Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco Pairing Could Be Tremendous, Or Terrifying

This about it for a second. Randy Moss and Chad Ochocinco on the field at the same time, playing for the same team, catching passes from Tom Brady.

But then think about this. Moss and Ochocinco in the same locker room, with the same big heads and over-inflated egos running rampant and influencing younger players.

It would either be tremendous, or simply terrifying for the New England Patriots.

No one has ever doubted the skill sets possessed by Ochocinco or Moss, as both are considered two of the top wide receivers in the game over the past decade.

Their numbers are daunting. For Moss, 14,858 receiving yards and 153 touchdowns in 202 games. As for Ochocinco, he's racked up 10,783 receiving yards and 66 scores in 151 games with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bill Belichick already decided to give Chad Ochocinco a try, bringing in the veteran wideout via trade this offseason, and it is yet to be seen how, if at all, he can adjust to the complex offensive playbook in New England. Still, most expect Ochocinco to get a grasp on it and be a productive players.

As for Moss, well, he had his chance, and he has proven that he can be ultra-productive on the field in the Pats system. Yet at the same time, he's also proven to be a nightmare, essentially talking his way out of town with an extended rant during a press conference after the Patriots' win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 of 2010.

Now, we all know where both controversial receivers stand on the issue of playing for the Patriots. For Ochocinco, it's been a lifelong dream to suit up for Belichick. For Moss, it's likely the only situation in which he would return to football after retiring earlier this offseason.

If for some reason Belichick decided to bring Moss back into the system, there are two ways the pairing of Moss and Ochocinco could turn out. In short, it would either be a fantastic move, or an absolute death blow.

It's entirely possible that Moss and Ochocinco, both of whom have never won a Super Bowl in their lengthy careers, will fully conform to the Belichikian way. It certainly seems like that what Ochocinco has done, and Moss did so for two seasons. However, with Moss, when things don't go his way, he starts talking...and talking, and talking.

But, really, isn't it more likely that Moss' and Ochocinco's egos collide? Both were No. 1 receivers on their teams for years, and if they came to New England, neither would be considered a number one receiver. Wes Welker is the Pats' runaway No. 1 option at wideout, and Aaron Hernandez - a tight end - is likely the No. 2 option after Welker.

That leaves Ochocinco and Moss battling it out for the third and fourth slots, or maybe even the fourth and fifth with Deion Branch in the picture. Either way, one of them wouldn't get a lot of time, and they probably wouldn't be happy with it.

There's another dynamic in the picture, and it's the most important one - Brady. Brady would need to feel comfortable with having both in the mix. However, he's already OK'd both Ochocinco and Moss (again), so if there were any problems with Moss and Ochocinco, Brady likely wouldn't be involved.

It's certainly a dicey situation for Belichick, one that he'll have to mull over carefully (and I'm sure he certainly is). On one hand, if he brings Moss back, it could really put the Patriots over the top in search of Super Bowl title No. 4 in the Belichick/Brady era. On the other, it could completely cripple them with the clock on Brady's production ticking.

In the end, it's up to Bill. Let's hope he chooses wisely, as he's done many times before.