Santana Moss isn't 'trippin'' about playing time

Back in March, some wondered why the Washington Redskins would retain an aging Santana Moss, the team's longtime leading receiver who turned 33 this year and is making $2.65 million in salary.

They had already lured under-30, free agents Josh Morgan and Pierre Garcon to Washington with multiyear contracts.

But wonder no more. Morgan has been inconsistent as a pass catcher, Garcon is on the shelf with a foot injury and Moss has four receiving touchdowns, three more than any teammate.

"'Tana has just been unbelievable this year," says offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. "He hasn't been playing as much but his production has been as good as it's been for us. Even though we're limiting his reps, he's still having a huge effect on the game."

Moss, who lost 15 pounds in the offseason to regain some speed lost over the years, has played sparingly but is making a big impact. In a 27-23 loss to the New York Giants, Moss played 17 snaps, yet managed three catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns.

In the past seven seasons in Washington, he leads all pass-catchers with 488 receptions and the last time the 5-10 Moss found himself in a No. 3 receiver role was in his second season in the NFL with the New York Jets. And before that, as a freshman at the University of Miami. He says he approaches the slot position with more confidence and more of a sense of urgency nowadays.

"We all go through stuff in life that we've been through before," Moss tells USA TODAY Sports. "So it was nothing for me to adjust to. I don't look at myself as being any lesser than any guy out there. I just feel like my role is different so I accepted it and tried to make the best of it."

Shanahan said Moss is doing just that. He raves over a second-quarter touchdown in the loss to the Giants, a screen pass from Griffin which Moss took 26 yards to the house.

Shanahan said it was "blocked perfectly."

"'Tana set all the guys up. Everybody was working their tail off to get to their guys," Shanahan says. "'Tana hit it one gap at a time. Set one guy up, then the next one, then the next one, then the next one, all the way back to our backside tight end."

Urgency in attitude, patience in motion. Just about the opposite of the way Moss approached the same situation early in his football career.

"When I was young I really just went out there and thought, 'Hey, they'll give me the ball or they wont,'" Moss says. "Now I'm like, when I'm out there, I'm gonna' get open so he can give me the ball. I have a better understanding of what I'm trying to do and who I'm trying to be for this offense. I know this position is meaningful for our offense, so when I'm out there I'm trying to be the best, and I know No. 10 will get me the ball."

No. 10, or rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III, may be looking in Moss' direction even more in the coming weeks. Tight end and leading receiver Fred Davis is out for the season with a torn Achilles and Garcon's absence from an early-season foot injury is indefinite.

Moss says he's happy whether he's Griffin's No. 1 option, as he's been in Washington for the better part of a decade, or the No. 3 guy who provides a spark and a reliable set of hands for a developing quarterback in a brand new offense.

"A lot of guys want to be this and be that," Moss says. "I've done it all. Don't get me wrong; I would like to be that guy. But due to the circumstances and what we have and how we're doing it, I can really sleep well knowing my role because I feel like I am that guy for that position.

"That's why I don't be trippin' about it."


(usatoday.com)