Posted on 10/07/2010 9:55:26 AM PDT by OneVike
The sports media is all abuzz about Randy Moss returning to Minnesota. Along with all the buzz, we are being inundated with the same stories by the same reporters and pundits who never stepped on the field with a helmet on. All this chatter has left the fan with more questions then answers about Randy Moss. Below are a few of the threads that have been posted to FR, and while I did add my two cents worth in a comment to one of the threads, I decided to offer an article I wrote in full without forcing anyone to leave FR. It is a long article, but there is a lot to be said.
Being that my online handle is OneVike which is a direct result of my love for the Minnesota Vikings, I decided to give everyone my take on Moss and his return to Minnesota. I have been thinking about posting my opinion of Moss for quite some time. How long? Well, since before he was traded to Oakland, so other than a few comments on threads, this is my first official public statement on him.
Everyone who knows me is aware that I have been a lifelong Vikings fan, ever since I first cut my finger when I was a young boy in Duluth Minnesota. I remember asking my father why my blood was purple instead of green like my friends. It was then that I learned of my genetic ties to the Vikings. That was about 1963, and I have since bled purple many times.
However, in the last twenty years as my spiritual walk with Christ grew stronger, I found myself paying attention to the effects that politics has on my country's spiritual decline. This change in my life also made me less of a football fanatic. While I still rooted for my Vikings, and inevitably felt the sting of defeat year after year as their season ended without a trip to the big game, I found myself less concerned about my team's fortunes than I used to be.
Finally it all came to a head last year when Rush Limbaugh's name was leaked as a member of a financial group interested in buying the St. Louis Rams. When the mainstream sports media (MSSM), political leaders, the NFL Players Union, and Commissioner Roger Goodell all joined forces to stop Rush from becoming a part owner, I came to the conclusion that I could no longer financially support the NFL. I even wrote an article last fall about my decision. That is why this season is the first time in 14 years that I have not renewed the NFL ticket. I will admit that I still watch a game now and then, but only if the Vikings game is nationally televised. That's what happens when a Vikings fan lives in Northern California.
Well, as they did with Rush Limbaugh, the MSSM has given the public an image of Randy Moss that they want us to believe, but that image is flawed because Randy Moss is not a Terrell Owens. As for his trade from Minnesota to the Raiders, I was angry at first like any fan would be after the best player on the roster was sent packing, but I got over it and soon began watching highlights of his incredible catches in Oakland. Unfortunately for the Oakland fans, the team never utilized him in the way he is dangerous. Is it any wonder that Moss was not a factor for them? I would bet that his inactivity in Oakland probably extended his career. Eventually they traded him to New England and like the rest of America I watched him and Brady make history together.
Unlike the Raiders however, NE used Moss in the way he is most dangerous. They did use him at times as a slot receiver like the Raiders tried to do exclusively, but Moss is not built to do that. To utilize Moss in a way that hurts the other team, you send him down field to stretch out the defense where it will take one, two, or three defenders, depending on the team, to cover him. Now and then you will get a guy who can cover him one on one, but very few teams have that talent. One of the few men that can, plays for the Jets who the Vikings play next Monday night. Then there are 11 more games where the coverage talent is not as good.
Which brings me to the biggest complaint about Moss. He takes plays off, but what they don't tell you is that there is a logical reason for what looks like laziness to the fan. That would be because Randy Moss is the only man in the NFL who is expected to run a 50 to 100 yard sprint almost every time the ball is hiked. After Minnesota played the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night in the Metrodome, it was calculated that he had actually run almost 3500 yards during the game. If you think that is a bit excessive, remember that every play where the clock is not stopped, the players have 45 seconds to line up before the next snap, or they must waste a time out. So a 60 yard dash could easily turn into a 120 yard run.
Now most of those yards were sprints designed to stretch the defense out so that either Robert Smith could run the ball, or a slot receiver like Chris Carter could get single coverage in the West Coast type offense Brian Billick. Not even a running back is expected to run that many yards in a game, because a RB only runs when he has the ball. No other player in the NFL is expected to consistently run the routes that Randy Moss runs. Don't you think that maybe he should be excused for taking it easy now and then?
Now what this does is allow a good RB, like Adrian Peterson, to kill a defense. When Moss was with the Vikings the first time, they had Robert Smith, and he was dangerous because of it. Also, one could argue that Smith was not the RB he became until Moss was drafted. New England has not had a consistently healthy RB most of the time Moss was there other than the year they went undefeated and lost the SB to NY. In Oakland they never had a RB, or anything else that resembled an NFL team other than Moss, and as I said, they were clueless as to how he could be used.
The thing is, if a defensive coordinator now tries to stop AP by putting 8 or 9 men in the box as they have in the last two years against the Vikings, well Moss is going to make them pay for it. Moss relishes one on one, and that is when he is the most dangerous. So Rex, pick your poison. I think that come next Monday night, Buddy Ryan's son is going to get a quick lesson on what a team of Moss + Favre + Peterson can and will do to a defense built on attacking the QB. It could get very ugly for the fans of the NY Jets.
Is Moss an MVP? He has been with Minnesota. Don't agree? Well answer this question please. Who should get the credit for making the likes of Culpepper, Cunningham, Jeff George, Brad Johnson, etc., etc. all Pro-Bowlers? Trust me, the only QB that Moss played with in Minnesota that had Pro-Bowl qualities on his own was Brad Johnson. The others needed Moss to make them look good. So other than Johnson, Brady is the only true QB that has ever thrown a ball his way. Now you can add another quality QB who will be playing catch with Moss. Even if he has to use a walker to get to the stadium, this should be fun to watch.
After Moss was shipped off to Oakland, I can tell you that there were thousands of Vikings fans who were only angry at the media and the owner who traded him, and now those fans are dancing in the streets and dreaming of the Super Bowl party they are going to have. As for the reports of disgruntled fans, I can only say that you either really like him, or you really hate him. Personally I look at the sports media and see a bunch of overpaid lazy reporters who all have a God complex. They cannot control Moss, and that pisses them off. The same way they treat conservative politicians, the MSM just looks for disgruntled fans and players when they want to destroy someone. All you need to do is look at the way Joe Buck treated Moss after he celebrated a TD catch as he pretended to moon the crowd and wipe his butt against the GB goal post.
In my opinion, it was Joe Buck who helped push that episode way beyond the scope it needed to be. It was Joe Buck who helped fuel the media, who then went all out to destroy his image in Minnesota. It was a situation that just grew until Moss was traded. Ask any Viking fan what they think of Buck and you will find that their opinion of Moss is much better than their opinion of Buck. Yes, it is Joe Buck's name that is dirt in Minnesota not Randy's. I personally despise this man because he is a socialist, elitist pig who worships the ground Obama and other Democrats walk on. Joe I remember your father, and you are not fit to carry on in his footsteps.
While many blame Moss for all his troubles, and I agree that he is to blame for at least some of them, I also hold Dennis Green and Chris Carter to blame for not properly making him understand the magnitude of being a superstar. Unfortunately, it would not be until Mike Tice put him in his place almost three years later on the team plane as they were returning from a game. That is the only reason Red McCombs made him the head coach after Green was fired. Red needed Moss, and he needed a coach who could control him. Moss learned to respect Tice, which is what usually happens when you lay down the law. Just ask Gorbachev how he respected Reagan after the Gipper showed the communist he would not take any crap. Being tough with communists and players works every time its tried, and it worked with Moss.
As an aside, what many do not know about Randy is that more times than not, he will give a ball to a child. Very few times do you see him giving one to an adult. Moss even skipped last year's Pro-Bowl so that he could surprise a bunch of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who had excelled academically at their respective grade schools, Malden Elementary and Midland Trial Elementary. It has to do with a new program he and his basketball buddy from college Jason Williams have started called, "Make The Grade Campaign." Randy created it through his "RANDY MOSS FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN." Moss has always had a soft side for the children, something you will not hear the likes of Joe Buck talk about, because he would rather get a few more notches on his gun belt by trashing Randy instead.
As for the goal post incident, just ask any player or coach what they see when they leave town after playing GB. They see the fans lining the street, where the visiting team bus leaves the stadium, with their pants down as they literally moon the visitors as they are leaving town. Nice send off huh? Personally I think what both the fans and Moss did was funny. I know, I have a little demon side to me when it comes to Green Bay Packers, but I really loath them. Even the Tampa Bay Head Coach, Tony Dungy thought the whole thing was blown out of proportion when he was quoted as saying,
"It ain't no big deal, ever since I was a player, everyone knew that the Green Bay fans were going to moon the visiting team as they left town after playing the packers. It has been going on for over 50 years. So why everyone one is getting upset with Randy for getting them back is beyond me. I thought is was rather funny myself"
As for my hate for the Packers, I must admit that It's still very difficult to like someone I have hated for 18 years, but if Favre can win the big one for us then I might start to warm up to him. Maybe. You see, my hatred for the Packers comes from an incident that happened in 1971. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was bragging about the Vikings outside a bowling alley when I got into an argument with some Packers boys. Before long I had five Packers fans beating me up for claiming that Fran Tarkenton was better than Bart Starr ever was. We were all about 15 as I recall, but I was outnumbered so I lost the fight. Oh well, it was a learning experience. After that I never took on more then four guys at a time.
Well what Moss did that Monday night is what the Packer fans have been doing to visiting teams for almost 60 or 70 years now. I do want to mention that I am glad the NFL slapped that cheese-head communist Russ Feingold, and forced him to remove the clip of Moss insulting GB fans from his campaign ad, even though they only did it because he never paid them for the right to use it.
The biggest problem with the whole incident was the way that commie Joe Buck handled it when he was calling the game. As far as I am concerned, it was Joe "I'll never fill my Daddy's shoes" Buck who was out of line for his behavior, not Moss. If Buck thinks that he convinced the fans to turn on Randy, then why do so many fans still wear his jerseys?
I know Moss, and he is older and more mature in how he handles situations. That is not to say he doesn't revert back to his immature ways sometimes, because like all men, he does. I also remember listening to Rush Limbaugh one day when he was telling us about the time he was a guest of Red McCombs at a Vikings home game. Rush said that Randy Moss went out of his way to meet and talk to him. I know Moss learned some truth, and Rush only had a nice report about the player he met that day.
Take my word for it, Randy Moss is NOT the prima donna the media makes him out to be. He really is a very decent and nice guy. As I said, he was not controlled properly by Dennis Green when he was a rookie, but that is because Denny is an idiot who allowed all his players to get out of hand. That problem was inherited by Mike Tice when he was promoted to head coach. The atmosphere was very bad for an immature Moss to come into, but he has matured since. As for saying his piece and getting into it at times with a coach, what player doesn't today? It just gets blown out of proportion when it's a guy that the media likes to hate. Think I am wrong? Just look at what they did to Rush. If you believe the sports media, then you must believe that Rush is a racist idiot.
Finally, I understand that liberals would listen and believe what the MSM says about people, but I am amazed at the way many of my fellow conservatives join the MSM when it comes to destroying some people. Maybe some of you who dislike Moss so much should listen to what coaches like Tony Dungy, Mike Tice, Brian Billick, and Bill Belicheck have to say about him. If a coach's word isn't good enough for you, then ask some men who huddled up with him like Brad Johnson, Robert Smith, Teddy Bruschi, or even Tom Brady what they think of the wild and crazy Moss. Go ahead, you might be surprised by what you learn, but I won't.
Oh yea, will the Vikings win the Super Bowl this year?............ Maybe....maybe not.
In the last couple of years the Super Bowl winner has come down to who can field the healthiest team in the playoffs, not the best team. Now they want to add another week to the season, reduce training camp by a week, and eliminate spring training workouts. All those changes will just make for an even lower quality product. Something that most Socialists like of Obama and his ilk may enjoy, but not us old timers. See we remember when teams like the Vikings played outdoors in sub freezing weather without even wearing long sleeve shirts or gloves. Some people believe that the Vikings will never return to the championship until they go back outdoors where they belong. 
For anyone who cares about football, here is my take on Moss, some of the controversies surrounding him, and a little insight into the way his talent can change a game......
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The headline, has one more comma than is appropriate.
(sorry, couldn’t resist)
Thanks, don’t you wish they allowed the person who posted the article the ability to edit the post to make small corrections?
Bump
Thanks for the proof read.
:>)
Are you sure you are not my husband in disguise? He also bleeds purple and consoling him year after year has become tradition in our house.
While my husband could critique your article much better than I can it was a great read and I enjoyed it.
I love watching Randy Moss play, and I cant wait to see Favre and Moss together. A great passing game is a beautiful thing to watch and Monday cant come fast enough for me.
BTW I think that all games should be played outdoors and screw the weenies that cant hang with the big boys.
Nice job...I especially appreciate your take on Buck. i must admit that I have been of the opinion that Moss is an overpaid prima donna...I’ll have to reconsider that after reading your piece. I’ll can’t wait to see wha happens against the Jets. Hope they shut Buddy’s Ryan’s boy’s big yap for a couple of days.
Thanks, it is good to here of other purple blooded Vikes are around and looking forward to the Favre to Moss connection to make histwa (as Rush would say).
Did it take awhile for your husband to accept Favre also. I mean, I still find myself rooting against him by accident nor and then.
LOL....
:>)
Bruschi seems to be saying this week that Moss was becoming a negative influence in the locker room and the Patriots are probably better off without him. It's a pretty rare day when I have the opportunity to hang out with those guys you mentioned so I don't know when I'll be able to ask them their opinion of Moss. Would they be saying pretty much the same as Bruschi does?
I remember asking my father why my blood was purple instead of green like my friends. It was then that I learned of my genetic ties to the Vikings. That was about 1963, and I have since bled purple many times.
Hiya, Cousin! 
While I still rooted for my Vikings, and inevitably felt the sting of defeat year after year as their season ended without a trip to the big game, I found myself less concerned about my team's fortunes than I used to be.
Without a trip to the big game? Heck, being a Vikings fan means more sting of defeat when they make it.
My old co-worker was a die-hard Cowboys fan. He admitted to me that he held admiration for us Vikings fans..."Anyone can root for the Cowboys...but you have to be a really true fan to keep rooting for the Vikings!" :-/
I'm holding my breath on this trade. But in any case, at least my Moss jersey isn't obsolete anymore---well, is he getting the same number back?
However, I have to point out another take on what you say about Randy Moss and Mike Tice. If not for Moss' trouble, perhaps we wouldn't have been stuck with Coach Tice. (In any case, keeping Dennis Green/letting Tony Dungy escape was what really killed things.)
And yes, the Vikings need to go outside again.
It did take him a couple games, but he is a good guy and appreciates talent especially when the purple and gold win.
While we were dating I did the christmas tree and all the decorations in purple and gold. He thought it was great, his mom thought I was immediately going to hell.
Remember, the Jets do have the one man that has proven to cover Moss, but Moss will be coming in with a chip on his shoulder to prove his naysaers are wrong about loosing a step.
Should be a good game, but I still think that the Vikes will win by double digits. We win even if Moss and Favre do not connect much, because as I said, Moss is going to keep the Jets from putting 8 or 9 men in the box to stop AP.
Get ready for AP to get 150 yards or more. If not then Favre will have four TD, because of the lack of coverage downfield.
Plus the positive impact Moss will have on the younger receivers who will feel they need to step up and look good. The game will be at the Meadowlands, so Moss will not have the benefit of the fast turf of the Dome, but I think overall that this match favors the Vikings on Monday Night.
Also, Randy has always shined on Prime Time, just like Deon Sanders, the lime light has always benefited Moss.
Then again, the Vikes could shoot themselves in the foot and beat the Jets on paper but lose in the scoreboard. I doubt it, but it is football, and you know what they say,
“On any given Sunday, er, uh, mm, or Monday?”
I do. Your article was actually well-written and interesting, even for a very casual NFL fan like me. But my inner grammar Nazi never seems to sleep :)
Thank you for the compliment. I must admit that I do get some help in my grammar and punctuation by someone who has volunteered to proof read my articles.
This time she admitted that she missed one or two things, but the corrections she made before I posted it went a long way to make me look better than I deserve.
I am glad my article was good enough to keep your attention. It is a long read, so it is quite important to keep it interesting enough that the reader will stay with it to the end.
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