NFL Tickets
Randy Moss will make a not so triumphant return to Minneapolis this weekend, as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Minnesota Vikings.
This will mark the first time Moss has played in the Metrodome since his last game as a Viking in 2010.
The last time he came back, fans welcomed him with open arms. The city was abuzz with new hopes that Moss would be the missing piece to put the Vikings back into championship contention, but it wasn’t meant to be.
His second run with the team was only 4 games long, and he compiled only 174 yards receiving and two touchdowns, before internal issues led to his dismissal. The trend would continue for Moss as he would be basically non-existent with the Tennessee Titans, and eventually retire before the 2011 season.
Well Randy Moss is back, kind of.
The Moss of 2012 certainly isn’t the Moss of old, but he still holds his own out there.
The 49ers have yet to target him consistently this season, as his production has been pretty minimal with the exception of one touchdown catch.
Although the numbers aren’t there through two games, I’m not ready to say Moss is over the hill yet. Something tells me that he’s going to be a little extra motivated come Sunday, and the Minnesota defense better be ready for No. 84.
Expect the fans to cheer a little louder every time he fails to make a catch, or is taken down to the ground. There will be no courtesy applause or respect shown towards Moss, it should be nothing but dislike towards the former crowd favorite.
The wounds of his last visit are still fresh, and it will take fans along time to forget his failed second run with the team.
I certainly haven’t forgotten the way he handled himself, or that you could just see his heart wasn’t in Minnesota or football at all in anymore at that point in his career.
I’ve always been a Randy Moss fan, and down deep I still kind of am, but I lost all respect for him long ago. Usually it’s the other way around, where I don’t like someone but still respect them. With Moss, he’s just so talented that I can’t help but root for him to be successful, even though I know he hasn’t given his all to the game.
You never know what Randy Moss is going to show up, but I fully expect the good Moss to be there on Sunday. Historically when he’s motivated, he usually has a good game. Will Moss try to stick it to his old team? I predict we’ll see No. 84 calling for the ball quite a bit this Sunday, and the crowd doing it’s best to make him struggle along the way.
Follow Andrew Fisher on Twitter @the_realfish
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