Oakland receiver Randy Moss on the sidelines. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary)
The Las Vegas Raiders were once one of the coolest franchises in sports. That’s led to a lot of stars putting them on the list of free agency destinations. It hasn’t always worked out.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been through some major changes across its history. They started in Oakland, moved to Los Angeles, moved back to Oakland, before eventually moving to their current home, Sin City. Despite constantly being on the move, the Raiders always seemed to be a desirable destination for star players.
That’s led to some great stars moving and building their careers with the Raiders. Jerry Rice made Oakland his first stop after leaving his Hall of Fame career in San Francisco. Jim Plunkett signed with the Raiders and won them two Super Bowls. Just recently, Davante Adams joined the Raiders and put up stellar numbers.
However, not every star joining the Raiders has worked out. In fact, the batting average there is pretty bad. It’s led to some very strange players in Raiders uniforms. One Hall of Famer looks especially strange wearing black and silver.
Strangest Raiders of all time: 3. Randy Moss
Any list talking about players in strange jerseys has to start with Randy Moss. The trade made absolute sense. The Raiders sent the seventh-overall pick, another draft pick, and linebacker Napoleon Harris for Moss in 2005. It helps that the Vikings bungled the pick (they took Troy Williamson, who never broke 500 yards in a season), but nobody can say the Raiders got their money’s worth.
He had just over 1,000 yards in his first season, as he and Kerry Collins had trouble building chemistry. The Raiders went 4-12 on the season, showing the optimism around Moss was unwarranted. Things went so terribly in 2006 the Raiders traded him for just a fourth-round pick. That’s what a 500-yard receiver is worth, and that’s what Moss was in his second year in Oakland.
At this point, we see Moss as a Vikings or Patriots receiver. His time in Oakland was brief and unimpressive. Now, we try to forget Moss’ time in California.
