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Thirteen years ago, Tom Brady finally got a chance to play with a Hall of Fame-caliber wideout when Bill Belichick stole Randy Moss from the Oakland Raiders for a measly fourth-round pick. After spending the early portion of his career making lesser-talented targets look more than ordinary, Brady got a serious upgrade with the perennial All-Pro.

Of course, Moss arrived with major questions about his NFL future. He quickly erased any doubts about what he had left in the tank. While the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee hasn’t stepped on the field in nearly a decade, that didn’t stop Tom Brady from trying to lure his former Patriots teammate out of retirement on Friday.

Tom Brady and Randy Moss formed a dominant duo

For most of his Patriots career, Brady rarely played with elite skill players. In fact, Bill Belichick never spent a first-round pick on a wide receiver until 2019 when he took N’Keal Harry with the 32nd overall selection. Ultimately, Brady made a habit of turning castoffs and unknowns into critical components of New England’s dynasty.

However, he did get a chance to play with a Hall of Fame talent when Belichick traded for Randy Moss in 2007. The former Minnesota Vikings star looked ordinary in Oakland before the NFL’s shrewdest general manager saved him from NFL purgatory.

The trade turned out to be a godsend for both Brady and Moss. The two displayed instant chemistry and totally shattered expectations. Defenses had no answer for Moss’s deep speed, and Brady showcased impressive accuracy and unwavering confidence in connecting with his new teammate time and time again.

By season’s end, Brady set the single-season record with 50 touchdown passes. Moss caught an NFL-record 23 touchdowns while reminding everyone why he had long been regarded as the best deep-ball receiver of all time. Unfortunately, the Patriots couldn’t complete their quest for an undefeated season thanks to David Tyree’s miraculous helmet catch.

Brady tried to lure Moss out of retirement while recounting his greatest performance

While the 2007 season ended in heartbreaking fashion, Tom Brady and Randy Moss accomplished incredible feats that year. The tandem kickstarted the season with a ridiculous performance against the New York Jets that saw Moss catch all nine of his targets for 183 yards and a touchdown. The 6-foot-4 wideout snagged two touchdowns in each of his next three games.

For both Brady and Moss, the 2007 season represented the peak of their historic NFL careers. So when TB12 recently reflected on his greatest performance, he obviously selected a game from that record-setting campaign. The GOAT chose New England’s Week 11 victory over the Buffalo Bills as his greatest performance.

However, in his tweet about that unforgettable game, he also extended a comeback invitation to his teammate who caught four first-half touchdowns that afternoon. In his tweet, Brady tagged Moss and asked, “Hey Randy, Bucs red would look good on you! Have a few snaps left?”

Of course, the Buccaneers boast a loaded receiver group headlined by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Brady also coaxed Rob Gronkowski out of retirement. Unfortunately for TB12, Moss declined the offer but still managed to get a good laugh out of the proposition in his own tweet.

“Sun nite in Buffalo?? 4tds in the 1st half! We all rocked that nite!! Thanks 4 the memories TB! Really…..come tryout 4 this team?? I won’t make that team wit dem boys!! Ill take my memories and RUNNNNNN!

Can TB12 recreate that record-breaking 2007 season in Tampa?

Tom Brady may have failed to lure Randy Moss out of retirement, but he should have no problem putting up points this season. On paper, the Buccaneers boast one of the most electric skill groups in the league. Evans and Godwin easily rank as one of the top receiver tandems. Gronkowski took a year off to get his body right and looks in fantastic shape.

Plus, Tampa also has 2017 first-rounder O.J. Howard as another pass-catching option. Though he hasn’t lived up to his draft pedigree, Howard could break out with a quarterback who has always utilized tight ends.

Ultimately, the Buccaneers definitely have the talent to make a run at that historic 2007 Patriots offense. And who better to lead that effort than the same quarterback who took the league by storm with Randy Moss 13 years ago?

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Sportscasting NFL Writer

Stephen Sheehan

Stephen Sheehan began his sportswriting career as a high school student covering sports for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel through a student outreach program. He wrote for Bleacher Report and Fan Rag Sports and worked full-time for Sportscasting in 2020 and 2021. Stephen specializes in covering the NFL, particularly the New England Patriots.

Stephen is inspired by the stories sports can tell, from money to tragedies to breaking news; there are so many different ways to cover the industry. He monitors Twitter and various websites every day to find stories to tell in unique ways.

Stephen was a 2008 Culpepper Journalism Foundation Fellowship winner, received a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2013 and a master’s in sports management in 2015 from the University of Florida, and is an active rugby player and former rugby and football coach.