Happy Birthday Santana Moss

Lights out

Please join me in wishing a hearty happy birthday to Redskins receiver Santana Moss, Santana turns 30 today, the big three oh.

Santana came from the New York Jets in a straight up trade for Laveranues Coles, himself acquired in 2003 from the Jets, Laveranues had battled through toe injuries his two years in Washington and wanted a big contract, Joe Gibbs and the Redskins were ready to move on and in March 2005 sent Laveranues back to New York in exchange for a four year receiver very much in the physical mold of Laveranues.

And Santana has been nothing like that other guy, quite the opposite, Santana has carved for himself a place in the pantheon of the greatest Redskins receivers. A threat any time he touches the ball and from anywhere on the field, in four seasons Santana Moss has electrified Redskins fans and confounded opponents.

He plays hurt, with no reliable foil at the other receiver spot he fights through double teams. He runs like a tailback in traffic and is not self conscious on the football field, as happy with a slant or receiver screen or end around as he is with the deep ball.

But it is the deep ball that is Santana's first love, he has given us some of the most thrilling moments as Redskins fans in recent years. The Monday night miracle in Dallas, game two of 2005, a game I am still ashamed to say I turned off before it was over (that was before DVR, luckily neighbor Bill recorded the fourth quarter before he turned in that night), a 39 yard catch and run and a 70 yard bomb from Mark Brunell, both in the fourth quarter to bring the Redskins back from 13-0 to win 14-13. Another one, 68 yards from Mark Brunell in overtime to beat the Jaguars in game four of the 2006 season. Send Santana deep and you have to account for him. Let us hope the Redskins can figure out how to use that to their advantage this year.

Santana Moss currently holds the Redskins single season receiving yards record with 1483 yards in 2005. It is his number I wear on gameday.

Happy birthday Santana!



Santana Moss scoring the winning touchdown in overtime against the Jaguars on 1 October 2006: Nick Waas / AP photo from here.