"Randy Moss may be 13 months removed from his last days as a Patriot, but when his name comes up, it still generates a buzz in New England.

That's largely because the Patriots remain without a legitimate, field-stretching threat for quarterback Tom Brady. And yes, the Pats could really use a guy who forces opposing defenses to stop packing the middle of the field, expands the offense and takes some of the pressure off wide receiver Wes Welker and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

For those pining for a Moss return, sure, the receiver fits the profile. But that was the Moss of 2007. Not the Moss who was traded by the Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings in October 2010. So in that context alone, don't count on Bill Belichick dropping a dime.

The last time we saw Moss on a football field, which was roughly 11 months ago playing for the Tennessee Titans after things didn't work out in his second stay with the Vikings, he wouldn't exactly be described as a field-stretching threat. In eight games with the Titans, he caught six balls for 80 yards — with no touchdowns.

Moss wasn't a deep threat in Minnesota, either. Nor was he exactly performing that function in his final days with the Pats. He certainly ran the routes, but he was no longer gaining separation. In his last four games with the Pats, he caught nine passes. To be fair, three of those catches went for touchdowns.

In his final game with the Patriots, however, in Miami against the Dolphins, Brady barely looked in Moss' direction. Moss went without a catch."