After taking a year off because none of the teams that he wanted to play for wanted to sign him, 35-year old wide receiver Randy Moss is back in the NFL thanks to a 1-year contract he signed with the San Francisco 49ers yesterday. Moss was immediately eager to speak about anything and everything, especially all of the things that the terrible, unfair media has blown up over his 13-season career, including… hey man, he’s just here to play this game that he loves and, good lord willing, help this team win.
More than anything, he looks forward to helping the 49ers young receivers get better, which Vernon Davis would probably appreciate so he can take a breather here and there.
“I think, not just Crabtree, but it’s a young group of guys. And there’s a saying I have: ‘I like what I can do for the NFL. I don’t like what the NFL can do for me.’ I’ve loved the game of football. For me to be able to start at a young age and play Pop Warner football and have my dreams come true to become a professional football player. I like what I’m able to give back to football and the NFL. If those guys are willing to accept me as a teammate, come here and make this thing happen, then I’m ready to give back anything I have: my knowledge, my work ethic and all of the above. I look forward to going out and working with these young guys, and coaches included.” (Via 49ers Talk)
I would have loved to see the chorus of eyebrows raising in the room when he mentioned work ethic, but I’m willing to give a guy a 4th chance, especially when he’s just so damned entertaining. But a lot of people don’t share that outlook on the man they call the Real Otis, so of course people are going to keep calling his reputation into question.
Harbaugh has made so much about the team concept and blue-collar mentality with the 49ers. How much did he talk to you about coming into the locker room and fit in and be another one of the guys?
Moss: “Well, the thing about me being here is they’ve done their research on me. And I think when it comes to the world-wide sports media, I’ve gotten a bad rap. They’ve done their homework on me or they wouldn’t have brought me in here.”
Why do you say you’ve gotten a bad rap?
Moss: “I’m just saying, more of not being a team player and things like that. I really don’t want to get into that because that’s not what I’m here for. I think that one thing I’d like the sports world to understand is the love and the passion I have for the game of football. I think every player wants to win and every organization wants to win.”
And maybe he’s right. After all, Jeff Fisher had nothing but high praises for Moss, even after he was completely worthless in the Tennessee Titans’ offense in 2010. Or maybe teams are just content with giving the guy a chance to come in and score touchdowns. Either way, it could be much worse for Moss.
