.3 40-yard dash. By Glazer's account, he may have done just that.

Moss would be a good fit with the Saints, as would a lot of receivers. Drew Brees set the single-season passing yards last season and Moss could add to that if he really is in the shape he and others say he is.

Moss reportedly has a couple of visits lined up but the teams aren't known.

For more, check out SB Nation's latest YouTube video talking about Moss.

It was just last month that free agent Randy Moss, who announced his retirement last season, said that he wanted to come back into the league. Now, he has his first workout. Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports Moss is working out with the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday.

It's going to be interesting to see what kind of physical shape Moss is in. His best asset was his speed and he claims, despite not playing in the NFL last year, that he can still run in the 4.3 seconds range of the 40-yard dash. That's hard to believe for a 35-year-old who took a year off, but then again, this is Randy Moss. He's surprised us before.

The Saints make some sense as a possible destination for Moss. New Orleans might be losing Marques Colston in free agency and it wasn't that long ago that Moss was a productive member of a Patriots offense that can rival the explosiveness of the Saints offense.

Moss is a free agent so he's free to sign anywhere. My guess is that teams will sort through the younger free agents on the market first and then make their way back to Moss. Someone at some point will take a shot on him.

Free agent Randy Moss is determined to make a comeback following his retirement after the 2010 season. He appears to already be drawing interest from a few NFL teams who could use wideout help.

According to Calvin Watkins at ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth, one of those interested parties is not the Dallas Cowboys.

Watkins reports that the Cowboys -- who chose not to select Moss in the 1998 draft due to general manager Jerry Jones not caring for the receiver's off-the-field antics -- will pass on a chance at signing the free agent.

This shouldn't come as a surprise because the Cowboys have some talented and young wide receivers in Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. The team also wants to re-sign Laurent Robinson, who led the team with 11 touchdown receptions in 2011.

There is a good chance that Moss will still be able to find a team to play for in 2012, but it seems unlikely that team will be the Cowboys.

For all news and information regarding the Dallas Cowboys, please visit Blogging The Boys. For complete coverage of football free agency, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Randy Moss is a year removed from his last NFL action, but that apparently hasn't stopped teams from expressing interest in his services, at least according to comments his agent Pro Football Talk Live. Joel Segal said three teams had called him in Moss in the last day, since the wide receiver announced that he wanted to make a comeback.

Segal said he was unsure how serious any of those teams were or whether Moss was willing to work out for those teams. Segal also noted that he found out about Moss' intentions to play again through a story on Pro Football Talk.

What kind of player those teams would be getting is anything but a given. Moss last was a premier wide receiver in 2009, when he racked up 1,264 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. He spent 2010 playing for three teams and making just 28 catches. The 35-year-old is among the most prolific receivers of all time, with nearly 15,000 receiving yards and 153 touchdown catches. He has eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season 10 times.

On Monday morning, Randy Moss took to his Ustream video channel and chatted with viewers for approximately an hour. Toward the end of his broadcast, the wide receiver made it clear that he wants to return to the NFL, and that he hopes to be on a team next season.

[...] my heart and my mind wasn't really into it, man, 'cause I had some things going on off the field, so now that I've been able to address those problems, and tried to get a grip on things ... you know, I had a talk with my family and they let me know, 'baby, it's fine, whatever you want to do.'

Your boy is gonna come back and play some football, man. I'm very excited. Like I said, man, I just had a lot of things that I had to adjust in my life, man.

Faith, family, and football, man. That's my M.O., bro. If one of those three is off balance, man, then you get a mad, disappointed, and sad Moss [...] hopefully I get on a team, man, and hopefully I can finish this thing the way I want to."

In the final minutes of his broadcast he received a call he said was from his agent. Laughing, he said, "I already know what you're gonna tell me," and ended the stream shortly thereafter.

Moss, who celebrates his 35th birthday Monday, did not play in the NFL in 2011. In 2010, his 15th season in the league, he bounced from the Patriots to the Vikings to the Titans, and mustered only 28 receptions for 393 yards.

Having never won a Super Bowl ring, Moss said in September that he would be open to returning to a winning team. As it stands, Moss is tied with Terrell Owens for second on the career touchdown receptions list. He ranks fifth in career receiving yards, and ninth in receptions.

Free agent wide receiver Randy Moss has received interest from NFL teams, Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network reported during an "Around The League" segment on Tuesday.

"He has fielded calls," La Canfora said of Moss. "I'd say every week or two, somebody calls in and checks. 'Hey Randy, what do you think about our situation'. Check in with his agent (Joel Segal). Nothing has enticed him to this point, but I'd call him quasi-retired, at best, because I can continue hear 'if the right team, with the right quarterback at the right price called', that Randy Moss could be ready to go.

He worked his tail off through the lockout. He's still in good shape. He's interested only really in going somewhere where he's going to have a chance to play with an elite quarterback and win a championship....He's got one eye on the league, and if a need develops for a team like a New England, per se or maybe the (New York) Jets or one of these teams that's on the cusp, and they call, then he may pick up the phone."

Moss, 34, has caught 954 passes for 14,858 yards and 153 touchdowns during his 13-year career with the Minnesota Vikings (1998-2004, 2010), Oakland Raiders (2005-06), New England Patriots (2007-10) and Tennessee Titans (2010). Moss is coming of a disastrous 2010 season where he traded from New England to Minnesota, his original team, who cut him after four weeks. Claimed by the Titans, the six-time Pro Bowler caught just six passes as he barely saw the field during the final eight weeks of the regular season.

Randy Moss’ retirement might last as long as one of Brett Favre’s retirements. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported today that Moss was indeed willing to come out of retirement in the right circumstances, i.e. to play for a winning team.

Here’s Schefter:

How willing any of those teams are to having Moss back remains to be seen. Certainly several of the options listed by Schefter could use Moss. Even after beating the Eagles today, the Giants could certainly use a healthy wide receiver, and certainly one that might help them forget about letting Steve Smith get away so easily.

Chad Ochocinco has been a disappointment in New England. Chicago could use a reliable option like Moss as well as most teams on this list.

The biggest question is just how much Moss has left to give a team. It is somewhat conspicuous that nobody took so much as a flier on him in the lockout shortened year.

Randy Moss retired this summer as one of the greatest receivers in NFL history, and despite apparent interest from teams like the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, he's in no hurry to come back to football.

After weeks of back-and-forth rumors speculating about a possible mid-season comeback, Moss was spotted in New England this week where he was golfing, and when approached by a reporter, he cut through the rumors pretty quickly. When asked if there was any chance Patriots fans could see him back in Foxborough this season, Moss said, “No, I’m done.”

As he said, “I’m just here golfing, minding my business.” And much to the chagrin of NFL fans from New England to New Orleans, that was it. So while the interest in Moss will persist as long as teams need receivers, it's clear that Randy's not interested in fueling the rumor mill. While the NFL world turns without him, Moss will continue to mind his own business.

WR Randy Moss surprisingly announced earlier this offseason that he was ending his NFL career and entering retirement. It came as somewhat of a surprise because retirement for Moss wasn't on our radar but then again he's also 34 years old.

Moss has actually filed his retirement papers which suggests he's legitimately retired. He can file his papers and still ultimately play this year by petitioning the league office for a return and plenty of people think that's what he'll eventually do.

It hasn't happened -- yet -- but there are already some rumors of Moss wanting to return to the game. Specifically, wanting to return to the New England Patriots, where he enjoyed one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. A report surfaced earlier this week that Moss would consider leaving retirement early and returning to football if the right opportunity came along, and the only opportunity that would be is in New England.

The suggestion that Moss could return to the league has gotten all the way to Patriots QB Tom Brady who says he would welcome Moss back with open arms.

"You never know in the NFL," Brady told WEEI. "I love Randy, he's one of the greatest receivers in the history of the game, one of the greatest players I've had a chance to play with. But unfortunately, I don't make personnel decisions."

Bill Belichick makes the personnel decisions and last year he traded Moss to the Vikings, who then blew up and was waived by the Vikings before going on to get claimed by the Titans where he had a forgettable season. Belichick usually doesn't make a mistake on the guys he released and I would guess he feels that way about Moss. 

WR Randy Moss made the surprise decision earlier this week to retire from the NFL after 13 Hall-of-Fame-worthy seasons. He was one of the best players of his generation and was still productive as recently as the 2009 season. That he was still a good player so recently had me wondering whether he would eventually un-retire from the NFL and return to a team mid-season.

Moss filed his retirement papers with the league, the Boston Herald reports, right before the Philadelphia Eagles made an offer.

After Moss filed his retirement papers, I'm told the Eagles made an offer. So file that under bad timing.

Filing retirement papers doesn't mean he can't come back but I think it demonstrates his intent to truly stay retired, especially with the Eagles offer.

With QB Brett Favre's annual retirement, it's become popular to question whether players who retire will actually stay retired. I certainly thought that way with Moss considering it was just last year he changed agents and hoped to acquire more marketing opportunities.

Alas, it does appear -- for now -- that he's staying retired. Still, we wouldn't put it past him to return at some point.

Stay tuned to Bleeding Green Nation in case Moss pulls a Favre.

As great of a player as Randy Moss was, he might be remembered in retirement more for his antics and attitude than his unbelievable talent. It's a shame, because despite all of his various unlikable traits, Moss was one of the most talented receivers to ever play the game of football and he might have a higher volume of jaw-dropping catches than any wide receiver ever. SB Nation's Minnesota Vikings blog Daily Norseman chose to remember Moss for the unbelievable talent he brought to the field, above all else.

Moss didn't take the WR position to the next level, he re-invented it. His combination of speed, size, hands, and body control made him impossible to defend. You could roll a safety over to his side, press cover him, zone cover, it didn't matter. Roll a safety over and he runs past him. Press cover? Swim move and he's got three steps on the CB and heading to the end zone. Zone? He'd split the seam and outrun pursuit.

Even if Moss' mouth and hypothetical bare rear end won't be missed, his highlight reel catches certainly will. He retires with 954 receptions, 14,858 yards, and 153 touchdowns. All three numbers are in the top 10 all time.

Free agent WR Randy Moss announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 Hall-of-Fame-worthy seasons that saw him end his career as second all-time in touchdown receptions. Moss was the best receiver in the game -- when he wanted to be.

He was often accused of taking plays off and that's what some thought was going on last year when the Tennessee Titans claimed him off the waiver wire. Apparently not -- Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reports the Titans coaching staff thought Moss was done last year.

But their thinking was this: Moss didn't have it any more. He lacked the explosion and couldn't get open like he used to earlier in his career, when he racked up touchdowns. I have a feeling Moss realized this as well. And it's why he decided to call it quits.

In four games in Tennessee, he caught six passes for 80 yards so the stats certainly support the Titans on this one.

It's an unceremonious end to one of the most unique careers we've ever seen.

Free agent WR Randy Moss had decided to retire from the NFL after 13 years, his agent tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. The news comes as a bit of a surprise because we thought Moss was still trying to play this season but, alas, he's gone and his five-year countdown to the Hall of Fame starts.

We'll remember Moss for a number of things. His hilarious "Straight cash, homey" quote. His incredible rookie season with the Vikings. His 23 touchdowns in one season with the Patriots.

But, most of all, we'll remember just how damn good he was. Check out this video demonstrating that:

That came just last year so even to the end he still had it. It's unfortunate that his career didn't end on a high-note. Last season he was traded from the Patriots to the Vikings, where he last only a couple of weeks, and found a home with the Titans for a nondescript end to his career.

Free agent WR Randy Moss has announced he's retiring from the NFL 13 years after the Minnesota Vikings used the 21st overall pick on him in the 1998 NFL draft. Moss will end his career with Hall of Fame worthy numbers in several stat categories. 

Receptions: He's tied for eighth all-time with 954 catches. His season-high came in 2003 when he snagged 111 receptions, which helped earn him a Pro Bowl and All-Pro nod.

Receiving yards: He's fifth all-time with 14,858 receiving yards. In that 2003 season, he notched his career-high receiving for 1,632 yards. As late as 2009, he was still a 1,000 yard receiver so he was still very productive late into his career.

Touchdowns: He's tied for 2nd all-time behind WR Jerry Rice. This is where Moss made his money. In his rookie year, he had a whopping 17 touchdown receptions, a feat he accomplished twice in his career. That wasn't his best though. In the Patriots undefeated 2007 regular season, Moss broke Rice's single-season touchdown record with a freakish 23 touchdown receptions.

There's no doubt that Moss will go down as one of the greatest receivers ever to lace them up. He put these impressive numbers up even with a pair of down years in Oakland in 2005 and 2006 when he seemed to lose his edge. He came back from that, though, and had one of the greatest single-season performances with the Patriots in 2007.