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What Terrell Owens and Randy Moss Taught Chad Ochocinco

Matt Goisman — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:38:01 +0000

The oft-maligned and rarely used Chad Ochocinco told the Boston Herald Saturday that he’s often spoken with former Patriot Randy Moss and former Bengal Terrell Owens during this transition year to the Patriot way of life.

The move seemingly makes sense: all three players are what Ochocinco called “diva receivers;” Moss is a former Patriot who played a huge roll in their record-setting 2007-08 offense; Owens knows Ochocinco from their year together in Cincinnati. And considering Moss and Owens have played for a combined 10 different teams in 28 seasons, you’d have to figure they’d know a thing or two about learning new schemes, coaches and teammates.

But what specifically did those “diva receivers” tell Ochocinco? Here are Sports of Boston’s Top 10 pieces of advice from Moss and Owens to Ochocinco.

10) “Let Drew Rosenhaus be as douchy as possible.” Ochocinco’s agent is Drew Rosenhaus, who also represents Owens. But so far, Ochocinco really hasn’t let Rosenhaus off the leash the way Owens did. Everyone just loved watching Rosenhaus act like he’s the most important person in the universe, but he’s disappeared with Owens’ departure to the IFL. It’s time to let Drew be Drew. The public demands it.

9) “Complain about the food early and often.” Nothing gets you in better with new teammates than complaining about the food they’ve been eating for years.

“Everyone loves obscenities.” Moon fans. Spit on opponents. Make sexually suggestive TV promos. Really, go crazy with this one.

7) “Completely downplay the history of your team.” Whether its a horrific plane crash or a future-Hall of Fame ex-coach, make it look like you really could care less about anything that happened in previous seasons. After all, you weren’t on those teams.

6) “Always play up the quality of your former team, especially right after playing them.” This might be hard for Ochocinco, since the Bengals are probably the worst-run team in the NFL. But Owens wore a jersey of former Cowboy Michael Irvin on the plane following a Dallas game, and Moss saluted Bill Belichick following a Vikings loss to the Patriots (see the clip in No. 3). Both decisions seemed to have worked out pretty well.

5) “Don’t be afraid of distracting the team with off-the-field antics, killing team morale or disrupting the locker room.” Remember, you can’t spell “clubhouse cancer” without “beacon,” so be a shining example to your team by always making as a big scene as you can. (By the way, that phrase also contains “anus.”)

4) “Drugs are a great way to handle stress.” With just one touchdown reception this season, plus a receptions-per-game average below one, Ochocinco must certainly be feeling some pressure. Rather than talking with people, exercising or trying meditation, he should follow the Moss-Owens plan and get himself some illicit substances. Ochocinco can choose between marijuana and hydrocodone.

3) “Second-guess your coach, ideally during a nationally televised press conference.” Didn’t like your team’s play-calling? Publicly call your coach out for it. The team will totally respect your courage.

2) “If you don’t like your current team, you can always stop trying.” Your next team will absolutely assume you won’t pull the same crap with them.

1) “When all else fails, just talk about yourself. Again.”

In conclusion, Patriots fans can agree that while Ochocinco hasn’t lived up to they hype, he also hasn’t pulled any of the crap listed above. And for that, everyone can be thankful.

Say What: Could Terrell Owens Be a Good Fit for Patriots?

Bobby Doherty — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:07:07 +0000

Could it be?

Prior to the Patriots 38-20 beat down against the Philadelphia Eagles, Drew Rosenhaus was seen on the Patriots sideline. Earlier Sunday, Rosenhaus said that one team is very interested in his client — Terrell Owens.

Is it a coincidence that Rosenhaus roamed the New England sideline? Or could Owens join the Patriots?

Last season Owens played in 14 games for the Cincinnati Bengals where he caught 72 passes and nine touchdowns. If the 37-year-old outside threat wasn’t coming off a big knee injury then the Patriots would be stupid to not give him a look.

But, the problem remains: he’s coming off a knee injury.

Owens would bring more to the table than what Chad Ochocinco (11 catches) has done so far this season, but it’s still too risky of a move in my eyes.

The Patriots are really lacking the big play receiver and T.O. would bring that element to this team. With Ochocinco still on the team, I think he will still get another shot to be the deep threat. But, I ask, if there’s any truth to this rumor why not take another look at Randy Moss?

Moss hasn’t had a serious knee injury and he’s only 34. He is a freak athlete that knows the system and wants to win a Super Bowl.

If the Patriots want to make a serious run at a Super Bowl then they will need to fix this problem. If Ochocinco doesn’t step up against the leagues worst team this Sunday don’t be surprised if T.O. gets a call from Bill Belichick.

In Defense of Chad Ochocinco

Matt Goisman — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:00:59 +0000

Chad Ochocinco has nine catches, 136 receiving yards and no touchdowns in six games this season. These numbers are far and away the worst they’ve ever been for Ochocinco, who averaged five catches and 74 yards per game in his first 10 seasons. Ochocinco has given the Patriots virtually nothing as he takes his sweet time learning their offense.

I could not care less. I have absolutely no problem with Ochocinco, and I’m getting increasingly tired of all the Chad-bashing.

Ochocinco: Just the Fifth Receiving Option

Every team has a receiver who contributes less than the others. There has to be a fifth receiver. In years past, a tight end usually filled that role. Tom Brady knew this, so he either lived along the sidelines or used slot receivers to cover the middle of the field.

Now, with the the Patriots’ Dynamic Duo of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, Brady has two huge targets to throw to in the flat. Gronkowski is too big and strong, and Hernandez is too quick. No defense has figured out how to shut one down without springing the other, and Hernandez’s speed let’s him double as a deep-threat.

Ochocinco doesn’t need to run the flat routes that older Patriots’ wide receivers had to because the Patriots’ tight ends match up better against opposing linebackers than Ochocinco ever could. Just remember: Hernandez is as tall as Ochocinco with 50 extra pounds of muscle; Gronkowski is five inches taller and 70 pounds stronger.

And even when the tight ends can’t get it done, the Patriots have the best wide receiver in the NFL in Wes Welker (740 receiving yards – 131 more than second-place Steve Smith). Welker was already one of the best slot-receivers in New England history before this season, but he’s added a sideline presence that’s made him almost un-coverable.

Does anyone actually want to see Ochocinco taking passing plays away from Welker? Even at his best, Ochocinco couldn’t do what Welker does (Welker’s averaged 7.2 receptions and 81.2 yards per game with Patriots).

Ochocinco hasn’t produced much because the Patriots don’t want him to produce much. Perhaps Ochocinco could duke it out with Deion Branch for the final starting job, but Branch had a 54-game head start entering this season. Branch knows Brady inside and out, making him the far smarter fourth-option for the Patriots. Ochocinco in the past showed more flash than Branch, but Ochocinco will only be able to show that once he learns the system.

Ochocinco Came Cheap

When Randy Moss half-assed his way through the 2010 season despite a contract worth about $5 million (part of a three-year, $27-million deal), Patriots fans rightly chewed him out. And because of Ochocinco’s on-field antics (most of which I’ve found harmless and hilarious, by the way), many see Ochocinco as the heir-apparent to Moss, both as the deep threat and a “problem athlete.”

The physical differences between the two players aside, Patriots fans must understand that Moss’ contract isn’t Ochocinco’s. The Patriots gave up just a fifth- and sixth-round draft pick for Ochocinco, then restructured the deal so that he would make $1 million in base pay with a $4.5-million signing bonus. The idea that Ochocinco isn’t living up to some giant contract is just plan misguided.

Ochocinco was a cheap pickup for the Patriots. Everyone needs to lower their demands on a player who is a) coming to a completely different team, b) didn’t break the bank, and c) isn’t doing anything in the clubhouse to damage chemistry.

No Other Options

The Patriots have just two more wide receivers on their roster: Second-year Taylor Price, and fourth-year Matthew Slater. Price has exactly three career catches under his belt, and Slater is primarily a special teams player. So which receiver exactly can replace Ochocinco? Neither has done anything to show he can be better than Ochocinco, and Ochocinco’s upside when he finally does learn the system is far greater.

When Ochocinco syncs with Brady, the two will combine for more yardage than Brady could with either Price or Slater. Until that happens, the Patriots seem content to bring Ochocinco along slowly, getting the not-overpaid receiver a couple of passes each game without hindering their far superior tight ends and starting wideouts.

So far, the strategy’s worked out fine. And if the Patriots are o.k. with Ochocinco’s developmental pace, so am I.

Nice Try: Chad Ochocinco a Big Dud For the Patriots

Matthew Marcantonio — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 03:35:42 +0000

It worked with Corey Dillon. It worked with Randy Moss.

Throughout his head coaching tenure with the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick has had a great track record in bringing in other teams trash and making them Patriots treasure.

This offseason Belichick was at it again.

The Patriots brought in colorful Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco at the end of July. On paper the relationship looked like one that was made from the start. For years Ochocinco marveled at the Patriots, and for years Belichick spoke positively about the wide receiver.

But as we know, you have to look past what is seen on the surface (see 2011 Philadelphia Eagles). Ochocinco’s stint in New England has been uneventful, unproductive and uninspired.

In five games with the Patriots, Ochocinco has caught nine passes for 136 yards and no touchdowns. Consider this: Wes Welker had 13 catches for 192 yards and a touchdown after three-quarters in a 34-31 loss against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 25.

It goes beyond production. Ochocinco has struggled to grasp the Patriots playbook, which has been a cardinal sin for players in Belichick’s system. Just ask Guss Scott, Chad Jackson and Terrence Wheatley.

It doesn’t get much better when Ochocinco is in the game, either. Even on his receptions, the chemistry between the wide receiver and Tom Brady doesn’t appear to be there.

Ochocinco was never asked to come in and be the No. 1 receiver on this team. But, you have to wonder that the Patriots wanted a wee bit more – especially considering that Belichick traded two drafts picks for the guy.

Rewind to 2007.

When Randy Moss joined the Patriots nobody knew what to expect. We were talking about the same player that openly gave up in Oakland. But, all Moss did was produce.

A record-setting season later and Moss was heralded as one of the greatest acquisitions in team history. Moss set the precedent, but because of that Ochocinco never stood a chance.

Never.

People and fans alike expected No. 85 to be the current version of No. 81. But, there was a major difference in the two players.

Moss put in the time and effort to prove to the entire league that he could still play. For what we have seen so far, Ochocinco hasn’t put in the same will.

How do I know that? Because if he did, he would be on the field (he played in 39.5 percent of the offensive snaps against the Jets). Not sitting on the sideline while Brady and Co. maneuver the No. 1 offense in the NFL down the field – without him.

The past usually has a weird way of repeating itself. But, not here.

It hasn’t worked with Chad Ochocinco.

–

Follow Matthew Marcantonio on Twitter: @M_Marcantonio

© Matthew Marcantonio for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots, Top Story.

Randy Moss Wants to Play for Patriots: What Happened to Traditional Retirement?

Josh Segal — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:59:05 +0000

According to Pro Football Talk, (retired?) wide receiver Randy Moss wants to return to the Patriots. That’s a little surprising. Considering that Moss presumably called it quits due to lack of interest, Randy probably doesn’t have all that much leverage in choosing where (and if) he wants to play at all.

And in case anyone forgot, the Patriots actually made Moss a one-year offer earlier in the offseason. To say Moss is a confusing guy would be an understatement.

Would I want the Pats to sign Randy Moss? Absolutely. Yeah he’s a cancer, but then again, I’m a sucker for washed up all-stars with impressive past performances. Nevertheless, he dropped off fast. And beyond whatever happened with his behavioral issues, for arguably one of the greatest wide receivers to be dumped by three different teams (two of which were the Vikings and Titans) has to say something.

But then I think about a receiving core of Welker, Branch, Ochocinco and Moss. Hot damn.

So Moss wants to play for the Patriots, who most likely have little to no interest him. But I thought Randy Moss retired. Retired (adj.): Having left one’s job and ceased to work. Why is someone allegedly finished with playing sports talking about playing sports? Retirement means it’s the end. A player retires when they stop playing sports and move back to their ranch (I automatically assume all athletes do this upon retirement). But, in today’s world of professional sports, retirement no longer means anything.

It’s All About the Story Lines

At the end of 2010, Mike Lowell announced it was his last season in Major League Baseball. The Red Sox honored the third baseman with a ceremony on the last game of the season. What was so bizarre about that? It wasn’t that Lowell had only played for Boston for five years. It wasn’t that the Red Sox unsuccessfully tried to dump him and were awkwardly stuck with him for a whole season. It was that Lowell said he was going to retire and he meant it. That just doesn’t happen anymore.

I said I’m a sucker for washed up all-stars. Well I’m also a sucker for story lines. And there’s something inexplicably enjoyable about an athlete making a last hurrah, a highlight reel, and ceremony to honor retirement.

He plays his last game, tips his hat, and rides off into the sunset to his ranch. You know what makes terrible storyline? A “will he/won’t he” drama that plays out for months too long. You know what makes an even worse story line? A player doesn’t retire when he can no longer compete, plays for a few random teams to end his career, and fades into oblivion. Some time after that, they apparently become retired. From what I’ve gathered, these are the three routes for a player can take upon retirement.

The Favre Route

Method: Threaten retirement with no intention of actually doing so. Create a soap opera-esque drama in a pathetic attempt to gain attention. Realize no one actually wants you and sink into irrelevance and a life of shame.

Recent Examples: Brett Favre, Roger Clemens, Michael Jordan, Randy Moss?

Office Equivalent (If someone with a generic office job took this route with their profession): Clear out desk on Friday afternoon. Tell boss you haven’t decided if you feel like coming back on Monday. Presumably ends in unemployment.

The Man-Ram Routes

Method: Instead of retiring with the team you will be remembered for, act like an SOB and demand an absurd amount of money. Spend your last years on random and irrelevant teams, and slowly fade into an abyss of nothingness. (Getting suspended for breaking league drug policy is optional, but not required.)

Recent Examples: Manny Ramirez, Shaq, Frank Thomas, Randy Moss?

Office Equivalent: Retire from your job and take several increasingly less appealing jobs before leaving the workforce. Accountant -> Dog Sitter -> Horse Pleaser. Yikes.

The Mike Lowell Route

Method: Announce retirement and actually retire. Pretty cool.

Recent Examples: Mike Lowell, Troy Brown, Bobby Cox

Office Equivalent: Announce retirement. Maybe the office has cake or something to celebrate.

Where Does Randy Moss Fit In?

Arguably, Moss falls somewhere in between the Favre/Ramirez Route. Either way it’s still obnoxious. When players flirt with retirements and comebacks, it merely comes off as a cry for attention.

I get it, it must be hard to be removed from the spotlight in however many years. But it’s boring off field drama. People want to talk about the action — the players in their prime displaying ridiculous acts of athleticism, or doing crazy touchdown dances, or fighting each other. If you’re going to retire, then do it.

The attention should be on the people actually playing the game. The time for Moss to sign with the Patriots or another team was six weeks ago. Now Randy should run a deep route into the sunset toward his ranch.

Podcast: Grantland’s Anna Clark Talks Writing, Deadspin, Randy Moss

Ryan Hadfield — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:52:48 +0000

Today on the SoB podcast, I had Anna Clark on. Clark is a writer for Grantland, who wrote a piece on Randy Moss this week. In the podcast we talk journalism, the blogosphere backlash against Grantland, her experiences in Kenya & the Prison Creative Arts Project, and – of course – thoughts on Randy Moss’ legacy.

Using a cell phone? We got you covered, click here.

Want to skip around? Below is a breakdown of our conversation.

o:oo – 8:00 : Advice in journalism (Putting yourself in a piece, taking risks, etc.)

8:00 – 15:00 : Grantland backlash: What is good about the site vs. What should be improved. Is criticism valid or crass?

15:00 – 18:00 – Finding your voice as a writer

18:00 – 25:00 : Experiences in Prison Creative Arts Project & Kenya

25 – End : Sports! We talk about the Lions playing on Thanksgiving & Everything Moss (Does his candid demeanor deserve as much critique as it gets or is it refreshing? Is Moss’ career a disappointment? And much more!)

Comments, Suggestions, Insults — Follow Ryan on Twitter!

From “Motivated” to Retired: Randy Moss to Hall of Fame?

Ryan Hadfield — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:35:06 +0000

The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same

On July 14, Joel Segal, Randy Moss’ agent, claimed the mercurial wide receiver is in great shape, motivated, and ready to contribute to a Super Bowl contending team.

“He is determined, motivated and quite frankly has a huge chip on his shoulder. Whatever team ends up getting Randy, they’re going to know they’re getting the old Randy Moss,” Segal told NFL.com. “He’s not just coming in to be on the team, he’s going to be Randy Moss — a difference maker.”

Apparently that desire waned. Moss, after “weighing” his options in free agency, ordered his agent to publicly announce his retirement. A complete 180. A shock.

But is it really “unexpected” that Randy Moss did the, uh, “unexpected”?

Since 1998, Moss has reminded me of the stoic portrayal of Achilles by Brad Pitt in the movie, Troy. He never seemed to care about the greater good, just his own personal agenda. And, in having that selfish motive, Moss doing the unexpected is like Lady Gaga wearing relish for eye shadow.

In other words, with Moss the “unexpected” – by nature – is actually the expected.

A Beautiful Fickle Mind

How will we remember Randy Moss?

The ’07 season was magical. From the opening game (or the Spy-Gate game) all the way to the last moments of the Super Bowl when the Patriots were throwing up last-second heaves in desperation — you never knew what would happen when 81 was on the other end of a Tom Brady pass.

Looking beyond that, the question with Moss was never his physical ability, it’s always been between the ears. With that said, a newly discovered motivation never would have mattered when his issues have never pertained to ability.

And I don’t know if we ever understood Moss. His relationship quarrels seem to be with himself, rather than with the team employing him.

The fickle nature displayed in this last month is nothing new. Moss has always been the personification of the Katy Perry song, “Hot N Cold.”

One year he wants to win a championship. He does everything right - takes a pay cut, is amenable with his new teammates, and finally becomes the force we all know he can be. The next year he is bitching about being underpaid, holding press conferences about his selfish monetary-driven intentions after a huge team win, and feuding with the coaching staff.

In New England, he shot himself out-of-town seemingly on purpose. Then he wanted back in? He has and always will be an enigma.

It’s more than that, though. Moss embodied everything I hate about sports, and everything I love about sports at the same time. He was a diva, but apparently a great leader. Moss can be very savvy with media. He had ability to articulate himself much better than many other athletes. That same self-awareness can be superseded by his tendency to be an a-hole.

Moss was creative in the likeable way, not over-the-top creative like Chad Ochocinco. Instead Moss had an instinctive creativeness that is restricted. This is by design; he only lets us see this side of him in spurts.

When players were first given the opportunity to introduce themselves and their alma-mater in primetime games, Moss coined Rand University. As creative as he could be outside of the game, Moss’ game in between the lines was as original as an episode of Entourage.

Moss refused to go over the middle. His best pattern was the fly pattern. He was a front-runner at heart, which means he doesn’t have heart. Moss was infamous for giving up on plays, and known as a player who didn’t try all the time.

That really sucked.

In fact, when dissecting Moss’ career, that’s the toughest aspect to circumvent. I mean has anyone had a Hall of Fame career, and left as many accolades and greatness on the table as Moss?

Mostly, I’ll remember Moss for re-affirming two truisms about sports.

1) Every now and then an athlete comes along and can produce a “Holy Sh!T” moment on the reg. It’s a gift. Even when it’s not happening, the potential for it to happen keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s completely arbitrary, and it’s part of the fabric which makes sports the greatest “reality television” show of all time. Anything can happen. Moss – along with Jordan, Derek Jeter, Barry Sanders, Doug Flutie (not just BC, even with the Bills), Brett Favre (in both the good way AND the bad) – harnessed that ability.

2) You root for the laundry. You just do.

Believing In Santa Claus

So is it really over for Moss?

Both Michael Holley and Tom E. Curran were skeptical on CSNNE Monday night. And justifiably so.

Moss still has fuel in the tank. His a viable first-option on 60% of the teams in the league right now. I mean, come on! It was less than a year ago Moss erupted the volcano on Revis Island.

© Ryan Hadfield for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots, Top Story.

Cris Carter: Randy Moss Turned Down 1-Year Deal From Patriots

Ryan Hadfield — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:53:51 +0000

ESPN’s Cris Carter is reporting Randy Moss declined a one-year deal to return to New England this season before opting to retire. Moss has expressed interest in returning to Foxboro, but the sides struggled over the length of the contract. Moss demanded a multi-year deal, and the Patriots only wished to retrieve his services for the 2011 campaign.

Moss also yearned to play for the New York Jets, but that deal was ruled out after New York took on Plaxico Burress.

Carter has known Randy Moss since the cerebral wide-out’s rookie season in 1998, when the two Hall of Fame candidates were teammates on the Minnesota Vikings. Many considered Carter a mentor for Moss in keeping him out of the same cumbersome tendencies he had earlier in his career.

Initially, after Moss’ breakout rookie season, it appeared the lessons learned from Carter’s volatile Philadelphia Eagles days were paying dividends. As Carter aged he was phased out of the organization, and Moss became more of a diva eventually being excommunicated to ~~NFL Purgatory~~ the Oakland Raiders.

Moss seemed rejuvenated following his union with New England in 2007, breaking numerous records. However, just like in Minnesotta and Oakland, the wideout’s attitude slowly reverted back to petulance. Moss was shipped back to the Vikings before ending an indifferent 2010 season in Tennessee.

Carter took notice of last season’s woes, and his former pupil’s attitude this offseason:

“When those two teams were removed from him and his ability to go play with them, I think that Randy reacted a lot like the Randy that came into the league, like the Randy we’ve seen, and he said, ‘You know something? I’m not just going to play for anyone.”

The venom behind this scolding is accentuated considering Carter’s erroneous defense of Moss and subsequent critique of Deion Branch in the polarizing Minnesota-New England trade last season.

“The ceiling with Moss with their offense is a lot higher,” Carter said last year. “They can be really dynamic. Like frightening. Now, if they don’t play well offensively, they’ll lose, because they have a defense that doesn’t dominate the games. Deion disappears too much against regular corners. He disappears in the game. He’s made, like, three guest appearances since the Super Bowl. (Branch) is just a guy. You guys have to be real about it,” Carter continued. “Great players, they don’t get hurt as much as the other players. There’s a difference between great ones and good ones and average ones.”

The Patriots - with highest-scoring offense in the league – were victorious in 13 of their final 14 games of the 2010 season, sans Moss. At the other end of the spectrum, Moss was shipped – yet again – only weeks after the trade.

Randy Moss Announces His Retirement

Taylor — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:24:55 +0000

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss has retired from the NFL, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

“After weighing his options and contemplating offers, he’s decided to retire.” Moss’ agent Joel Segal stated.

Moss played parts of four seasons in New England, asserting himself as one of the best receivers in franchise history. The Patriots acquired Moss from Oakland during the 2007 NFL Draft, exchanging a fourth round pick for his services.

In his first season in Foxboro, Moss had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history, hauling in a NFL record 23 touchdown receptions to break Jerry Rice’s record of 22, set in 1987. Moss’ totals in New England are 50 touchdowns, 259 catches and 3904 yards. His 50 touchdowns ties him with Ben Coates for second all-time for the Patriots.

Despite his excellent production, Moss attitude and behavior were noticeably different in 2010. A free agent to be at the end of the season, Moss went public with his frustrations on his contract situation after the Pats 38-24 season opening win against Cincinnati.

Moss behavior continued to worsen, reaching critical mass in the Patriots week four win over Miami. The wide receiver dropped a key second quarter touchdown pass and was rumored to be in a sideline confrontation with quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien. The next afternoon, Moss was traded to Minnesota for a 2011 third round pick.

In Minnesota, Moss wore out his welcome quickly. Following the Vikings’ 28-18 loss to the Patriots, Minnesota coach Brad Childress waived the disgruntled Moss. The Tennessee Titans claimed the former All-Pro, but he recorded just six catches in the final eight games for the Titans.

Moss finishes his career with 153 touchdown receptions, tied for second all-time with Terrell Owens.

Jets Lose Interest in Moss, Avoid Disaster

Matt Goisman — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:56:29 +0000

It’s been an interesting week for former New England Patriot, Minnesota Viking, Tennessee Titan and Oakland Raider Randy Moss. On Monday, Boston Globe reporter Greg Bedard reported that the New York Jets were interested in signing the free-agent wide receiver. Less than 24 hours later, Fox Sports reporter Adam Schein tweeted that the Jets had “no interest” in Moss.

Will Moss be a Jet? Won’t he? Should Patriots fans even care? The man almost single-handedly derailed two teams last season, and the Patriots turned their season around on their very next game after trading him. Wouldn’t you rather see him derail the team that poses the only real threat to the Patriots in the AFC East? How best can we even describe the wayward wide receiver?

Apologists will probably call Moss “idiosyncratic.” Critics will likely call him “cancerous.” Perhaps an analogy would be most effective, so here goes:

Randy Moss is the Charlie Sheen of the NFL, if Sheen’s drug of choice was marijuana instead of crack. Both Moss and Sheen are:

By not pursuing Moss, Rex Ryan may have saved his team’s season (assuming there is one). We all saw what happened when Sheen was finally let off the leash (or “fired”): he took his loudmouthery to never-before-seen levels. For Moss to join the Jets might have caused a similar reaction.

On a Jan. 12 media conference call, Ryan said, “We’re a transparent organization. We let our guys speak and we don’t try to tell them what to say and what not to say.” It’s a nice strategy with players like cornerbacks Antonia Cromartie and Darrelle Revis, because it lets them feel uninhibited, unchained to a corporate image.

But there’s an unspoken agreement in that “transparency:” say whatever you want, but don’t call out your own team.

If you look at everything Revis and Cromartie have ever said, not once will you find a direct attack on the Jets organization, their coach or their teammates. They might give a cliched answer like “we need to play with more heart,” or “we need to play 60 minutes,” but have they ever said “this play was a bad idea?” No. And that self-censorship is as powerful as the organizational censorship used by teams like the Patriots.

If Moss has shown the world anything in his career, it’s that he either can’t or won’t censor himself for anyone about anything. If Moss is unhappy, the world hears about it. The rest of the Jets believe that since the can say whatever they want, they shouldn’t abuse it by saying everything that they might want to. Moss believes that if he can say whatever he want, he will. That difference in interpretation could quickly create a rift between him and the rest of the team.

And the talent Moss would bring to New Jersey isn’t exactly mind-blowing. Through 2009, Moss averaged just over 77 receptions, 12 touchdowns and 1,200 yards per season. Last season’s numbers: 28 catches, five touchdowns, 393 yards. The league has figured out Moss’s act: double-team him early so teams won’t throw to him, then let him mentally take himself out of the game in the second half.

Wanna know how many Jets wide receivers had a better 2010-11 season than Moss? Three: Jerricho Cotchery (more receptions and yards, but fewer touchdowns), Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes. Basically, their entire passing offense. What exactly do they need Moss for? Are 1.75 catches and 0.3 touchdowns per game worth the headaches?

Given everything Moss has done in the past, if he is given the opportunity, he will directly lead to the downfall of the Jets. A non-decision may turn out to be the smartest decision Ryan makes all season long.