Santana Moss will wait until career ends to savor joining 500-catch club

Lost in the flurry surrounding Robert Griffin III’s concussion and the Redskins’ defeat by the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday was the milestone achieved by wide receiver Santana Moss.

The 12th-year veteran recorded his 500th catch as a Redskins, joining Art Monk (888 catches), Charley Taylor (649) and Gary Clark (549) as the only receivers in franchise history to reach that mark.

Moss had two catches for 80 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown, but was in no mood to reflect on his accomplishment after the game. That 77-yard catch from Kirk Cousins marked Moss’ longest reception since 2005.

A couple days removed from the loss, Moss said he appreciated reaching the milestone, but likely won’t truly comprehend the significance until his career has ended.

“To be honest with you, man, I’m honored to be a part of something down the road that’s going to be big to me. Right now, I don’t know what it does for me because I don’t really get into all that,” said Moss, who had 151 catches as a New York Jet in the first four seasons of his career before he was traded to Washington. After joining the Redskins, Moss became the team’s featured receiver and led the team in catches in six of his seven seasons in a Washington uniform.

Moss no longer is a starter following the offseason additions of Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan. But Moss remains a part of the offense as a slot receiver. Through five games, he has 12 catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

Coaches have praised Moss’s attitude and leadership this season and say that Moss has rebounded from last year’s injury-plagued season and has returned in top shape.

Moss says he hasn’t ever let statistics or status affect his thinking. His only goal is to win. He said that reaching the 500-catch mark does indicate to him that his approach to the game is correct.

“I know it comes down to the work that I put in to do what I do,” Moss said. “One day, I’ll appreciate having something to sit back on and say, ‘I really did go out there and do some work and have something to be acknowledged for.’ I don’t look at catches because everybody gets put in different situations. But just to be a part of the guys that are a part of it, I’m honored to be named among them.”


(washingtonpost.com)