Moss had head case seasons, but he was supremely talented, IMO other than Rice as good as anyone to ever play that position. Not just phenomenal athletic ability, but an uncanny ability to get effortlessly to the open space. Small possession receivers like Edelman and Welker before him are doubtless valuable, but I wouldn't put them in the category of game-breaking deep threats like Moss, Isaac Bruce who was mentioned previously, etc. As Steve mentioned, they also need the right team to thrive.

Moss was a star in Minnesota before he went to Oakland. His time with the Raiders was an aberration, not his time with New England.

That's true, but there was some talk that he was on his way out. Which he obviously proved wrong.


When they traded for him, I thought they should have gone for Owens instead.

I'd seen a play during the last season a Minnesota where it was very late, team needed maybe 10 yards to try a field goal. The Play wasn't to Moss, but he was supposed to draw a defender or two away from midfield. He ran the worst route ever, so bad the second defender abandoned him and headed to midfield where he broke up the play. Bad like instead of going out about 1 and cutting on a slant or going downfield, he went out about 5 at half speed and made a big curving turn to the sideline. It probably cost them the game.

Didn't see any of that here. A lot of people were mad at him for saying mid season that he wanted to stay but wouldn't be around because the team wouldn't pay him. He was right, after the seasons he'd had a big payday was on the way, and the Pats weren't going to pay it, he knew he was getting traded all along as did anyone paying attention.