Tag: Randy Moss (Page 7 of 15)

      Like a bunch of schoolgirls, Moss and Brady apparently fought about each other’s hair

      October 10, 2010 /
      MIAMI - OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Tom Brady and Randy Moss of the New England Patriots sit on the sidelines against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on October 4, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

      This is so ridiculous that it can’t possibly be made up:

      Shortly after Moss was traded to the Vikings on Wednesday, reports surfaced that Moss had a heated exchange with quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien at halftime of last Monday night’s game in Miami. Another story said Moss refused to talk to Belichick on the plane ride home.

      Then on Sunday, Charley Casserly, an ex-NFL general manager who now works on CBS’ NFL pregame show, reported that Moss and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady [stats] went toe-to-toe and had to be separated the week before the trade was made.

      According to Casserly, Brady did not like Moss’ behavior. During the argument, Brady was overheard telling Moss he needed to cut his beard. Moss countered by telling Brady he needed a haircut and that he looked like a girl.

      Have you ever been in a relationship that started off great but by the end you were just mad because the other person was still breathing?

      This isn’t about hair or beards, or anything else. This is about Moss being ticked off about his situation and looking for a way out. He was upset that the team didn’t offer him a contract extension, so he started picking fights with everyone and probably felt justified for doing so. Now he’s back with his old girlfriend and he’s a happy camper again.

      We’ll find out Monday night if the Moss-Minnesota re-marriage is going to work.

      External Sports, NFL

      Are the Patriots changing their offensive approach?

      October 7, 2010 /
      New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks with quarterback Tom Brady in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals in their NFL football game in Foxborough, Massachusetts September 12, 2010. REUTERS/Adam Hunger (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      In the first two weeks of the season, the Patriots threw the ball a combined 71 times against the Bengals and Jets, compared to their 43 rushing attempts.

      In their last two games against the Bills and Dolphins, the Pats threw the ball a combined 59 times compared to 62 rushing attempts.

      Four weeks is too small of a sample size to make any definitive statements about the direction of New England’s offense, but considering the team traded their No. 1 receiver on Wednesday, it would appear that Bill Belichick is changing his approach on that side of the ball.

      Now, it would make sense that the Pats would call more running plays against the Bills (whose front seven has been banged up) and Dolphins (whose pass defense ranks in the top 10 and whose run defense ranks in the bottom half of the league). But the Bengals and Jets both have solid pass defenses, so why throw on them?

      Granted, the flow of the game dictates how plays are called for an offense. If a team were successfully moving the ball on the ground, it would make sense to keep pounding runs at a defense in order to wear them down. Making adjustments is a vital component in football.

      That said, Tom Brady has completed 72.2% of his passes for 367 yards and five touchdowns when the Patriots have used a two-tight end set this year. And if the public knows that, so does Belichick.

      Maybe Belichick came to the realization that as the season wears on, he could throw the ball just as successfully with Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski as he did with Moss. And maybe that’s why he didn’t hesitate trading Moss, who some believe is in decline and who was mentally starting to fade without being offered a new contract.

      Either way, without Moss taking away double teams from Wes Welker, Belichick will have to change his strategy going forward. He can’t continue to use three-receiver sets like he has the past couple of years and think he’s going to be as successful without Moss. He’s going to have to adjust.

      And knowing Belichick, he will.

      External Sports, NFL

      Should Vikings hold off on giving Randy Moss an extension?

      October 7, 2010 /
      New England Patriots Randy Moss (L) catches a touchdown pass next to New York Jets Darelle Revis (R) in the second quarter during their NFL football game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in this September 19, 2010 file photo. According to reports in the U.S. Media, Moss was traded by the Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2011 draft pick on October 6, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine/Files (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      One would think that since the Vikings parted with a third round pick to acquire Randy Moss from the Patriots that they wouldn’t waste any time signing him to a new deal. But given his age, Minnesota might be better off waiting a few weeks.

      The NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reported on Wednesday night that Moss is seeking a contract extension in the range of $10 million per year. Even when you factor in his productivity in New England the past three years, that’s a ton of dough to hand a 33-year-old who some believe is in decline.

      Outside of potentially pissing him off, what’s the harm in holding off a few games to make sure that Moss is as hungry as the Vikings think/hope he is? There’s no sense giving up a third round pick and paying a player $10 million if his production is going to be no better or worse than Bernard Berrian. The Vikings already have a Bernard Berrian on their roster.

      Speaking of which, it appears as though Moss and Percy Harvin will become the full-time starters now in Minnesota, which means Berrian could see his targets drop dramatically. With Moss, Harvin and Adrian Peterson all deserving of touches in Brad Childress’ offense, there may not be enough to go around for Berrian come Sundays.

      In semi-related news, the Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that Darrelle Revis may not shadow Moss in coverage on Monday night when the Jets host the Vikings. Revis is still battling a hamstring injury and he admitted yesterday that had there been a game on Wednesday, he wouldn’t have been able to play.

      External Sports, NFL

      Did friction between Moss and Pats’ QB coach lead to trade?

      October 6, 2010 /
      ATLANTA - AUGUST 19: Wide receiver Randy Moss of the New England Patriots takes a break during pre-game warmups before the preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on August 19, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

      ESPN.com reports that Randy Moss had an exchange with quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien during halftime of the Patriots game against the Dolphins on Monday night.

      The locker-room exchange, described as an “outburst” by one player, came two days before the Patriots traded Moss to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2011 third-round draft choice, and could have contributed to the team’s decision to make the deal.

      The Patriots trailed 7-6 at halftime of the game, and Moss had just one pass thrown in his direction up to that point. He finished without a reception and wasn’t thrown to in the second half.

      On Wednesday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement that he has had discussions during the “past several months” with Moss and his representatives about Moss’ “place on our team and his future in football.”

      Belichick added that “many things were taken into consideration before making the trade.”

      Moss’ contract runs up at the end of the year and chances are, they probably wanted to ride the year out and see how he preformed. If he didn’t continue to complain about his contract and produced on the field, then maybe they would have signed him to a new deal.

      But they couldn’t risk him mentally checking out like he did in Oakland and if he wasn’t on good terms with the QB coach, then they were wise to trade him now.

      I wrote more on this trade here and here.

      External Sports, NFL

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