Randy Moss thinks the media has given him a ‘bad rap’

For Randy Moss, signing with the 49ers isn’t just about showing people he can still play. He also wants to prove he has what it takes to be a supportive teammate.

“I think when it comes to the world-wide sports media, I’ve gotten a bad rap … not being a team player and things like that,” Moss said Monday after signing a one-year deal with the Niners. “I really don’t want to get into that because that’s not what I’m here for. I think that one thing I’d like the sports world to understand is the love and the passion I have for the game of football. I think every player wants to win and every organization wants to win.”

Moss could perhaps be referring to the harsh criticisms delivered by Cris Carter and Warren Sapp, two former teammates of Moss’ who both are now part of the media. And after abundant instances of Moss quitting on teammates throughout his career, it’s clear why he’s earned that “bad rap.” You just think Moss would be wise enough to acknowledge the same.

Yes, Moss comes with a bad reputation, but for the Niners it’s a low-risk, high reward signing, as his contract is only a $1.75 million hit on the salary cap. If he delivers, the gamble pays off. If he becomes a headache, you dump him for practically nothing.

Whether Moss has anything left in his career is still to be determined. Moss has been disappointing, often times looking as if he had given up, when playing with less than stellar quarterbacks. How he connects with Alex Smith is key. But he does give the Niners another red-zone target other than Vernon Davis, something they were sorely lacking last season. If the Niners are getting anything better than what Moss showed in his two-year sabbatical, otherwise known as more recent Bay Area stint in Oakland, they’re coming away with a steal.

H/T Pro Football Talk
Photo credit: Brett Davis, US Presswire