Randy Moss Could Return To The NFL

Randy Moss could be returning to the NFL this season. Before the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans game earlier tonight, Moss told Curt Menefee of Fox Sports that he has “not lost the itch” to play football.

At 38-years-old, Moss would likely be nothing more than a fourth or fifth wide receiver on a contending team. While he was one of the greatest wide receivers ever in his prime, Moss has now been retired for two years. After a disappointing 2010 season where he played for the Patriots, Vikings, and Titans, Moss announced his retirement. He came back for the 2012 season and managed to produce a pedestrian 434 yards and three touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers.

Moss went on to further clarify.

“I’ve been working out with a few guys during the offseason. I have been retired for the last two years, but you never know. That’s the love for the game I have inside of me,” he told Menefee.

It has now been six years since Moss had a great season. In 2009, he managed 1,264 yards and 13 touchdowns for the New England Patriots. If Moss does return, we are much more likely to see him in his 2012 form, or worse. Regardless, there is still a chance that the past two years retired have recharged Moss.

While it is not common, Jerry Rice put up elite numbers until he was 40, according to Pro Football Reference. When he was 38, Rice caught 75 passes for 805 yards and seven touchdowns. He actually managed to improve on these numbers during his seasons when he was 39- and 40-years-old. In those seasons, he put up 1,139 yards and 1,211 yards for a total of 16 touchdowns. While prospective teams would not expect those kind of elite numbers, Moss could be looked at as a solid option to make a few important catches a game, especially in the 4th quarter.

This is not the first time in the past week that Moss has been asked about a return to the NFL. Mike Reiss of ESPN questioned Moss on August 20 about the possibility.

Asked Randy Moss if he is officially retired; will never play again. "I would say never, but ahhhhh … let's leave it at that." Walks away.

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 20, 2015

This comes on the same day that star wide receiver Jordy Nelson of the Green Packers tore his ACL in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin also tore his ACL earlier this week. With the season only a few weeks away, both of these teams could potentially want Moss for depth at wide receiver. The Patriots are another possibility. Moss put up elite numbers when Tom Brady was his quarterback for a little over three seasons. As usual, the Patriots do not have a star wide receiver, so Moss would fit right in.

[Image via Elsa/Getty Images]