Randy Moss Cut: St. Louis Rams and the Top 10 Teams That Could Use the WR
The Minnesota Vikings waived star wide receiver Randy Moss today, just four weeks after trading a third-round pick to the New England Patriots to get the controversial superstar.
Though Minnesota has apparently decided that his off-field attitude and on-field lack of effort was too much to handle, there is almost no chance that he goes any significant length of time without finding a new home.
Now that he is available to the league, it makes sense to start looking at the teams that could make the most use of his talents for the remainder of the 2010 season.
Keep in mind that the NFL waiver order is based off of the team’s current 2010 win/loss record. This means that the first team who will have a chance to acquire Moss will be the Buffalo Bills, who are winless in 2010.
(Note: If it wouldn’t make for such a boring article, the Minnesota Vikings would fill every number on this list. The fact that they cut Moss just goes to show that this team is completely out of control and that a new coaching staff, particularly a new head coach, needs to be put in place.)
10. Houston Texans
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Monday night’s game between the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts might have gone a long way in determining if the Texans will look into acquiring wide receiver Randy Moss. The Texans didn't run away with a win like they did when these two teams met in Week 1 (they lost 30-17), so they might look at bringing in Moss to help bolster their already highly-effective offense.
After leading the NFL in passing yardage per game in 2009, the Houston Texans have slipped down to 10th in the league in 2010.
Some would put that on the fact that the team has committed to the run significantly more this season than they did last. But quarterback Matt Schaub’s statistics are down across the board. Not only is he on pace for significantly less yardage in 2010, but his completion percentage, yards per completion, and touchdown-to-interception ratio are all down.
Andre Johnson is certainly considered to be one of, if not the best receiver in the entire league. But imagine having Randy Moss on the other side of the field as opposed to Kevin Walter or Jacoby Jones. The two of them have combined for just 116 yards over the past three weeks.
With Randy Moss on the roster, Andre Johnson would begin to see more openings in the defense and they would instantly combine to be the best receiving tandem in the league.
9. Green Bay Packers
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Following an extremely difficult 9-0 victory at home over the New York Jets in Week 8, questions are beginning to arise about the Packers’ offense.
Certainly much credit has to be given to the New York defense, but Aaron Rodgers struggled mightily to do anything during the game.
After years of catching a pass in every game, veteran wide receiver Donald Driver has now gone two straight weeks without a catch and is clearly not at full strength.
Though the Packers are considered to be one of the deepest teams in the league at the wide receiver position, Jordy Nelson and James Jones would certainly take a seat to Randy Moss if he were acquired.
With Jermichael Finley out and Donald Driver ineffective even when he’s in, the Packers could certainly use Moss’ red-zone abilities.
The Packers faithful may remember Moss’ 'mooning' incident from years ago. But they will forget all that the first time they see him streaking down the sidelines for a long touchdown or reaching over some poor defender to catch a jump ball in the end zone.
8. New England Patriots
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Crazy, I know, but Moss going back to New England is most certainly not out of the question.
Though the Patriots traded Moss away just weeks ago, there is certainly still love and admiration for him within the team’s locker room.
An emotional—and some would say bizarre—press conference after the Vikings’ loss to the Patriots on Sunday really showed that Randy Moss is depressed about being moved from New England.
Many critics call Randy Moss a front-runner and there may be no team hotter right now than the New England Patriots.
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7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Now sporting a 5-2 record in 2010, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are really starting to back up what head coach Raheem Morris said last week when he proclaimed that his team was the “best team in the NFC.”
With young quarterback Josh Freeman, rookie wide receiver Mike Williams and rookie running back LaGarrette Blount leading the way, the Buccaneers really are looking like they may be one of the teams to beat in the NFC.
Even given all that, it’s hard to imagine that the Buccaneers would pass up the possibility of bringing in a star veteran wide receiver that could help open up the offense, perhaps more so than any other player in the league.
Moss could be a great teacher to the young receivers in this offense and could do some serious damage in his own right.
6. Oakland Raiders
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Don’t look now, but the Oakland Raiders have just won back-to-back games in blowout fashion.
This one might not make a lot of sense for those who remember Moss’ dismal efforts toward the end of his first run with the Raiders from 2005-2006. But this isn’t exactly the same team.
With a running game that ranks second in the NFL, the Raiders could use some help at the wide receiver position to help stretch the field and balance out their offense as they (should I say it?) make a run at the playoffs.
Yes, Al Davis is still present. But he has shown before that he is willing to bring coaches and players back if he feels it will benefit the team, even if they didn’t leave on such great terms to begin with.
This one might be a long shot, but perhaps not as long as some people are thinking.
5. Seattle Seahawks
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The Seahawks have been looking for a franchise wide receiver for years. Whether it was Darrell Jackson, Bobby Engram, Joey Galloway, Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, or T.J. Houshmandzadeh, no one has really stuck as being a consistent top target.
That could all change with one stroke of a pen.
Signing Randy Moss could be the best move that the Seattle Seahawks have made since they cut Shaun Alexander.
After getting walloped by the Oakland Raiders 33-3 on Sunday, there has to be some serious discussion about bringing in Moss to help Matt Hasselbeck and get this offense moving.
The Seahawks rank 25th in the league in passing yardage and have thrown just six touchdown passes on the year.
Yet somehow, with a 4-3 record, the Seahawks sit atop the NFC West and appear to have a very good chance at making the playoffs this season.
Some would argue that Moss would just be another failed wide receiver project for this team. But no one that the Seahawks have ever brought in has had the same pedigree as Randy Moss—this should be a no-brainer.
4. Buffalo Bills
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This one may be more based on pure chance than it is any other reason.
Winless through their first seven games, the Buffalo Bills currently sit atop the league’s waiver order. This means that they will be given the first chance to acquire Randy Moss.
Although they are not at all a playoff contender in 2010, the Bills may look at Moss as an investment to sell more tickets, merchandise and just get some national media attention for once.
The team is terrible and Moss would likely be miserable there. But the opportunity is absolutely there for them if they want it.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
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With sole possession of first place in the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs may very well decide that they are one playmaker away from running away with the division.
After a terrible 4-12 season in 2009, the Chiefs were considered by most to be one of the league’s worst teams and one of the most unlikely teams to have a chance at the playoffs in 2010. The running game has changed all that.
Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones have combined to give the Chiefs the league’s top rushing attack at 190.4 yards per game—over 20-yards per game better than the second-best team and 70-yards per game better than what they averaged in 2009.
Ranked dead last in the league in passing yards per game, however, the Chiefs have to be considered one of the top destinations for Moss. He would instantly step in and complement Dwayne Bowe in the receiving game.
2. Detroit Lions
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Can you imagine an offense with both Calvin “Megatron” Johnson and Randy “Superfreak” Moss lined up at wide receiver? Defensive backs are already trembling in their boots at just the thought.
With a healthy Matt Stafford back in the lineup on Sunday, the Lions won their biggest game of the season so far, when they defeated the Washington Redskins by a final score of 37-25.
Calvin Johnson has made himself one of the league’s most-feared offensive weapons. But he could certainly learn a thing or two from Moss, and there is no question that he would benefit from having another playmaking wide receiver on the other side of the field.
Though the Lions have only won two games so far in 2010, their offense looks significantly better than it has in recent years. And with the rest of the NFC North struggling to get things going, there is still a chance that the Lions could be competing for the division title.
1. St. Louis Rams
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Perhaps the most likely destination for the seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is a team that most considered to have no chance at making a playoff run in 2010—the St. Louis Rams.
Led by Rookie of the Year-candidate quarterback Sam Bradford, the Rams have quietly moved themselves into position to make a run at the NFC West division title just one season after a horrendous 1-15 season made them the worst team in football.
Though Moss is getting up there in age, he is still among the very best receivers in the game and would be an amazing toy for Sam Bradford to play with, especially after an injury earlier in the year knocked out his favorite receiver, Mark Clayton.
Moss would instantly give the Rams a go-to target. Defenses would not be able to key in on stopping running back Steven Jackson nearly as much with the threat of Randy getting deep on them for a highlight-reel touchdown.
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