There’s a disagreement going on between the Panthers and Patriots players about whether or not Randy Moss tanked it last Sunday in New England’s lackluster win over Carolina in Week 14. Moss finished with just one catch on the day, which he promptly fumbled.

Following the game, Panthers’ cornerback Chris Gamble said Moss shut it down (via the Boston Globe):

If you asked the Panthers what their game plan was, it’s simple. They helped whoever was covering Randy Moss early in the game with a safety. Then, once he was frustrated, they no longer needed to. Because by then, it was Game Over for No. 81.

“We knew he was going to shut it down,” Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble told me after the game. “That’s what we wanted to do him. That’s what we did. … He’d just give up a lot … Slow down, he’s not going deep, not trying to run a route. You can tell, his body language.”

Gamble continued … “I know everyone who plays against him, they can sense that. Once you get into him in the beginning of the game, he shuts it down a little bit.”

Following Gamble’s comments, Pats head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady defended Moss:

“I have a lot of respect for Randy,’’ Bill Belichick said. “I think he’s one of our best players. I think if you watch other teams defend him, they think the same way. Other than these two guys from Carolina after they lost another game, I guess they didn’t think that way. They haven’t won a lot of games.’’

“Everyone takes liberties to say whatever they want to say in a situation like [Sunday’s],’’ Brady said. “I’ve seen plays made on Chris Gamble over the course of the season, too. Guys, when they play Randy, want to show what they can do, and I guess they came off the game pretty confident. But Randy’s one of the best players in the history of the NFL.’’

I love the not-so-subtle shots at the Panthers in Belichick and Brady’s quotes.

Moss was clearly frustrated during the course of the game, but only he knows whether or not he gave up. The good thing for the Patriots is that this situation has bonded them together.


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