Moss, Owens still hopeful to Return to the NFL

Though it might seem like almost a lifetime ago, it's only been a few years since Terrell Owens and Randy Moss were etching their names in the record books among the NFL's all-time greats at the wide-receiver position. But since then, both players have become somewhat of an afterthought with age and nagging injuries to blame. And as talented as both players were during their prime, it would've been hard to imagine the struggle both talents have endured over the past year or so, trying to climb their way back onto the main stage that is the National Football League. Unlike Moss, Owens' most recent work on the football field was impressive despite being three years the elder, hauling in 9 touchdown receptions and coming within 17 yards receiving of the 1,000 yard mark to lead his team (Cincinnati Bengals).

After showing the league what he was still capable of at the ripe age of 37, Owens appeared to have rejuvenate his career. However, a torn ACL during the 2011 off-season would require surgery and add doubt to whether or not the 15-year veteran could recover from an injury of that magnitude and still produce for a team in need of a receiver. Owens held an open workout in October of last year in hopes of attracting a team, but the only offer the future Hall of Fame wide-out received was from the Arena Football League. With Owens only getting older as the days pass, it's likely this will be the last chance T.O. has before father time calls for him to retire.

As for Mr. Randy Moss, who also sat out the entire 2011 season, the 35 year old former star of the Minnesota Vikings who would serve two sub-par seasons in Oakland before reaching star status in New England, saw a bitter end to his playing days, finishing the 2010 season playing for not one, not two, but three teams in a single year. After splitting the first 8 games of the season between the Patriots and the Vikings where Moss was welcomed to an unsuccessful reunion, he finished the year with the Tennessee Titans whom he failed to log a single touchdown reception with. Career lows in receptions (28) and receiving yards (393) didn't help him in search of finding suitors for the 2011 season which later led Moss' agent, Joel Segal to announce that his client had decided to retire from the game of football on August 1. But on his 35th birthday just last week, Moss announced via Ustream to his fans during a live chat that he is pursuing a comeback.

One person who surprisingly doesn't think Moss has it in him is former teammate and mentor -- Chris Carter. The two spent four seasons together in Minnesota, serving as one of the better wide-receiver tandems in all of football. But even their time spent together wasn't enough for Carter to shy away from sharing his opinions on the 7-time Pro Bowler. Carter took to the radio waves on ESPN radio's Mike and Mike in the morning where he said Moss has more quit in him than any superstar he's ever met. The comments were a surprise to many including Moss who fired back via his Twitter account by saying, "It's sad how you stroke your own ego when you were supposed to be my mentor then you wonder why karma bites you in the ass," followed by the hash tag: "#GoodLuckWithTheHallOfFame." Whether or not the two will continue to exchange blows is just as uncertain as whether or not Moss' wish to return to the gridiron will be fulfilled.

There's no doubt the presence of both players could be of some help somewhere in the NFL, perhaps for a team in need of a veteran presence or just a team in need of a receiver, but it wouldn't surprise me the least bit if either were given a chance. Although T.O. had the more recent success of the two, if either was signed, all signs point towards Moss being the one. Not only is Moss three years younger, but he's also not coming off of a serious injury like Owens is. Another player who's eyeing a comeback, but hasn't been talked about as much as Owens and Moss, is former Pro Bowl and Rookie of the Year running back Clinton Portis who last played for the Washington Redskins in 2010. At this rate, I'd give it another month or so before the routine Brett Favre speculation makes its way back to the grapevines.