He's Baaack: Randy Moss Thrives in Red, White, and Blue

Randy Moss has regained the dominant form that once made him the best wide receiver in the NFL.

I for one am glad to see it.

I remember Moss's first NFL game like it was yesterday. I was a junior at Marshall University, having just transferred after two years at WVU, and was working on a Sunday afternoon.

Or, sort of working.

In reality, I was sitting atop the Log Flume ride at Camden Park in Huntington, WV, with my four-inch black-and-white TV powered by what seemed like four dozen D batteries.

I was supposed to make sure that everyone was safe on the ride before they took the final plunge—but the truth is I was watching our hometown hero make his NFL debut.

Moss grabbed two touchdowns that day. It was spectacular.

(And thankfully, all Flumers avoided injury.)

Randy has taken his lumps over the years. He had chances to excel at Notre Dame and Florida State, but lost both scholarships after run-ins with the law. He was able to put (almost) all of that behind him at Marshall and in Minnesota, where he, Daunte Culpepper, and Chris Carter made for a nasty three-headed passing attack.

Then came the trade that sent Moss to Oakland.

I don't think Randy's poor performance with the Raiders was his fault. QB Aaron Brooks was the victim of a horrible offensive line—which didn't give him the time to throw the ball to the running back, much less downfield to Moss.

In any event, Moss was a steal for the Patriots this offseason (no cameras involved—this theft was purely metaphorical), who got him for a fourth-round pick.

Through two games, Moss has shown startling chemistry with Tom Brady, and has overcome a preseason hamstring injury to drive the Pats to two convincing wins.

Some people can't get past the old Randy Moss, who spoke out of turn and acted on emotion instead of logic.

Exaggerated flaws side, though, it's good to see a more mature Moss take the field and excel once again.