San Francisco 49ers Would Regret Not Keeping Randy Moss for 2012

Randy Moss has been out of football for over a year now and the last time we saw him he was far from being on his game.

The San Francisco 49ers signed the veteran receiver this offseason, but also went out and added former Giants Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham and selected Illinois receiver A.J. Jenkins in the first round of the 2012 draft.

These three additions, along with starter Michael Crabtree and holdovers Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams and Brett Swain, make it quite crowded out wide in San Francisco.

Gregg Rosenthal over at NFL.com hypothesizes that Moss could, in fact, be let go if he doesn't play up to form:

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Randy Moss wasn't in attendance for the first two weeks of the San Francisco 49ers' offseason program, but he arrived Monday just in time for the first on-field coaching session ... "It was eye opening," Moss said Monday about his first practice. "Today was the first day and we were moving so fast. Today felt like we'd been out here for a week or two."

Unlike Ginn, Williams and Swain, Moss doesn't offer any special-teams value. And he's coming off a year during which he didn't play any football.

He will have to get up to speed fast. Barring injuries in front of him, Moss will have a difficult time just making the 49ers.

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Letting go of Moss would be a huge mistake by coach Harbaugh though. While the future Hall of Famer doesn't offer any special teams prowess, he does offer something the 49ers' young receiving corps does not have: knowledge.

As much of a headache as Moss can be at times, he's always been considered a great teammate. He was only with the Titans for a short time, but the receivers there had nothing but glowing remarks for him. Titans receiver Nate Washington was quoted saying (via David Boclair Nashville City Planner):

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"The main thing he did was believe in himself,” wide receiver Nate Washington said. “That’s what he taught us all the time — no matter what anybody says to always believe in yourself and carry yourself in a high manner. Much respect to that man."

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And young star receiver Kenny Britt said, "The locker room changed when he first got here. You could tell in the wide receiver meeting room ... It’s sad to see him go."

Moss is notorious for being one of the smartest receivers to ever play the game. His persona and reputation sometimes give him a bad rep, but in the meeting room and on the practice field he's like having another coach.

The 49ers have talented receivers who have not yet lived up to lofty expectations. Crabtree, Ginn, Manningham and Jenkins could all learn a ton from Moss. 

Even if the veteran receiver isn't a major part of their offense, he'd be a huge help to their young receiver unit.

Cutting him loose would be a huge mistake.