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By Tim Graham
Randy Moss, a future Hall of Famer, has been reduced to a cameo role in the San Francisco 49ers passing offense.
That's not to say he has ceased to be dangerous. Moss is very much on the Buffalo Bills' defensive radar entering Sunday's game in Candlestick Park.
"Randy Moss can still stretch the field vertically, still plays the ball extremely well when it's in the air," Bills safety George Wilson said. "He catches just about everything they throw his way. He still remains productive in the manner they use him."
Moss, 35, is a part-time receiver for San Francisco. He has played 80 snaps through four games. He has eight receptions for 88 yards and one touchdown -- the only receiving touchdown not scored by tight end Vernon Davis.
Moss had one target and no catches in Sunday's blowout victory over the New York Jets.
Still, Moss' season is evolving much better than his previous two. He was out of football in 2011 because nobody wanted him. He burned a path through three teams in 2010, catching 28 passes for a career-low 393 yards and five touchdowns.
Wilson clearly has a long memory of what Moss has done to the Bills in the past and, when Wilson watches film, sees a receiver to be concerned with.
In 10 career games against the Bills, Moss has 59 catches for 826 yards and 10 touchdowns. Paced out over a full season, that would be 94 receptions for 1,321 yards and 19 touchdowns.
His biggest game, of course, was with the 2007 New England Patriots on "Sunday Night Football" at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Moss had 10 catches for 128 yards and four touchdowns.
"Randy Moss is a playmaker and has been a playmaker," Wilson said with a grin. "Obviously, you have to be mindful of wherever he is on the field.
"With the age, you might take a little longer to get worked up or anything like that, but he's still Randy Moss."
