Randy Moss

The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly waived wide receiver Randy Moss. The NFL Network is reporting the move, one day after Moss was held to one reception for eight yards in the Vikings' 28-18 loss at New England. More to follow.

Randy Moss returned to the NFL for games like this, not performances like Sunday night's. Five days after Moss proclaimed himself the best wide receiver of all time, he spent most of Super Bowl XLVII as an on-field spectator for the San Francisco 49ers, unable to make the plays necessary for the first championship of his 14-year career. Moss left the Mercedes-Benz Superdome after a 34-31 loss to the Ravens with just two catches for 41 yards. His biggest impact came on a 32-yard gain early in the fourth quarter - a great catch, but not enough for one of self-proclaimed greatness.

Here's a look at what other media are saying about Randy Moss. • Tim Graham of ESPN.com's AFC East blog writes a pretty thorough account of what the Patriots' trade of wide receiver Randy Moss means for New England. The New England Patriots' offense evolved to the point Randy Moss was marginalized through the first quarter of the season. • Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Access Vikings blog caught up with Vikings All-Pro defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who believes Moss won't cause the same types of distractions he did during his first stint in Minnesota.

The San Francisco 49ers' Randy Moss said Tuesday that he is the best wide receiver to ever play in the National Football League. On Sunday night, he might not even be the best receiver in the game, but he could have the biggest impact. No offense to Moss, he is probably the second best receiver in history. Statistically, only Jerry Rice is better when it comes to receiving touchdowns (197 to 156) and Moss' 15,292 receiving yards are third behind Rice's 22,895 and Terrell Owens' 15,934.

Even with today's news that Randy Moss plans to come out of retirement, the bumper crop of free-agent wide receivers appears to be thinning out as we learn more about how teams plan to use their franchise tags. The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that the Philadelphia Eagles plan to use their franchise tag on DeSean Jackson, one of the NFL's top deep threats, who made 58 catches for 961 yards and four touchdowns in 2011. There is also media speculation that the Kansas City Chiefs may use the franchise tag on Dwayne Bowe and the New Orleans Saints could do the same with Marques Colston if they can avoid using it on Drew Brees.

Randy Moss returned to the NFL for games like this, not performances like Sunday night's. Five days after Moss proclaimed himself the best wide receiver of all time, he spent most of Super Bowl XLVII as an on-field spectator for the San Francisco 49ers, unable to make the plays necessary for the first championship of his 14-year career. Moss left the Mercedes-Benz Superdome after a 34-31 loss to the Ravens with just two catches for 41 yards. His biggest impact came on a 32-yard gain early in the fourth quarter - a great catch, but not enough for one of self-proclaimed greatness.

The San Francisco 49ers' Randy Moss said Tuesday that he is the best wide receiver to ever play in the National Football League. On Sunday night, he might not even be the best receiver in the game, but he could have the biggest impact. No offense to Moss, he is probably the second best receiver in history. Statistically, only Jerry Rice is better when it comes to receiving touchdowns (197 to 156) and Moss' 15,292 receiving yards are third behind Rice's 22,895 and Terrell Owens' 15,934.

There is speculation the Ravens have interest in receiver Randy Moss, and I have no problems with the team trying to pursue him as long as they don't mortgage away the future. I can't see the Ravens doing that because that's not general manager Ozzie Newsome's style. Even though Moss has been away from the game for a short time, he's still probably one of the fastest receivers in the league, and all opposing defenses have to respect speed. At the right price, I wouldn't mind seeing him line up opposite Torrey Smith with Anquan Boldin in the slot.  The Ravens had similar plans for Lee Evans last year, but he spent most of 2011 on the sideline with a high ankle sprain.

Wide receiver Randy Moss of the Minnesota Vikings can score from anywhere on the field. Cover him with care!Randy was a rookie in 1998. But he was one of the NFL's most fearsome receivers. Randy led the NFL with 17 touchdown receptions in 1998. He caught 69 passes for 1,313 yards.The Vikings chose Randy with the 21st pick in the 1998 draft. What a catch for Minnesota!"Dang Water sSHORTAGE!"This fellow is trying his best to kayak in a mud puddle. Isn't that what sports are really about: trying your best?

Glendale, Ariz.-- --Randy Moss weaved through the crowd of teammates and media, past a female reporter in a bridal mini-gown, to his booth for his first Super Bowl media day. "What's happening?" he yelped as a hearty greeting to the throng awaiting him. An hour later, Moss concluded his session with, "That's it - yeah!" He grabbed the knick-knack presented him by a tabloid TV show, jumped from his seat, posed with teammate Tom Brady a few times and headed to the New England Patriots' team photo.

Every Monday, the day after my favorite day of the week but still hours before that week's slate of games officially wraps up with “Monday Night Football,” I will bring you my weekly premature NFL power rankings. Why Monday? Because who wants to wait until Tuesday or Wednesday for power rankings? Why 11 teams? I don't really have a good answer for that one. I've always liked odd numbers. What am I basing them on? Who my gut tells me are the toughest teams to beat that week.

In the NFL, there's a general rule of thumb that it takes a wide receiver three years to reach his potential. As with almost every rule, there are exceptions, and the Ravens will meet one of those exceptions Monday night when the Cincinnati Bengals visit M&T Bank Stadium. A.J. Green forged a record-setting campaign in 2011 after being selected fourth overall in the NFL draft earlier in the year. Following a path blazed by Randy Moss formerly of the Minnesota Vikings and Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans, Green headlined a strong group of first-year receivers that included the Ravens' Torrey Smith and the Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones.

Divas still in demand Ron Fritz Baltimore Sun Will Chad Johnson get another shot in the NFL? I hope not. The tired acts of Terrell Owens, Plaxico Burress and Johnson need to be shelved for good. After allegedly assaulting his wife, Johnson should worry more about staying out of jail than trying to get back onto the football field. Are NFL teams really hurting that badly for wide receivers that these divas keep getting chances? Maybe. Randy Moss got his third — or is it fourth?

There is speculation the Ravens have interest in receiver Randy Moss, and I have no problems with the team trying to pursue him as long as they don't mortgage away the future. I can't see the Ravens doing that because that's not general manager Ozzie Newsome's style. Even though Moss has been away from the game for a short time, he's still probably one of the fastest receivers in the league, and all opposing defenses have to respect speed. At the right price, I wouldn't mind seeing him line up opposite Torrey Smith with Anquan Boldin in the slot.  The Ravens had similar plans for Lee Evans last year, but he spent most of 2011 on the sideline with a high ankle sprain.

Even with today's news that Randy Moss plans to come out of retirement, the bumper crop of free-agent wide receivers appears to be thinning out as we learn more about how teams plan to use their franchise tags. The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that the Philadelphia Eagles plan to use their franchise tag on DeSean Jackson, one of the NFL's top deep threats, who made 58 catches for 961 yards and four touchdowns in 2011. There is also media speculation that the Kansas City Chiefs may use the franchise tag on Dwayne Bowe and the New Orleans Saints could do the same with Marques Colston if they can avoid using it on Drew Brees.

The honors keep coming in for Ravens rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith. Smith today was named the AFC's Offensive Player of the Week after he caught six balls for 165 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens 31-24 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. The second-round pick out of the University of Maryland set a Ravens' rookie record for most receiving yards in a game when he caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco early in the fourth quarter to give the home team a 31-17 lead against the Bengals.

It's been a strange and turbulent season for Vikings receiver Randy Moss, and it did not get any easier when Minnesota coach Dennis Green's 10-year run ended abruptly yesterday with a contract buyout. Moss' inconsistent effort on the field and the coach's inability to change his attitude may have been partially responsible for the sudden exit of the NFL's longest-tenured coach. Previously this season, Moss had been criticized by media, opponents and even his teammates. His assertion that he "plays when he wants to play" has earned him a reputation as more than an NFL bad boy, but as a willing example of what is wrong with sports today.

REGARDLESS OF THE temptation, the chance of playing alley-oop ball, the possibility of having the first real legitimate deep threat in franchise history, the Ravens should say no. Let's repeat that: no, no, no. Unless this is the steal of the century, the mother of all bargains, the Ravens should just say no to the Minnesota Vikings in a possible trade for their disgruntled and childish receiver, Randy Moss. According to sources from the Ravens and Minnesota, Vikings coach Mike Tice has been shopping Moss around the NFL, and the Vikings reportedly want two first-round picks, or a first-round selection and a starter, in exchange for Moss.

News item: Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome moved decisively Friday to shore up the wide receiver corps, acquiring veteran wide-out Lee Evans from the Buffalo Bills for a fourth-round draft choice in 2012. My take: The deal was consummated so soon after Thursday night's unimpressive performance in Philadelphia that it's easy to assume it was a sign of desperation following the departure of Derrick Mason and the near-miss with free agent Jerricho Cotchery. Ask me if I care.

After failing to sign Malcom Floyd in free agency, the Ravens presumably will turn their focus at wide receiver to  Derrick Mason. The team's all-time leader in catches told The Baltimore Sun that he will make a decision on which team he plays for within the next 48 hours. Mason, 37, is weighing offers from the Ravens, Tennessee Titans and New York Jets. The Ravens cut Mason last week to create $4.5 million in salary cap room. He visited the Jets on Thursday but left without signing.