New England Patriots Trade for Randy Moss.

By Sam Coombs

April 29^th 2007 was a big day for the New England Patriots organization and their pursuit of another Super Bowl title. It was draft night and the Patriots were looking for ways to better their franchise.

In recent weeks before this day, the name Randy Moss, a wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders at the time, was one of the biggest names in trade talks at the time. He was coming off two mediocre years with the Raiders and many thought his better years were behind him. He was beginning to enter his thirties, which is a time usually to see decline in many athletes.

Moss was coming off a season with the Raider where he only had 3 touchdown receptions and was not even a factor for the Oakland Raiders. They were a team that was losing games and Randy Moss couldn’t handle that situation. On April 29^th Randy Moss was traded to the New England Patriots for only a 4^th round draft pick. The Oakland Raiders staff was basically trying to give away Moss for the betterment of the franchise.

The New England Patriots were coming off the 2006 season, where they had a 12-4 record and made it to the AFC championship losing to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. The New England Patriots had made it to the playoffs 5 out of the last 6 years and winning 3 Super Bowls with quarterback Tom Brady.

Randy Moss was more then excited to come to the Patriots saying, “I am still in awe to be apart of this organization.” Some Patriots fans and sports broadcaster were initially in question of weather Randy Moss still had anything to offer and if his attitude would work in an organization like the Patriots and with a coach like Bill Belichick. These doubters would soon realize the great talent that Randy Moss still was in the National Football League.

From week 1 to week 17 Randy Moss was nothing but a success. In week 1 against the New York Jets, Randy Moss had 9 receptions for 183 yards with a touchdown. In his previous season with the Oakland Raiders Moss didn’t record 183 totals receiving yards until week 6. After only playing 3 games with the Patriots, Randy Moss had already recorded 21 receptions, 407 receiving yards and 5 TD. Moss already had 2 more touchdowns then the previous season. The continuity of Tom Brady and Randy Moss was easily seen and the path for the Patriots was working out better then planned.

During the course of the 2007 season the New England Patriots would go onto break many team and offensive NFL records. The Patriots finished the season with a record of 16-0 being the first team to win all 16 games of the regular season. The 1972 Dolphins finished regular season 14-0. Randy Moss finished the 2007 season with 98 receptions, 1,493 receiving yards and a National Football League season record of 23 touchdown receptions beating Jerry Rice who previously held the record with 22. Tom Brady would also record the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a season with 50. The Patriots would go onto to play in the Super Bowl and the first appearance for Moss, losing to the Giants and finishing 18-1 on the season

It has been widely said and will continue to be said around the league, that in 2007 when the Patriots traded for Randy Moss, it would be one of the biggest steals of all time. To only give up a 4^th round pick for what would become the best season for a wide receiver in NFL history is just simply amazing. The continuity of Tom Brady throwing to Randy Moss was simply impeccable. He took the entire New England community by storm and became a huge fan favorite. It was one of the biggest turnarounds by a player that has ever been seen and that is why Randy Moss won comeback player of the year in 2007.

Randy Moss helped turn his name back into super stardom and recreate many of his talents seen while playing as a Minnesota Viking. This historic year will always be unforgettable, and the unforgettable truth to the Oakland Raiders is, Randy Moss could still play and play at a high level.