I never understand teams that want Randy Moss. He’s done nothing but destroy the chemistry of both teams he’s played for. He refuses to play hard unless he feels like it. And he’s never managed to establish that his talent is sufficient to take a team to the next step up.
I predict Tom Brady puts up with him for about 5 games and then tells Bill Belichik that he has no intention of throwing a ball in Moss’ direction ever again.
I agree that Moss is a lockeroom cancer. The difference with New England is that they are full of veteran leadership, which neither of his two previous teams had to keep Moss under control.
Moss is a talent. He does need strong discipline, tho. This might be a good fit after all.
There’s a reason guys like Moss and T.O. keep getting signed to teams. They are good. There’s also a reason they keep getting moved around. They are punks. As long as they do the good (on the field) like they are supposed to, many teams will put up with their punkdom.
I don’t know I’m still willing to give Moss another chance, but this is the last one. His career has been one PR disaster, after another. I think it’s a lack of maturity, and no idea how to handle a bit of a problem. I have no problem with him taking a play off now and then. Nobody can run 50 Yard sprints play after play, and be worth very much at the end of the game.
But I think a good coaching staff, which the patriots have, can use him to break a defense, and still be a threat on some plays off. But they have to deal with it straight up, and not let him twist in the wind, instead say 'yeah that’s our strategy". I think there is a good chance it may work out well.
Haven’t the Patriots picked up a few questionable guys this offseason, not just Moss? Especially their first draft pick. I’m curious to see what that will mean for the team.
Jerry Rice, I expect, would be surprised to hear your analysis of good receiving ability… 
Yeesh. Little bit of whining here, guys? Like i twas already pointed out, the Pats feel that their locker room can help dispel bad personalities. I didn’t hear you guys screaming when you signed Corey Dillon or signed the scumbag safety from Miami yesterday.
Randy Moss can be one of the best receivers ever. He’s changed the receiving game since he came into the league. New England is about as good a place as there can be for him.
Now tell me Tom Brady’s not throwing a party…
…and getting someone else pregnant.
I would include a clause or two about behavior in his contract. He does not need to make 2 mistakes. One and gone.
I don’t see anything in Oakland as being his fault, really. Why would a team spend that money to get a star receiver and not get a QB or line to block for him?
You’re on the way to the HOF, setting recrods, and then get stuck with a loser team, qb’d by Aaron Brooks, Marques Tuiasasopo, Andrew Walter? Less than 100 total passing yards per game almost always?
And you’re supposed to stay happy and positive, when stuff like this is costing you money and stats? I know its a TEAM game, but when the team doesn’t care, why should you? Most Oakland veterans were pissed off, why is is made out to be just Moss?
Yes, he’s had run ins in the past, but nothing major.What do you think Ladanian Tomlinson’s reaction would be if this year he was traded to a shitty team who hardly used him, and he got 350 yards rushing per season? Or anybody?
As for the doesn’t play hard every down- hey he’s honest. A receiver split far wide on a inside running play is responsible for his man only, and couldn’t get to any one else to block from that position anyway.
Nobody complained about his lack of hustle on running plays when he was cathcing bombs from Culpepper.
The best judge of who’s in the wrong here should be the Raider fans, and they loved Moss. This move just sealed the Pats as Super Bowl 2008 champs and just retarded Russell’s progress becasue he has no big time receiver to throw to, not that it mattered anyway with the blocking they have.
That’s not true, especially since he made his “I take plays off” comment while he was still in Minnesota.
Ya know, I’m not a Patriots fan or anything resembling one, but I will bet anyone in this thread a crisp, new $10 bill that Randy Moss will have one of the three best seasons of his professional career in 2007-2008, catch no fewer than 10 touchdown passes, and not make a single blessed blip on the old character radar in the process.
Last year, the Patriots finished 7th and 12th in the NFL, respectively, in points scored and yards from scrimmage. Now they’ve added a guy who managed to catch 67 passes from Joey Freaking Harrington, and arguably the most talented receiver in the game. The idea that this trade is going to hurt them is just crazy; even if Moss isn’t what he was in Minnesota a few years ago, do you really think he won’t catch at least some of the passes that, say, Reche Caldwell couldn’t quite grab? As for character, well, they said the same stuff about Corey Dillon three years ago; no one ever heard a cross word from him since.
For the first time, Moss is on a team that would do just fine without him. They were only a play away from another Super Bowl with Reche Frickin’ Caldwell as their #1, remember? Moss won’t be the center of attention even if he tries to be, and if he does, no big deal, it’s adios, motherfucker. He certainly must understand that.
He’s even agreed to a contract restructuring that only gives him a third what he was making in Oakland - he wouldn’t to that iif it were all about the cash and not the jewelry now.
Um… I’m pretty sure the only players Joey Freaking Harrington has completed 67 passes to are cornerbacks.
In any case, Randy Moss and Harrington have never been on the same team, which leads me to further doubt your point.
Look, I hate the Pats, but I have to give them massive kudos for making this move. Playing with a quarterback who can deliver the deep ball, as Daunte Culpepper occasionally could, he will undoubtedly have one of his best three years as a pro.
The Raiders claimed he’s lost his speed, but he ran a 4.29 and a 4.3 in his workouts for the Pats and Packers. I don’t give a crap if Moss takes a few plays off if he catches 100 balls in a season, which he has done and could easily do again.
He’s the best deep threat in football, and something of a redzone threat, and that’s it. Even if he actually threw blocks on running plays, I seriously doubt he’d prove more of an obstruction than a broomstick balanced on its end.
Anyway, various authorities have reported that Belichick has told him he’ll be cut at the first hint of controversy, and so far nobody has given Belichick guff (except people who’ve seem him dress…)
There’s a decent chance Randy Moss will do well, at least for a little while. That’s because, unlike Terrell Owens, Randy Moss has been given a very clear signal that he’s living on borrowed time.
What did the Patriots give up to get Moss? A FOURTH round pick! A measly fourth round pick. In other words, Al Davis shopped Moss around the league and couldn’t find any takers.
Terrell Owens has been trouble from Day One in Dallas because he’s NEVER gotten such a wake-up call. Owens has led a charmed life. No matter how big a headache he’s been, there’s always been an owner eager to throw money at him and build the offense around him. Hence, he believes (with good reason) he can do anything he wants without consequences, because SOMEONE is sure to lust after him.
Randy Moss has just learned differently. NOBODY was willing to spend more than a fourth round pick on him. Other teams figure, “Cripes, if Al Freaking Davis doesn’t want to deal with your crap, I sure don’t.”
Unlike T.O., Moss knows this is his last chance to show what he can do. I’m betting he does quite well, at least for a little while.
The only really good news about this trade was that it means the Packers didn’t trade for him! YEAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
One thing that baffles me is that the Patriots supposedly have tons of “veteran leadership”. I agree that that have a pretty stable locker room, but there’s not that much about it thats “veteran”. They’ve got one of the younger offenses in the league. People forget that Brady’s only in his 7th season. They do have some older guys on the defensive side, namely the Linebackers, but they aren’t an especially old team.
The reason they have a stable locker room has little to do with being veterans but instead to do with the fact that they have been winning for a long time and have a stable respected coaching staff and front office. Of course a stable locker room is still a stable locker room, but playing the “veteran leadership” card is just lazy journalism.
That said, I think between Brady and Belichick they can keep Moss under control and most of the teammates will ignore any antics from him.
You’re crazy.
Who would you rather be after hearing about the Pats getting Moss. . .a Jets fan or a Pats fan?
Winning solves all personality problems. Pats haven’t had problems with Rodney Harrison. They haven’t had problems with Corey Dillon.
They won’t have problems with Randy Moss. Wait until Brady starts drilling him in the hands when he gets open, and New England opens the season 7-1. You think Randy’s going to be bitching, and driving his SUV into traffic cops? Think again.
Like Merrill Hoge said this weekend, “the Pats have a lot of sheriffs in that locker room.”
They added Donte Stallworth and now Moss (for a 4th rd. pick!). The Pats offense was really good last year without a credible receiving threat.
Don’t forget the Pats added Adalius Thomas to that defense. Whooo.
The rest of the AFC should be shaking in their cleats right about now.
The Patriots are good. Randy Moss adds nothing except potential dissension the minute he doesn’t think he’s getting enough looks at the ball. Corey Dillon was never the malcontent that Randy Moss was; people forget how long he put up with the Bengals before he finally said, I’ve had enough.
Time will tell, but mark my words, this was not a good trade in the long run for the Patriots.
Yes he does.
He adds another pair of hands and 4.4 speed. He adds the fact that your safety can’t just shadow Donte Stallworth. He adds that a linebacker is going to have to cover Ben Watson down the middle.
And if he sucks, or is a trouble maker. . .you think Belichick or Brady is going to put up with that shit for more than a week?
You got a weak-ass immune system like Oakland or Minnesota, Randy can spread his shit. He just moved to the rock of the NFL.
Consider them marked. I’ll get back to you next February.
Despite my lack of fandom for the Pats in general, I’m seriously looking forward to seeing what they can do with this new assortment of superstars, offense and defense. Esp since they’ve been (past 5 to 6 years or so) touting themselves as such a solid team because of their lack of superstars.
Hey, good football is good football. Let’s see what happens …