After taking a year off from football, many wondered how 35-year old Randy Moss would fare with the San Francisco 49ers. Jim Harbaugh and the rest of the Niners braintrust were impressed and showed faith from day one, and although it is very early in the offseason still Moss has been impressive at OTA's at team headquarters in Santa Clara.
Ann Killion wrote about his work with the Niners for Sports Illustrated, noting that the man hasn't skipped a beat, getting noticed not only by the coaches for his work ethic but by the players for his knowledge as an NFL veteran.
"In the classroom he sits in the front row, he soaks up the knowledge and always gives the feedback, too," Harbaugh said recently. "His attendance has been impeccable ... he's like a coach."
Safety Donte Whitner, who played against Moss in '07, when the receiver was having one of the alltime great seasons in history as a member of the Patriots, said, "He's running the same as he's always run. His body looks like a younger Randy Moss."
Moss reportedly has taken 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree under his wing. Another who is expected to be pushed by Moss, Kyle Williams, was enthusiastic about the veteran on Tuesday, when the 49ers gathered for an OTA.
"He's had a huge impact," Williams said. "He's a savvy vet. If you can't learn something from somebody like that, you're not paying attention.
"Just the way he goes about his business, the way he works, the way he takes care of himself everyday is something you can learn from. He's one of those guys who leads by example. He's the same guy every single day and that's the best lesson he can give to any of us."
Moss isn't that far removed from being on three teams in one season, eventually getting dropped form the league entirely. But he has come to the Bay with a new vigor for the game, and under the tutelage of a coach like Jim Harbaugh, the sky could be the limit for him and the 49ers.
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