It has been awhile. T.O., Chad Ocho Cinco, Steve Smith, Roy Williams and others have been blasted in the media for being “Divas” (I hate that term by the way).
The one wide receiver we haven’t heard much from is Randy Moss. Since he came to New England he has pretty much been low key, but one thing that has always dogged Moss is that he will quit if he isn’t getting enough balls, he isn’t winning or not getting his way.
Chris Gamble of the Panthers had this to say about Moss:
“We knew he was going to shut it down,” Panthers corner 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.”
When asked about Wes Welker, Gamble said this:
“They’re two different breeds,” Gamble said. “Welker’s just a tough, hard-nosed guy. He got hit and he got back up. I can’t see Moss getting hit, catching slants, getting banged around, and getting back up.
“I respect Wes’ game. He’s going over the middle all the time, getting hit, that’s the majority of his catches, linebackers ready to hit him. And he gets hit, gets right back up.”
I watched the game and to be honest the effort was not there from Moss. Is he hurt or is he being indifferent? Was Brady calling him out last week when talking about everyone putting in 100% effort?
I understand he is frustrated and when receivers get frustrated they pout. That isn’t a Randy Moss thing, that is just a receiver thing. The problem is you have to keep your head in the game. Moss had some key drops simply because it didn’t look like mentally he was in the game. I don’t think he “shut it down” as Gamble claims I think his frustrations takes away from his focus and that is a problem.
He is a competitor, but I sincerely hope he isn’t jealous of the touches Wes Welker is getting, because that would make him a selfish teammate and that is not what the Patriots need.
When you’re getting branded as a “loafer” and quoted as saying “I play when I want to play”, your margin for error is not great.
Snap out of it Randy, your team needs you now more than ever. Get your head in the game!