Randy Moss wants to return to the NFL?

Cris Carter's career doesn't bode well for him.

Moss is 35. He'd be 35 1/2 by the time the NFL season started, and close to 36 by the time it ended.

Moss, unlike Carter, has never been known for taking great care of himself. As I wrote in today's column, Cris Carter used to tell me about the team of experts he employed to keep him in perfect condition. Carter, unlike Moss, didn't rely on great speed.

Carter amassed 1,000 or more receiving yards in eight straight seasons. He did not fall off until 2001, after he turned 35.

He faltered in 2001. In 2002, he tried to play for the Miami Dolphins and produced 66 yards. By 2003, he was out of football.

Moss is 35. He had an excellent season at 32, for the Patriots, in 2009. In 2010, he fell off so much that Bill Belichick, while trying to win a championship, decided that Moss was a detriment. Then Moss came to Minnesota, dogged it on one infamous long pass against the Patriots, and produced 393 yards for three teams, none of whom wanted him back.

He sat out the 2011 season. Is there any reason to believe he could return this season and help an NFL team?

History, particularly Cris Carter's history, tells us no.

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I'll be on 1500espn at 2:05 today. Sunday, Tom Linnemann and I will run Sunday Sports Talk, 10-noon, from the Minnesota Golf Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

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