The bigger picture of Randy Moss as a Redskin in 2012

I’d like to thank Kevin for his last bit on Randy Moss. I got me in the mood to expound on what is already a very interesting scenario.

We’re all wondering the same thing, don’t act like you’re not. What would Randy Moss bring to the table after his so-called “retirement” last year.

It’s hard to expect that after a season away from the NFL that Randy Moss has somehow fully rehabilitated is ego and is now a paragon of selflessness. He also claims to no longer needing to be the number one option on offense. Do we buy that? Do we honestly believe that Moss can exist peacefully within a system where he’s the second or even third option on the field.

I can’t say. That’s something Randy Moss himself will have to explain.

What I can say is that the Randy Moss that had a record setting year in the 2007 season while working alongside Tom Brady in New England may still exist to some degree.

Moss claims to be still be able to run a sub 4.4 forty. Excuse me while I snicker. There’s no way he’s still that fast, not at his age, not with the amount of mileage he’s stacked up over his career.

But there’s no question that Randy Moss could still be effective. Few receivers have ever been able to stretch the field like Randy Moss and do it with such frequency. Case in point: Dante Culpepper. Randy Moss was instrumental in making Dante Culpeper an all-pro for several years in Minnesota. Without Moss and Chris Carter running wide, did Culpeper look like the same guy? Of course not.

The Redskins are currently looking to address several areas of need going into the draft and free agency. If Redskins nation was responsible for assessing which areas were most in need of improvement, there would probably be a unanimous vote for quarterback. Luckily for Redskins’ fans, Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen seem to agree.

One hopes they see the value in trading up to get Robert Griffin III, “hope” being the operative term. If not Griffin, the ‘Skins could pick up Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill in the late 1st or early 2nd round. Then of course there’s free agency where either Matt Flynn or Peyton Manning could become viable targets. Although after the recent revelation of a fourth neck surgery, Manning seems less and less a good option to explore.

Whatever the case, the person under center in 2012 will need a big, looming weapon on the outside to either make big plays going deep or open routes for other receivers. Currently, the Redskins have no one who fits that description.

Assuming Moss is willing to fit into Shanahan’s system and share time and receptions with the likes of Santana Moss and Anthony Armstrong then D.C. could be a choice destination for the West Virginia native.

Think of what Leonard Hankerson, who struggled mightily in his rookie season, could pick up from Randy Moss. Hankerson, who is just beginning to wrap his mind around the fundamentals of the receiver position at the pro level and Randy Moss who has more wide receiver knowledge in his pinky finger than most guys have in their whole body, together out wide. Imagine that clicking.

I’m suddenly starting to think that Rex Grossman might not be so bad in 2012, after all. Wait- no, I didn’t mean that.

Even with $46 million to spare in cap space, the Redskins would be able to sign Moss on a one-year free agent deal for what is essentially a bowl of soup in financial terms. That’s welcome news considering what the Redskins hemorrhaged out to sign Albert Haynesworth only to get [less than] nothing in return.

So what’s the risk involved? Moss’ attitude deteriorates and he doesn’t put forth the effort the Redskins had expected from him? If that’s the worst case scenario, then I say bring him on board.

For all we know Randy Moss could be genuinely grateful for another shot and leave everything on the field, maybe even notch a 1,000 yard, 10 touchdown season while he’s at it. That would definitely put a smile on some of those bitter, maligned faces.

It’s hard to do worse than the Redskins did in 2011. I say if Randy Moss still has a little juice left in his once legendary stride, then let him exhaust it playing for Mike Shanahan. Give him the opportunity to end his career on a high note. Let him do his part to dig the Redskins out of this almost twenty year-old pit.

There is simply a potential upside to this scenario that can’t be ignored. Yes, it’s reminiscent of the same old song that has been playing in the Redskins camp for some time now. It’s the one that talks about bringing in aging super-stars who are promised a huge lump sum and little motivation to live up to it.

But at a time when the Redskins are scrambling to find answers and establish something indicative of a winning team, reaching out to one of the greatest receivers of all time may just be a worthy gamble.