2012 NFL Free Agents: Baltimore Ravens Should Shy Away from Randy Moss

The Baltimore Ravens could use a wide receiver, but there are no obvious targets for them to pursue.

That being said, it just so happens Randy Moss added his name to the list of possibilities when he un-retired in a Ustream.tv video on Monday. He's ready to make a comeback, and his agent told Pro Football Talk that Moss is already drawing some interest.

It seems like every team in the league has been mentioned as a possible fit for the 35-year-old Moss, and that includes the Ravens. 

Mike Preston of The Baltimore Sun wrote about the idea on Wednesday, but was quick to point out that we're talking about "speculation" more than we are actual rumors.

Beyond that, Preston says he's cool with the idea of Moss joining the Ravens. Here's his reasoning:

"

Even though Moss has been away from the game for a short time, he's still probably one of the fastest receivers in the league, and all opposing defenses have to respect speed. At the right price, I wouldn't mind seeing him line up opposite Torrey Smith with Anquan Boldin in the slot.  The Ravens had similar plans for Lee Evans last year, but he spent most of 2011 on the sideline with a high ankle sprain.

"

As for any and all personality concerns regarding Moss, Preston writes that all of that talk has been "overrated."

I'm going to have to disagree. I thought Cris Carter made an excellent point when he told Mike and Mike in the Morning that Moss has a lot of "quit in him." Moss fired back at Carter on Twitter, but Carter was in the right when he said what he had to say. Indeed, Moss proved time and time again that he does have quite a bit of quit in him.

The Ravens don't need a guy like that. This is a team with a very tough, very hard-nosed mentality. There are times when the Ravens seem completely out of sorts, but more often than not, they're going to fight to the bitter end. Given what we know about Moss, he wouldn't fit in.

Besides which, Moss doesn't strike me as a particularly good fit for the Ravens' offense. Preston hints that Moss' speed would open up the field, but that's the exact same kind of threat Torrey Smith poses when he steps out onto the field. Smith is Baltimore's speed demon and field-stretcher, and I'll wager he's much faster and much more explosive than Moss at this point.

Unless Moss were to turn back the clock in the 2012 season, the Ravens wouldn't be getting anything they don't already have. There would be very little upside for Moss in Baltimore, and signing him only to give him a lesser role would be asking for trouble.

If the Ravens have any sense, they won't develop any real interest in Moss. They can do better.