New England Patriots: 7 best players Tom Brady threw TD’s to over his career
Randy Moss
In 2007 the New England Patriots were able to rewrite their team’s blueprint when they successfully traded for one of the best wide receivers in the history of the NFL in Randy Moss.
After being traded for a fourth-round draft pick, Moss came to New England eager to join the winning culture that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady had to offer.
It didn’t take long for Brady and Moss to build a rapport. In fact, in their first season together, Brady and Moss became the best quarterback-wide receiver duo in NFL history.
Moss would finish his first season with the Patriots totaling 98 receptions for 1,493 yards and an NFL record 23 touchdowns in 2007.
New England Patriots
The following season, despite losing Brady to a season-ending ACL tear, Moss picked up where he left off in ‘07 with backup quarterback Matt Cassell. Moss still finished the season with 69 receptions for 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching 55 percent of his targets.
For me, it was the 2008 season that furthermore solidified the greatness of Moss as he was able to produce a great season under rash circumstances.
When Brady returned in 2009, the two paired up for one more run together that resulted in a Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants. Moss tallied 83 receptions for 1,264 yards and 13 touchdowns while catching 61 percent of his targets on the season.
After the start of the following season in 2010, Moss’ wish to be traded from the Patriots was eventually granted and the then team sent him to the Minnesota Vikings for a third-round draft pick.
It’s fair to say that the Patriots were the last team to benefit from the great Randy Moss. In 52 games with the Pats over four years, Moss finished with 259 receptions for 3,904 yards and 50 touchdowns.
Moss ranks 12th all-time in New England Patriots franchise history in total yards and is tied for third all-time with Ben Coates for the most touchdown receptions in franchise history. Moss is the only player in franchise history to accomplish everything he did in the least amount of games (52).