Did The San Francisco 49ers Make A Wise Move By Signing Randy Moss?

Published: 12^th Mar 12 10:05 pm

by Steven Resnick
stevenresnick

1 Rant »

Did The San Francisco 49ers Make A Wise Move By Signing Randy Moss?

Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

With the St. Louis Rams making headlines with a trade with the Washington Redskins, it was only a matter of time before the San Francisco 49ers would make headlines. That announcement came today with the reports of the team signing Randy Moss to a one-year deal according to ESPN reports.

Moss of course spent the 2011 season retired as there wasn’t much interest in the veteran wide receiver. This signing is reminiscent of the move to bring in Braylon Edwards. A proven no.1 receiver with plenty of baggage willing to sign in hopes of being able to capitalize the following season.

The 2011 season did not go well for Edwards and ultimately he was released during the season by the 49ers due to his lack of production and injuries also played a role and forced him to miss a number of games. When Edwards did play he was pretty much nonexistent in the 49ers offense.

For the 49ers the move to bring in Moss is low risk, high reward. Moss when his career is officially over is a Hall of Fame player, yet he comes with plenty of baggage and it’s usually when things aren’t going his way and that is one of the reasons the New England Patriots released him.

Since Moss did sit out the 2011 season he definitely has motivation to prove his doubters wrong or 49ers fans on the fence about the signing. He also gives Alex Smith who is a free agent at the moment, yet who is likely to re-sign, a legitimate no.1 receiver.

There’s also the “if” factor of what exactly will happen if Moss doesn’t fulfill expectations? Or better yet for some 49ers fans why even bother with Moss?

Answered already was what would happen to Moss if he wasn’t able to perform up to expectations as he would end up like Edwards did, released.

Yet, the better question to attempt to answer is the why bring in Moss? Considering he is definitely a polarizing player in which fans either love him or hate him. Like mentioned before the signing is low risk, high reward and the 49ers though could have gone a different direction as well to address their needs at the wide receiver position.

One way would have been to go after a marquee free agent at the wide receiver position such as Marques Colston, Mike Wallace, Vincent Jackson or Brandon Lloyd and another option would have been to attempt to acquire Desean Jackson from the Philadelphia Eagles. These options of course all would cost the 49ers more than the one-year contract that Moss was signed for.

The 49ers also could have looked to draft a wide receiver as well. Names that the 49ers could be interested in are Stephen Hill, Mohamed Sanu, Tommy Streeter and Nick Toon. Like the free agent or trade route, drafting a wide receiver depending on the round could cost more than the contract of Moss and also yet to prove themselves at the NFL level.

Based on what Moss can do on the football field the 49ers front office has made another wise decision and for Moss he just needs to be able to stay healthy and he should have a huge year and his presence on the football field should open up mismatches for the 49ers receivers and tight ends. Michael Crabtree who is coming off a career season should be one of the primary beneficiaries of Moss’ arrival and Vernon Davis is the other.

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