#35

 

RANDY MOSS

If Charles Barkley went a step too far when he said “I am not a role model,” then Randy Moss seems to have expanded on that statement and turned it into a manifesto.

By the whole of Moss’s career, it appears that he played when he wanted to play. But when he felt the urge to show what he could do on a football field, he was a one-man wrecking crew. He was capable of destroying the opposition merely by running down the field, sticking his hands up in the air, and then coming down with the ball while on his way to the endzone.

Moss’s career can be divided into four phases that seem to indicate his level of interest:

Phase 1: He wanted to play in the first six years of his career with the Vikings, averaging 87.5 catches for 1,395.8 yards and 12.8 touchdowns per season.

Phase 2: He didn’t want to play in his final season in Minnesota nor in the two years he was in Oakland, averaging only 50.3 catches for 775 yards and 8 touchdowns during those three seasons.

Phase 3: He wanted to play in his first three seasons in New England, averaging 83.3 catches for 1,255 yards and 15.7 touchdowns.

Phase 4: Moss had little left in the tank as he played for the Patriots, Titans, and Vikings in 2010, didn’t play in 2011, and then attempted a comeback with the 49ers in 2012 that confirmed he was no longer a game-changing NFL player.

“When healthy, he’s a definite force,” said former Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer. “When he goes full speed, you know he’s the target. When he doesn’t, you know he’s not in the play. When he’s playing, you have to account for him. When I was coaching in San Diego, he wasn’t much of a factor in the two years he played against us.”

A six-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro selection, Moss was machine-like when he was being inspired. He put numbers on the board that exceeded those of any of his peers and could be challenged by only Jerry Rice. His career numbers left him second all-time in touchdown receptions (behind Rice and ahead of Terrell Owens), fourth in total touchdowns, and third in receiving yards per game.

As impressive as his numbers in the first and third phases are, the numbers in the second and fourth phases also tell a story, though. When Moss could hardly have cared about being on the football field and would have been much happier going fishing or smoking a joint—his words to Sports Illustrated—he still did a solid job by NFL standards. A receiver who can average those numbers would also have found himself on the receiving end of a three-year, $30 million contract.

The lack of production in the final phase tells another story as well. Most savvy veterans find a way to contribute at the end of their careers when they have lost a step and a few inches off of their vertical leap. The overall experience factor leaves the veteran with savvy and know-how that allows him to make key contributions at big moments. That’s not how Moss finished his career.

Moss may not have had the classic makeup during the majority of his career, but he was undeniably productive on the football field. When he bought into the system, he was also a solid force in the locker room. After moving to New England in 2007 for the absurdly low price of a fourth-round draft pick, Moss was reborn. He knew he was with a team that had a good chance to win a championship and he played as if his life depended on it, making big plays all season and scoring an NFL-record 23 touchdowns. Moss may not have given much to the attending media, but he was supportive of his teammates and unafraid to show his commitment to them. When the Pats beat the Colts 24-20 in a Week 9 showdown between the NFL’s unbeatens in Indianapolis, it was Moss who was in the locker room passing out hugs and high fives to his teammates, telling them how important they were to the team.

A year later, the Patriots suffered what could have been a death blow when quarterback Tom Brady went down with a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of the first game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. Nevertheless, Moss spent hours in the film room working with backup Matt Cassel, getting to know his quarterback and helping his quarterback get to know him. The Patriots missed the playoffs in 2008, but they still finished with an 11-5 record, exceeding all expectations for a team that lost its future Hall of Fame quarterback.

Moss’s effort to work with his new quarterback did not surprise Tennessee quarterback Kerry Collins, who had played with Moss during their time in Oakland. “Bringing Moss in was a great move by New England,” Collins said. “The one thing that struck me when I played with Randy in Oakland was just how much attention he gets on the field from defenses. His presence on the field helped the other receivers. When we played in Oakland, he was a little dinged up, but when he’s full speed and at his best, he’s by far the most gifted receiver I ever played with. His route running was better than I thought it would be, and his deep routes are a clinic.”

Like Collins, there are others who defend Moss, saying injuries were a big factor during his two years in Oakland. However, even taking those injuries into account, Moss has shown plenty of disinterest on the field when he is not the focus of the play. Cameras have often focused on him leisurely jogging off the line and not even attempting to fool the defense by running a pass pattern.

Moss has never liked the idea of defending himself to the media. He says that his teammates have never had a problem with his effort and that’s good enough for him. “I don’t really like to answer questions like that because the people that question it probably never played football in their life or been on the same pedestal that I’ve been on,” he told the Boston Globe. “I have a microscope [on me], and my microscope is very big.

“The people that talk about me as far as my work ethic and my competitive nature and me going out there and playing football, the best thing I can say is all you have to do is line up against me and see what happens. My coaches that I’ve played for, the players that I’ve played with, never seemed to have a problem about me and my character; only the media does.”

But even with the imperfections, Moss has been the second-most dominant receiver the game has seen since the 1970 merger, and he came close to the great Jerry Rice on his best days. However, Rice never had those seemingly disinterested days, and that’s why he has the edge on the ultra-talented Moss.