The Washington Redskins announced March 10 that they have acquired wide receiver Santana Moss in a trade with the New York Jets in exchange for wide receiver Laveranues Coles. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Moss is a speedy, aggressive player known to produce big plays. He will immediately become a scoring threat in the Redskins offense, both as a receiver and on special teams as a punt returner.
Moss played for the New York Jets for four seasons and accumulated 151 receptions for 2,416 yards and 19 touchdowns. In addition to receiving production, he has also returned 88 punts for 1,052 yards and two touchdowns.
Moss, 5-10 and 185 pounds, finished the 2004 NFL season with 45 receptions for 838 yards and a team-high five touchdown grabs. He also led the Jets with an 18.6 yards per catch average and was the leading punt return man with 27 returns for 225 yards.
Moss made a significant impact in the Jets playoff appearance, recording eight receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown. He also made a huge impact on special teams returning five punts for 83 yards and a 75-yard touchdown return.
Moss, 25, set career highs in 2003 with 74 receptions for 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns. During that season, Moss had five or more receptions in 10 of 16 games including a career-high 10 receptions for 121 yards and three touchdowns (career-high) vs. NY Giants on Nov. 2, 2003. He also had a career-best 146 yards receiving at Oakland on Nov. 9, 2003.
Prior to the 2003 season, Moss only played in five games during his rookie campaign in 2001 after missing 11 games due to torn cartilage in his left knee. He went on to record only two receptions. He played in 15 games in 2002, breaking out with 30 catches for 433 yards and four touchdowns.
Moss was selected in the first round (16th overall) by the New York Jets in the 2001 NFL Draft after a stellar career at the University of Miami (Fla.).
Moss holds the Hurricanes all-time record with 2,546 yards receiving. He received All-Big East Conference first-team honors as a senior, becoming the first player to earn Big East Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Year honors in the same season. Moss played on the same Hurricanes offense with Redskins running back Clinton Portis.
