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Randy Moss was one of the stars at Super Bowl Media Day, but when it came to the title game, he was largely absent for the San Francisco 49ers. Heading into the off-season one of the decisions the 49ers front office will need to make is whether or not to re-sign Moss.

With or without Moss on the roster, the 49ers need an upgrade at wide receiver. The offense needs an established receiver that can be a deep threat to spread out the field, someone like Dwanye Bowe or Mike Wallace, who are both free agents. Moss mostly had the role of being the deep threat receiver in 2012, but with his age and declining speed, the 49ers should look elsewhere. Not only that, but Moss didn’t exactly do himself any favors when he said the following at Super Bowl Media Day about his role in San Francisco and whether or not he will play next season:

 I don’t like my role. I really don’t. I like to be out there playing football. One thing I’ve really had to understand is being a decoy. I understand my presence out on the field, that I don’t always have to touch the ball to help the offense score touchdowns. Like I said, I don’t really like that, but it’s something that I’m used to. I had to grow to understand it.

Fair enough, that was Moss just being honest. But after he said he “I do want to play another year,” he was asked if it would be with the 49ers? His response was, “I don’t know about that. Next question.”

Moss signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract last off-season. With the season over the 49ers actually paid the receiver a total of $1.75 million for his services. He finished the regular season with 28 receptions for 434 yards and three touchdowns. When you throw in he was a good teammate on and off the field, and he was a mentor to the younger receivers on the roster, it was money well spent. At least in the regular season it was.

Reasons Not To Re-Sign Moss

Moss wasn’t a big factor in the Super Bowl, at least with his stats. He finished with only two receptions for 41 yards and no touchdowns. Where he did have an influence in the game was not what the 49ers Faithful had in mind.

In the second quarter of the Super Bowl, the 49ers were on their own 40-yard line when Colin Kaepernick threw a pass to Moss who was running a crossing pattern. The infamous throw sailed over Moss’ head and was intercepted by Ed Reed. The turnover stalled the 49ers offensive drive after the Baltimore Ravens went up 14-3.

Since the end of the Super Bowl a lot has been said about Moss giving up on the play. When watching the game live I did not think Moss stopped short on the pass, but that it was an overthrow he had no chance of reaching. Also, I was probably too distraught over the interception that interrupted the 49ers drive to recognize Moss giving up on the play. But after re-watching the whole game and viewing the following GIF from OCNNReport.com, it does look like he stopped short.

I am playing devil’s advocate here, but would really Moss give up on the NFL’s biggest stage? Likely not and here’s why. First, he came out of retirement after sitting out the 2011 season just to win a Super Bowl. Would he make it back all the way to the Super Bowl to only give up on plays and cause the team to lose the Super Bowl?

Also, it was clear Moss was not happy with his role on the team. He kept quiet about it for most of the season, which was very unlike Moss. But there is risk in bringing him back for another season because he might revert back to his old, self-serving ways and complain out loud about his role on the team. Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers don’t need that kind of attitude on the team.

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The San Francisco 49ers head into their 2012 training camp in late July loaded with deep depth at two positions: running back and wide receiver.  The latter will be the most intriguing position battle of the two because there is no guarantee who will be No. 1 or No. 5 on the depth chart at wide receiver.  At running back we all know Frank Gore will be the main back, with Brandon Jacobs and Kendall Hunter No. 2 and 3 respectively.  Rookie LaMichael James will make the team at the No. 4 spot with Anthony Dixon most likely the odd-man out.  At wide receiver the depth chart is not as set as running back, but with the recent minicamps we are starting to get a clearer picture of who will rank where.

After voluntary and mandatory minicamps, the top two starters on the depth chart at wide receiver are Michael Crabtree and Randy Moss.  Crabtree is coming off career highs in receptions (72) and receiving yards (874) and will be entering training camp with no injuries for the first time in his career.  Also, if the injuries stay away he will play in his first preseason game of his career which will allow for him and quarterback Alex Smith to develop a connection on the field.  Barring an injury or Crabtree having a horrible training camp, he will be the 49ers No. 1 receiver.

Moss will most likely start opposite Crabtree based on how he has played at the minicamps.  The receiver has not conducted an interview but the praise from fellow players and coaches has been nothing but positive.  Still, there is some caution with this as the minicamps did not have any contact or pads.  In addition, Moss last played in the NFL in 2010, on three different teams.  If he can keep it up through training camp there is no reason why he shouldn’t be the No. 2 receiver.

Should Moss falter in training camp, there is Mario Manningham who can take over as the second receiver.  Manningham is more suited as the No. 3 receiver, which he played successfully while in New York, so unless there is an injury or Crabtree or Moss have a horrible camp, this is where he will be penciled in.

The No. 4 spot on the receiver depth chart will be a competition between Kyle Williams, Ted Ginn and rookie A.J. Jenkins.  Williams has been hard at work since the debacle in the NFC Championship game.  Last season Williams showed he is a capable receiver with great quickness after the snap and is good at running routes.  Ginn has shown he can be a reliable receiver but the reason he will make the team is his return abilities on punts and kickoffs.  The 49ers have guaranteed $500K of Ginn’s one-year contract he signed in the offseason, but does that mean he is guaranteed a roster spot?  The only way he does not make the team is if another returner emerges like LaMichael James, but something tells me Jim Harbaugh will not want to place all of the responsibilities in a rookies hands.  Expect Williams to win the competition at the No. 4 slot.

Then there is first round draft pick A.J. Jenkins.  The rookie will make the team but he will be No. 5 on the depth chart.  The 49ers have the luxury of not needing Jenkins to have a breakout rookie season because of their depth at receiver, however, it would still be nice for him to have a great training camp to push the issue for the coaches figuring out the position battle.  Injuries are inevitable, especially at wide receiver, so Jenkins will need to have a solid training camp after two dismal minicamps if wants to move up the depth chart during the season.

Having a crowded bunch at wide receiver is a good thing for the 49ers, particularly because they lacked depth last season after Joshua Morgan broke his leg and Braylon Edwards proved to be a dud.  Williams’ fumble aside, the 49ers lost their chance to go to a sixth Super Bowl because they did not have any depth at wide receiver and thus could not rely on them to make plays on offense.  With the signings of Moss and Manningham, and the selection of Jenkins, the 49ers don’t want to be faced with that situation again.

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The big news of the day for the San Francisco 49ers is the signing of free agent wide receiver Randy Moss. Check out Matt Hamm’s assessment of the 49ers signing Moss and what it means for the team in 2012.

When the Moss signing news broke, I had a mixed reaction.  At first, it was a subdued reaction.  Mainly because Moss was out of the NFL all last season and in 2010 he was on three different teams, with each of those situations ending in Moss being traded or released.   The Patriots, Vikings and Titans had enough of Moss’ antics which resulted in him being booted from the teams and why he was out of the NFL in 2011.

The feelings I have now for the Moss signing is excitement, barring the 49ers are not done bringing in wide receivers.  They won’t go after the big name wide receivers like Mike Wallace or Vincent Jackson, not with the Moss signing.  Bringing in a mid-level veteran like a Pierre Garcon or Anthony Gonzalez, who are under the radar, could help contribute to the offense at a price that does not break the bank.  At the very least, the 49ers need to re-sign Joshua Morgan so the offense has other receivers who can contribute should the Moss signing not end well.

The signing is similar to Braylon Edwards in that the one-year contract is heavy on the incentives and less on the guaranteed money.  Moss’ contract has $2.5 million guaranteed, with $1.5 million possible in incentives.

The thing about me being here is they’ve (49ers) done their research on me. When it comes to the worldwide sports media, I’ve gotten a bad rap. They’ve (49ers) done their homework on me or they wouldn’t have brought me in here. … (The questions were) more of me not being a team player and things like that. I don’t want to get into that. Randy Moss

In the quote above Moss sounds like he has a chip on his shoulder and has something to prove.  He wanted to find the right team to have his comeback with, which gave him the best shot at going back to the playoffs and Super Bowl.  The 49ers were one of many teams Moss could’ve signed with that met the criteria; however it was Jim Harbaugh and his enthusiasm he showed for Moss that sealed the deal only hours after the workout.  Harbaugh reportedly picked up Moss from the airport which is rarely done and impressed the wide receiver.  Similarly, Moss impressed Harbaugh and Trent Baalke enough during his workout to take a chance and sign him shortly after they met.

I doubt Moss is going to come back after a year off football and two years removed from being let go by three teams in one season, to burn another team and locker-room proving his critics right.  So this should alleviate Niners fans doubts about Moss and his work ethic and attitude.  No one outside 49ers land will give Moss a chance this season, but when he does explode all expectations, the 49ers Faithful will be there saying, ‘I told you so.’