Posted September 23, 2012

Randy Moss benched in 49ers’ loss

San Francisco 49ers
By

Randy Moss finished with three catches for 27 yards against the Vikings. (Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE)

The 49ers found themselves struggling in Minnesota on Sunday, unable to move the football consistently or stretch the Vikings’ defense through the air. It was precisely the situation San Francisco added Randy Moss for, right?

Apparently not.

Moss, despite making three catches for 27 yards earlier in the game, spent the fourth quarter of San Francisco’s 24-13 loss on the sidelines, while QB Alex Smith repeatedly looked for Mario Manningham — the other free agent wide receiver brought in by the 49ers this summer, in hopes of sparking an underwhelming passing attack.

Moss’s fourth-quarter benching was made all the more noteworthy by the fact that it came in Minnesota, sight of some of Moss’s greatest years in the NFL.

Moss had a touchdown catch in the 49ers’ Week 1 win over Green Bay, but he has struggled to find a real steady role in the San Francisco offense so far this season. He entered Sunday with the fourth-most receptions on the 49ers, behind Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis and Manningham. But Jim Harbaugh’s apparent decision to keep him off the field late, as San Francisco attempted to mount a comeback, does not speak highly of Moss’ spot in the pecking order.

Moss also heard it from the Vikings’ fans following a dropped pass — a moment that probably did not help him in Harbaugh’s eyes.

The reality is that the 49ers were hoping to strike gold when they signed Moss, who sat out 2011, to a one-year deal. However, San Francisco’s offense is far from built around its receivers and, at least most weeks, a lack of huge production from that spot won’t do in the 49ers.

In other words, any production San Francisco can get from Moss is gravy. That may not be what Moss wants to hear — he surely thinks he can be a dominant presence out there still — but he might have a better grasp on the situation after Sunday.

The risk in bringing in Moss is that something like a brief benching can spiral into a problem in the locker room, and it’s Moss’ sometimes petulant attitude that scared teams other than San Francisco away.

Sunday was a tough day for the 49ers. Will the Moss situation make their loss in Minnesota linger?

22 comments
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TerranceEl-Waliy
TerranceEl-Waliy like.author.displayName 1 Like

Plain, point and simple---If Alexis Smith is the answer then it is and it was a stupid question.  Harbaugh is an idiot who expresses nothing but propaganda about the 49er's..  Why isnt anyone writing how  Smith had two missed opportunities to connect with R.Moss that could on been 2-potential td's?  The 49er's archaic offensive schemes is diametrically opposed to Randy Moss football core competencies and functional skill domain.  It is absurd to even fathom that Crabtree and Manningham are ahead of Moss in in the depth chart.  They could not hold his jock strap even at 35!  Please kill all that propaganda that Moss is not a good route runner.  His stats refute this statement.  A one trick pony doesnt catch 950+ and 154 rd's (which includes 3-off seasons with bad teams). 

 

Randy call it quits.

logankeefe
logankeefe

 @TerranceEl-Waliy Terrance your comments are the most intelligent I've ever read about Randy Moss since he was traded to the Raiders in 2005. When everybody (including rear-kissing retired Cowboy qb and current FOX analyst Troy Aikman) pronounced Randy's career over, he was leading the NFL in yards-per catch (25.6 yards) that season before he rebelled against being used as a decoy in an offense that could have taken advantage of his incomparable skills as a deep threat (the best and most talented I've ever seen). So he shut down, although he also had hamstring issues as I recall, that slowed him even further. Then instead of bringing him back the following year, the Raiders decided that they'd be better off without him and shipped him off to New England where he set a record that still stands for touchdowns to this day (23). But Robert Kraft evidently had no intention of keeping Randy even after his unprecedented achievements because he selected Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski in the 2010 draft and began phasing Moss out of the offense before sending him back to Minnesota. For whatever reason Brett Favre ignored him too, as did the Titans where he was, once again, little more than an expensive decoy--a role he retains (and despises) to this day. I feel sorry for him, and actually hoped that he would have chosen to go to New Orleans this past off season where he at least figured to get the ball thrown to him a hell of a lot more than he does in Jim Harbaugh's system. Heck, in Harbaugh's scheme Randy isn't even on the field for 70% of the team's plays.

I don't care how much of a bargain basement deal the 49'ers got by bringing Moss in, I feel that they're depriving true fans of the last opportunity to see someone with genius level skills before he retires for good--a taller, and even at age 35, FASTER version of former Cleveland Browns great Paul Warfield who was one of the very best deep threats who ever played...

 

End,

Clifford Burton

Santa Monica, Ca

tillzen
tillzen

 What a salient and sober opinion expressed beautifully. Let's hope the SWAT Team has successfully evacuated your neighborhood.

WEBBISHULK
WEBBISHULK

@49erholics not true-we were frustrated-nobody likes to lose and this bullshit flies around when we lose

skipponder21
skipponder21

I just went to your Twitter page and found out that you work for ESPN with the Minnesota Vikings.

You're an amateur bias liar.

skipponder21
skipponder21

Tom Pelissero, you're a liar and a hater. Randy Moss was on the field in the 4th quarter. The 49ers lost their first game this year and you want to make Randy Moss the scapegoat. You're pathetic.

 

Both Braylon Edwards and Mario Manningham had drops last week but the won so you say nothing. Haters like you want to see Randy Moss fail but that ain't happening. he'll be here for the year.

WarrenLudford
WarrenLudford

Well, at this rate I doubt Moss will get any of the incentive pay in his contract.   Pretty soon he'll start talking and disrupting the 49er locker room.  Count on it.   Be interesting to see if he makes it through the whole year.  

Robert25
Robert25 like.author.displayName 1 Like

What a stupid article. Moss has said the same thing over and over in regard to his playing time. Whatever vulture that wrote this article is just trying to make up news where there is none. No ethics in sports journalism.

jrjakadoubleJ
jrjakadoubleJ

@purpleprideorg can't teach an old dog new tricks.....

PastorKEDSR
PastorKEDSR

@NanceLeeM Randy Moss was on the field in the 4th Q of that game. Check your facts

NanceLeeM
NanceLeeM

@PastorKEDSR That was Sports Illustrated headline, not mine :)

mickcollin
mickcollin like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

Why in the world would Jim Harbaugh bench Randy Moss. He is an absolute fool! Moss has lost NO speed and Moss could have helped them win the game. 

 

Jim Harbaugh will fail,as will the 49er's, IF he doesn't get his ego in check. Randy Moss is the Hall of Fame player,not Harbaugh. Is Moss difficult to coach,yes... but it goes with the territory. Moss wanted to stay with the Patriots,and Bellicheck's ego,got in the way.In my opinion the Patriots would have won another Super Bowl with Moss. Harbaugh has the same problem,insufficient emotional intelligence and immaturity. Moss IS the star,NOT Harbaugh!!

 

Mark my words,PLAY Moss or the Niner's will suffer the consequences.

 

The problem is Alex Smith isn't a good enough QB to thread the needle, and Harbaugh has an overinflated ego.

 

I hope Randy has saved enough money,because I wouldn't put up with the problems the rest of the team has!!!!!

BurkartTom
BurkartTom like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

i´m a niners fan and like moss I know he can make something out of nothing.he´s someone you can never rule out.

MikeNorton
MikeNorton like.author.displayName 1 Like

um.. how about throwing a deep route to moss.  since that is what they brought him in for.  also, he's the 4th option.  He doesn't get much playing time.  Quit trying to make a randy moss issue.  There is none.

 

mike.russell
mike.russell

 @MikeNorton Agreed, agreed, agreed.  There isn't an issue.  All reports have said he's been great to have on the team.  The only thing is, we want to see him with the ball--more!  So here's hoping that the ball will be flung his way many times in the rest of the games.  He'll make people leap from the seats with his catches, his runs, his finesse.  We're lucky to have him in San Francisco and he's lucky to be part of this great organization.  Just wish it was more obvious, that is, Randy getting more passes his way.  He'll take care of the rest. 

logankeefe
logankeefe

It will never happen--not unless all of Jim Harbaugh's faves drop dead (Vernon Davis, Mario Manningham, Frank Gore--who catches more balls out of the back field than Randy ever has the chance to on the edge--and Mr. Crabtree).

 

Randy Moss should have signed with the New Orleans Saints. Moss isn't being used in San Francisco and never will be. Jim Harbaugh will see to that. Drew Brees, on the other hand, would likely have thrown the ball in Randy's direction an average of five times per game. As it is, the Saints' chances of making it to the title game appear to be almost as good as San Francisco's are in this pass-happy, quarterback driven league. I can't prove it, but I suspect that Randy would rather feel as if he's a legitimate part of the team by being on the field for at least 70% of the time than being a well-paid cheerleader on the sidelines for a team that winds up in the Super Bowl...and wins it...

 

Clifford

Santa Monia

Dave22
Dave22 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Ok the media spinfest can stop right now.  Randy Moss was NOT benched.  His role on the 49ers has not changed, he plays 20-25 offensive snaps.  He did that against Green Bay, Detroit, and now Minnesota.  He knows his role on the team and Harbaugh confirmed last week that he is fine with that role.  Media gossip writers, just stop and cover east coast teams.  Thanks.

Aroc
Aroc like.author.displayName 1 Like

please provide proof that he was 'benched'

 

he's only played  a portion of the snaps in all 3 games, that's his role as of now. "journalists" are so needy for attention

LinFrank
LinFrank

What Randy could have been and now is must make any fan of his cringe. He was on his way to Jerry Rice's league...then his attitude got in the way. Retire already Randy.

JesseBernal
JesseBernal like.author.displayName 1 Like

Maybe Alex Smith should be benched for missing Moss when Moss was WIDE OPEN for what would have been a easy catch.  These writers are hilarious.  I bet he didn't even watch the game.  

sledhead344
sledhead344

 @JesseBernal

 for a team not to throw to him is wasting there breath ,id go to him all day long ,4 plays in a row and smoke the other team ,if he see`s the ball and is part of the game he gets hot ,its just the way it is ,with players ,if you ignore his talent they all get pissed and felt left out if you got him what the hell was the purpose if not to use him ,i would use him up ,use him like a dirt rag ,use him like tolit paper ,and then some .

Trackbacks

  1. Randy Moss benched in 49ers’ loss | Fresh Daily News says:
    September 23, 2012 at 11:10 pm

    [...] The 49ers found themselves struggling in Minnesota on Sunday, unable to move the football consistently or stretch the Vikings’ defense through the air. It was precisely the situation San Francisco added Randy Moss for, right? read more “Randy Moss benched in 49ers’ loss”… [...]

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