Randy Moss News: Pro Sports Daily

Caserio: Pats receivers are a "good group"

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February 27

Boston Globe

"The wide receiver group may have some question marks, but it is not an area that concerns, Nick Caserio, the Patriots director of player personnel. Wes Welker continues to recover from knee surgery and Randy Moss will be entering the final year of his contract. The Patriots signed veteran receiver and former Patriot David Patten earlier this week and continue to watch Brandon Tate's progress as he recovers from a knee injury that ended his season. "... I think it's a good group," Caserio said. "Where are we once the season rolls around, it's hard to tell but I think where the group is right now, I think there are a lot of guys who have been productive at different levels of experience, and ..."

Randy Moss believes the Pats won't offer contract extension

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February 22

Boston Herald

"Randy Moss has the impression he's not wanted back by the Patriots after next season. He believes he has just one more season to catch passes from Tom Brady. He seems to think the perfect quarterback/wide receiver marriage will end following 2010. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, there have been no formal talks between the sides about a contract extension or lack of such for the Pro Bowl wide receiver, who has a year left on his three-year, $27 million extension. So Moss, who is an intelligent man, was merely projecting his views Saturday night while taking a short break from former teammate Heath Evans [stats]' charity softball game. It wasn't based on anything he ..."

Moss anticipates out pattern after this year

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February 21

Boston Globe

"Randy Moss is an expert at running go routes, and now he thinks he'll be running one out of Foxborough after this season because the Patriots do not want to extend his contract. Speaking last night at the charity softball game of former Patriots teammate Heath Evans, Moss said he believes 2010 will be his final season in a Patriot uniform. "I don't think they going to extend my contract,'' said Moss. "I understand the beast, the nature of it. I think that just with what I think and what I know I don't think they're going to re-sign me back. So, after this season if there is not a lockout I'll be looking for a new team. I've got a lot of respect for the Patriots and what they did for me and ..."

Wide-open Randy Moss

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February 21

Boston Herald

columnist Karen Guregian

"Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss, appearing at former teammate Heath Evans' charity softball game, talked about an array of subjects last night, including the shoulder injury he played with last season following the Denver game in Week 5, as well as his future. Apparently, Moss sees the writing on the wall. And he's fine with it. The 33-year-old Moss, who is entering the final year of the three-year contract extension he signed following his record-setting campaign of 2007, doesn't expect to be with the team beyond next season. "I don't think they're going to extend my contract here," Moss said. "I understand the beast, the nature of it. I think that what I think, what I know, I don't ..."

Moss doesn't expect to be a Patriot after 2010

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February 21

Boston Globe

"Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss, who is entering the final year of his contract, said that he doesn't expect to get a new deal with the Patriots and that he thinks he'll be looking for a new team after this season. "I don't think they are going to extend my contract here," said Moss, speaking to reporters at the charity softball game of former Patriots teammate Heath Evans. "I understand the beast, the nature of it. I think that just with what I think and what I know I don't think they're going to re-sign me back. So, after this season if there is not a lockout I'll be looking for a new team. I got a lot of respect for the Patriots and what they did for me and my family. So, the only ..."

Clock's ticking on Moss' deal

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February 12

Boston Globe

"Our guy Christopher L. Gasper broached an interesting subject on the Web site today ... As everyone's attention is focused on the contract situations of Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork, Randy Moss is heading into a year in which his deal expires. Moss signed a three-year, $27 million deal going into the 2008 season, and coming off his 23-touchdown year of 2007. He turns 33 on Saturday. One reason to worry about the age thing? Moss has faded late in seasons ... Over last five years, Moss has had three 100-yard games in December, two of which came during that big 2007 season. The last time he went for triple-digits in a December game was that big Giants Saturday nighter at the end of '07 ..."

Randy Moss played through seperated shoulder in '09

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February 2

Boston Herald

"Randy Moss acknowledged playing through a severe back problem during the Patriots [team stats]' Week 3 win against the Atlanta Falcons. According to a league source, the wide receiver also played through many games with a separated shoulder, an injury he suffered in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos. The shoulder injury, not the bad back or weary knees, was the reason Moss backed out of Sunday's Pro Bowl. "Randy did not play in the Pro Bowl because of a shoulder injury," Patriots spokesman Stacey James confirmed, adding that only Moss or the coaching staff were at liberty to discuss the nature or severity of that injury. Moss turned up on the injury report the Wednesday following the Oct. ..."

Source: Moss separated shoulder

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February 1

ESPN.com

"Wide receiver Randy Moss was diagnosed with a separated shoulder following the Patriots' season and that was the reason he did not play in the Pro Bowl, a league source said on Monday. The severity of the injury is not known, although rest alone can often heal a separated shoulder. Moss had surfaced on the injury report with a shoulder ailment three days after the Patriots' 20-17 overtime loss to the Broncos on Oct. 11. He remained on the injury report because of the shoulder through Nov. 6, although he played through the injury. Moss had taken himself out of the Broncos' game for two plays after a 36-yard reception in the third quarter. On the play, in which he caught a pass over the ..."

Darrelle Revis stirs pot as he calls out Randy Moss, Terrell Owens

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January 24

New York Daily News

"Darrelle Revis is not a trash talker, but he is also not afraid to say what's on his mind. That's the Rex Ryan influence that has made its way through the Jets locker room. Revis' focus Sunday is coaxing Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne onto Revis Island and then locking the door behind him. Wayne will find Andre Johnson, Carolina's Steve Smith, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and some of the best receivers in the league stranded like Gilligan. Wayne spent some time on Revis Island in December in the game the Colts didn't try to win. The Jets All-Pro corner won't face Moss until Gang Green play the Patriots next season, and who knows if he'll ever go toe-to-toe with T.O. again, as the Bills' ..."

Darrelle Revis fires final salvo at Randy Moss

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January 21

Boston Herald

"Did New York Jets shutdown corner Darrelle Revis really mean it when he called Randy Moss a "slouch" on Sunday? Or, was he just having a little fun at the Patriot receiver's expense? On Sunday, Revis and the NFL Network's Deion Sanders played a little word association. Sanders threw out the names of several of the league's finest receivers. While Cincinnati's Chad Ochocinco was deemed a "competitor" by Revis, and Houston's Andre Johnson a "beast," both the names of Terrell Owens and Moss elicited the "slouch" response. When asked to define "slouch," Revis answered, "You know what a slouch means." Someone who dogs it? Doesn't give his all every play? "I don't need to speak on it anymore. I ..."

Randy Moss moot once again

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January 11

Boston Herald

columnist Ron Borges

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going. When the going gets tough in New England, Randy Moss goes into the witness protection program. Whitey Bulger would have been easier for Tom Brady to spot running free yesterday than Randy Moss. On a day when the Patriots' most reliable receiver was missing from the lineup, the Patriots' highest paid receiver was missing in action. Wes Welker was sitting in team owner Robert Kraft's luxury box at Gillette Stadium, his shattered left knee braced up and awaiting surgery and nearly a year of rehabilitation. Randy Moss was on the field below, open only when sitting forlornly at the end of the bench after moving around on the field as if he still ..."

Moss's absence is not a concern

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January 9

Baltimore Sun

"Wide receiver Randy Moss provided a small scare late yesterday morning when he missed practice for the first time this week, a concern that dissipated in the afternoon when coach Bill Belichick said Moss had missed practice for reasons unrelated to injury. Moss had been spotted hobbling out of the Patriots' locker room Thursday, and on Wednesday he wrapped ice around his knees. Moss had not appeared on the injury report all week, and on the final report the Patriots listed him as probable with his ailment specified as "non-injury related.'' The Patriots typically allow Moss to miss practice on Wednesdays, but Moss attended Wednesday's practice this week and missed yesterday's. Moss's ..."

Moss missing at practice; Belichick says it's not injury-related

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January 9

Boston Globe

"Randy Moss was not present at the portion of Patriots practice open to the media today. Coach Bill Belichick later said his absence was not injury-related. Moss has been a full participant at practice and has not been on the injury report all week, but yesterday he limped out of the locker room, and on Wednesday he had his knees heavily wrapped in ice."

Spares make Bowl team

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January 9

Boston Herald

"This season, as throughout his career, wide receiver Randy Moss has been characterized many ways. Better include this description: Pro Bowler. Moss, tied for the NFL lead with 13 touchdown receptions, was named to the AFC roster as an alternate yesterday, replacing injured teammate Wes Welker. The selection is the seventh of his career. In addition, third-year safety Brandon Meriweather earned his first Pro Bowl nod, taking the place of rookie safety Jairus Byrd of the Bills. The duo joins quarterback Tom Brady [stats], guard Logan Mankins [stats] and nose tackle Vince Wilfork [stats] as the Patriots [team stats]' representatives for the Jan. 31 game in Miami. Meriweather, the former ..."

Ravens cornerbacks prepared for Moss

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January 7

Baltimore Sun

"For all the issues the Ravens' secondary has endured this season, Randy Moss didn't exactly dominate the unit in the first meeting between the teams, a 27-21 New England Patriots victory. Covered primarily by Domonique Foxworth, Moss caught just three passes for 50 yards. It was, in some respects, Foxworth's best game this season. Moss did, however, catch a third-quarter touchdown pass that gave the Patriots a 24-14 lead. The pass, which was underthrown for Moss to come back and catch it, still bothers Foxworth. "I felt really good about how I played him last time," Foxworth said. "I was a little upset about the play he scored on, though. It was like a tipped ball, but it ended up being a ..."

It's Randy Moss' time to rise

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January 7

Boston Herald

"Tom Brady believes the Patriots offense now has to evolve, given it was so Wes Welker-oriented in the past. The focus has to shift elsewhere. Maybe Pats coach Bill Belichick and de facto offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien will have something exotic cooked up to make that happen. But with No. 83 out of the picture, it's no secret where Baltimore's focus is going to be. While it's not ususual for Randy Moss to draw double coverage, with a safety assisting over the top, the Ravens can pretty much do whatever they want to assure Moss doesn't beat them now that they don't have to worry about Welker."

Now the focus is squarely on Brady and Moss

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January 4

Boston Globe

"It's easy to say that when Wes Welker went down, so did any hopes the Patriots harbored of achieving the kind of playoff success they've become accustomed to. Easy, because it's probably true. According to a league source, it's believed Welker tore his left ACL and MCL yesterday in Houston, blowing out the knee while trying cut on the Reliant Stadium grass on the Patriots' fourth play from scrimmage. He'll undergo more tests today, but it's a near certainty he will require reconstructive surgery, which likely would shelve him for 6-12 months."

The cruelest of blows

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January 4

Boston Herald

"Randy Moss huddled the Patriots receiving corps around him - or what was left of it after Wes Welker was driven away on a cart - and gave them a pep talk. Moss told the boys they had to step up and do more. He told them that, while they couldn't replace Welker, they still had to keep plugging away. The sentiment was nice, and it's going to have to continue based on a report Welker tore both his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in yesterday's 34-27 loss to the Texans. But let's face a harsh reality: Welker is nearly the last player the Patriots want to lose on offense. Only Tom Brady would be worse. Earlier in the year, we got a preview of what the Pats' offense looked like ..."

Randy Moss, Wes Welker may sit

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January 2

Boston Herald

"Patriots coach Bill Belichick officially left open the possibility that receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker won't play tomorrow, though neither decision would be based on an injury. That quarterback Tom Brady (rib, finger) is listed as probable on the final injury report is no surprise. But it was interesting that Moss and Welker were designated as probable, despite the moves being "not injury related." A player said to be probable has a "virtual certainty" of playing, but the door is open if Belichick decides to rest them. Is Belichick playing mind games or will he decide to rest his star pass-catchers after all? This week, Welker said, "I enjoy playing every week. I look at this week no ..."

It's no mas for Jaguars against Moss, Brady

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December 28

Jacksonville Times-Union

"Maybe the best places to play quarterback are the teams on Jacksonville's schedule. New England quarterback Tom Brady certainly tested the theory Sunday by picking apart the Jaguars through the air in his team's 35-7 romp. Brady threw four touchdowns — three to Randy Moss and one to Chris Baker — to become the seventh quarterback this season to connect for two or more TDs against the Jags. The woeful performance continued the all-too familiar theme of hand-in-hand inadequacy between Jacksonville's rush and pass coverage. "They made it look pretty easy," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. Especially Brady, who has now thrown more touchdowns (7) than incompletions (5) in his last two games ..."

Fun in game for Moss: Receiver cannot mask his enjoyment

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December 28

Boston Globe

"Two weeks ago, the fans at Gillette Stadium booed Randy Moss during one of the worst games of his career. The game against the Carolina Panthers was the culmination of a bad week for the receiver, who was sent home Dec. 9 when he and three other Patriots were late for a team meeting. After the game, in which he fumbled following his only reception, his effort was questioned. But Moss, as he has done throughout his 12-year career, found a way to silence his critics and make up with the hometown faithful. "Well, the good thing about it, there are going to be some good times and some bad times in football,'' Moss said. "Just by hearing the fans and the stadium behind me, it felt good, ..."

Moss Mask rides again: Patriots wideout revels in fan's joy

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December 28

Boston Herald

"The Red Sox have "Sweet Caroline," the Celtics have Gino Time, and now . . . the return of the Moss Mask! It's amazing how old-time standards can weave their way into modern-day sporting events. "Sweet Caroline," after all, was released in 1969. The so-called Gino dance was lifted from a 1977 episode of "American Bandstand." And now the Moss Mask, which was introduced back in 2005 and seemingly had disappeared, has made an uproarious return to the NFL. For those of you who missed the Patriots' 35-7 steamrolling of the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday at Gillette Stadium, be advised that Randy Moss - The Real Randy Moss - hauled in three touchdown passes from quarterback Tom Brady. While the ..."

Patriots see little after Wes Welker, Randy Moss

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December 26

Boston Herald

"The math doesn't add up. If Patriots opponents put two defenders each on both Randy Moss and Wes Welker, someone else must be open. Right? Except over the last three games, it hasn't worked out like that. Quarterback Tom Brady doesn't want to spotlight two receivers. Yet he has completed just one pass to a receiver not named Moss or Welker during the past three games - Sam Aiken for an 81-yard touchdown against the Dolphins. "When the defense takes one thing away, then hopefully we have options somewhere else," coach Bill Belichick said. "It's not like we're just standing there looking for one guy. We were throwing to other guys. It just didn't always work out there. We didn't hit a lot of ..."

Moss a slightly more open receiver

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December 25

Boston Globe

"Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss doesn't talk to the media much. So when he chooses to take the microphone, people listen. After the Patriots beat the Bills last Sunday, Moss walked to the podium and made a short statement to thank those who came to his defense when analysts spent the week debating his effort. Before that day, Moss stayed silent throughout all the criticism. It was the most scrutiny he has faced in his three seasons in New England. Moss caught five passes for 70 yards and one touchdown in the 17-10 victory against Buffalo. The performance seemed to cool the talk, but it didn't provide many answers for the inconsistency of the Patriots offense, which was held to 3 points ..."

2nd thoughts from Randy Moss

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December 25

Boston Herald

"Randy Moss tried to come up with his best guess but, as much as he tried, did not have an answer. The star wide receiver sounded both bothered and perplexed by the Patriots' lack of second half production and an inability to put teams away when they have the opportunity. Moss, who spoke to the Herald at his locker yesterday, only entertained questions about the Pats offense, which has struggled mightily to put points on the board in the second halves of games. "I don't know, that's unlike us. I don't know the answer," Moss said when asked if he knew the cause. "We come in and make adjustments, then we go out on the field. I don't know, I guess we shoot ourselves in the foot, or we start ..."

For Brady, all routes lead to Welker, Moss

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December 23

Boston Globe

"Tom Brady, in his early years as the Patriots' starter, was consistent when asked which receiver was his favorite. "The open one,'' he would swiftly respond. Has that changed? After the Patriots lost to the Saints, who held Randy Moss and Wes Welker in check, Brady's tune seemed to change."

Too much criticism of Randy Moss

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December 22

Boston Herald

columnist Steve Buckley

"This is just the way it's going to be with Randy Moss: Every time he misses a pass, runs a lethargic route, does the Wally Gator bit as some opposing safety is knocking on his door, or refuses to invite the knights of the keyboard out for pizza, there will always be Guardians at the Gate who . . . pause here for dramatic effect . . . bring up Randy's past! And there's some great stuff out there, too. The meter maid incident. Being accused of quitting on the Oakland Raiders. And of course, the infamous I-play-when-I-want-to-play quote, which, by the way, was wildly and absurdly taken out of context. But hey, Moss brought a lot of this on himself. When you have a clouded past, and then, when ..."

Biggest story involved Moss

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December 21

Boston Globe

"The Moss-shank Redemption Tour rolled through Ralph Wilson Stadium yesterday and Randy's people no doubt were happy with the returns. The Patriots staggered to a grotesque 17-10 victory over the hideous Bills, winning their first legitimate road game (and it only took them until Dec. 20), and virtually locking up the soft-shell AFC East. On a day when Tom Brady looked like J.P. Losman, Moss returned to the land of the living with five catches for 70 yards, including a nifty 13-yard tippy-toe grab in the back of the end zone. Moss hasn't been saying much for publication in the last month, but he had something on his mind after this one, and he was already in full rant as he burst into the ..."

Slippery slope Moss-covered

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December 20

Boston Herald

"So what will Randy Moss do today and will it matter? That is the subplot to a game of more significance than anyone thought likely when this long season began 15 weeks ago at Gillette Stadium with the Patriots having a surprisingly difficult time defeating the Buffalo Bills. Had Bills kick returner Leodis McKelvin not foolishly tried for unnecessary extra yardage on a kickoff return and fumbled after being hit by Pierre Woods at the Bills 31-yard line with 1:56 to play, who knows what might have happened? Had the Bills held on to their 24-19 lead instead of succumbing, 25-24, to a pair of Tom Brady touchdown passes in just 76 seconds, would the Patriots be tied with the Dolphins and Jets ..."

Still trying to talk this out

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December 17

Boston Globe

"After defending Randy Moss during his weekly appearance on WEEI Monday morning, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady yesterday reiterated his support for the much-maligned receiver. Moss's effort in last Sunday's 20-10 victory over the Panthers was called into question by a pair of defenders who claimed they knew Moss would "shut it down'' if they took him out of the game early. Moss did not defend his effort against the Panthers, in which he was held to one catch (after which he fumbled), briskly walking through the locker room and declining comment."

Giving it his lull: Moss simply doing what comes natural

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December 16

Boston Globe

columnist Bob Ryan

"Fifty-two teammates, 12 coaches, a vast support staff, one owner, and fans numbering in the seven figures are currently being held hostage to the whims of one gifted, but eternally conflicted, 32-year-old wide receiver. Randy Moss is a Talented Contrarian, and they have always been a part of organized sport. Wish I had the proverbial dollar for every time I have said, or heard someone say, "Oh if we could only put his head on (fill-in-the-blank's) shoulders.'' There is nothing shocking about what's going on. Randy Moss is simply being Randy Moss. He is doing what comes naturally. Does anyone recall Al Wilson's song, "The Snake?'' When the reptile winds up biting the kind woman who has ..."

Rival receivers have some catching up to do

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December 16

Boston Globe

"Will the real No. 81 please stand up? Perhaps Sunday's game at Buffalo will provide some clarity. The Bills and their bombastic receiver, Terrell Owens, host the Patriots and Randy Moss in a matchup of AFC East rivals that features two go-to receivers who do not like each other. When he was with the Cowboys in 2007, Owens described himself as "the Original 81'' and referred to Moss as "the other 81'' in a posting in his locker leading up to a Week 6 game against New England. Although the Cowboys lost, 48-27, the duel between Owens (6 catches, 66 yards, 1 touchdown) and Moss (6 catches, 59 yards, 1 TD) wound up being a draw. That wasn't the case, however, in the Patriots' season-opening ..."

Randy Moss must roll vs. Bills

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December 16

Boston Herald

columnist Karen Guregian

"Common sense tells you Tom Brady will be handing the ball off quite a bit Sunday when the Patriots travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills. Given the Bills have the NFL's worst-ranked defense against the run, Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and perhaps Fred Taylor should take a more prominent role in the offense. With possible weather concerns, and Maroney's emergence (94 yards last week) as a more consistent threat game to game, it makes sense. If you check out one other important statistic, however, don't count out Brady looking for Randy Moss, and looking to get him going right away. In the season opener against the Bills, Moss matched his single-game career high with 12 ..."

Patriots question Panthers, not Moss

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December 15

Charlotte Observer

"One day after beating Carolina on the field, the New England Patriots hurled some retaliatory jabs in the Panthers' direction Monday to defend star receiver Randy Moss. Carolina defensive backs Chris Gamble and Chris Harris made comments questioning his effort after Moss' uninspired performance in New England's 20-10 win against the Panthers on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. Moss fumbled after his lone reception of the game, dropped a pass and had a ball thrown to him intercepted by Gamble. Gamble said Moss "gives up a lot" and "kind of laid down" in the game. Harris was quoted by the Boston Globe as saying he didn't want to say Moss quits, but "he kind of doesn't run the routes the way ..."

Randy Moss the No. 1 target

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December 15

Boston Herald

"Randy Moss bashing was the rage yesterday. The Patriots wide receiver took more hits than Tiger Woods' front teeth. It seems Sunday's miserable outing against Carolina has driven Moss to lost-cause status with just about everyone, except the people who matter most - his coach and teammates. Given several openings to pile on the receiver, quarterback Tom Brady wouldn't criticize Moss during his weekly appearance on WEEI yesterday. Coach Bill Belichick wouldn't take the bait during his daily press briefing. When asked about the Panthers players who claimed Sunday that Moss had quit on his team, Belichick cast aside his standard coachspeak. Instead, he went on the attack: "That's a lot of ..."

Cris Carter disappointed in former teammate

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December 15

Boston Herald

"When Randy Moss needed a guiding light during his first four seasons in the NFL, Cris Carter was there. The former Vikings teammates had a close relationship, one that consisted of Carter mentoring and pushing, as Moss tried to learn. That's why watching Moss appear to stroll through a one-catch, one-fumble, two-drop performance in Sunday's 20-10 win against the Panthers was so difficult for Carter. "Randy Moss can do anything he wants on the football field, OK?" Carter, the ESPN analyst, told the Herald yesterday. "But I was very, very disappointed in him. I knew Randy had it in him, because I've seen him. But I thought that he'd gotten to a level of maturity that I wouldn't see that ..."

Bill Belichick throws Randy Moss a pass

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December 15

Boston Herald

"Bill Belichick often sounds like a man who should be sitting cross-legged on the floor while masked men with Kalashnikovs force him to look into the camera and announce their demands to the world. The Patriots coach has a simple approach to his daily press conference. He has to do it. He doesn't have to like it. But somehow yesterday he looked and sounded more like a hostage than usual, and perhaps there was a good reason for that. What else would you call him? His captor wasn't wearing a mask or holding a gun. He was wearing No. 81 in Patriot blue and holding his team's fortunes in his suddenly shaky hands. Belichick could have joined the chorus of critics of his diva receiver, but he is ..."

Brady tells critical Panthers to back off Moss

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December 14

ESPN.com

"A day after New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss' effort was questioned by Carolina Panthers defensive backs, quarterback Tom Brady rushed to his defense, deflecting the criticism by calling Moss one of his "favorite guys I've ever played with" and saying it's not easy when teams center their defensive game plan around stopping an individual like Moss. "He's one of the top receivers in the league right now," Brady said in an interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI on Monday morning. "He is up there in yards and catches and touchdowns. Every game plan that the defense comes up with is trying to stop Randy Moss. ... It's not like they don't have respect for him when their game ..."

Moss, Peppers both awful

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December 14

Charlotte Observer

columnist Scott Fowler

"Randy Moss and Julius Peppers have a lot in common. Both were awful Sunday. Both can be so graceful that they sometimes don't look like they are trying hard, even when they are. And then, at other times, they just don't try hard. The Patriots' offense drew boos from their home crowd for four straight possessions coming off the field in the first half after failing to score points and/or turning the ball over. For a moment, I thought I was back in Charlotte. The Panthers ended up 0-4 against the AFC East this season. That's pathetic. Here's a problem: Through 13 games, 340-pound Panther defensive tackle Hollis Thomas has scored more points this season (two, from a safety) than the team's ..."

Panthers say Moss 'shut it down'

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December 14

Boston Globe

"Randy Moss finished Sunday's game with a single, 16-yard catch that ended with a fumble. Another Brady pass intended for Moss was intercepted. And if you asked the Panthers what their game plan was, it's simple. They helped whoever was covering 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.""

Fade pattern from Moss

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December 14

Boston Globe

"Randy Moss was out there with the Patriot captains before the kickoff yesterday, even after all that's happened in the last week. And at that point, he might as well have ripped the captain's "C'' off his chest, handed it to Wes Welker, and joined LateGate mate Adalius Thomas on the couch. It probably would've been better for New England. Yes, the Patriots came out with a badly needed 20-10 win over Carolina. Yes, the offense - and no one more than Tom Brady - turned in a gutsy effort in adverse conditions."

Randy Moss chided for dogging it after subpar performance

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December 14

Boston Herald

"Randy Moss had his least productive game of the season, and at least one member of the Panthers defensive backfield believes he knows why. "He gives up a lot," Carolina cornerback Chris Gamble said, according to the Charlotte Observer. "We knew he'd shut it down a little bit." Moss had just one 16-yard catch in the Patriots' 20-10 win, and he subsequently fumbled it. He also had two drops. While the Patriots offense sat on a bench, Moss sat by himself, appearing to sulk. He had more tackles (two) than catches. Quarterback Tom Brady's interception was intended for him. Brady offered words of encouragement, as did running backs Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. "He didn't play as hard ..."

Randy Moss a no-show in win

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December 14

Boston Herald

"When the weather turns nasty and it is tight tonsil time because your grip on a playoff slot is, to be kind, tenuous, only one thing matters - that you win. No one cares how you win. No one cares what you look like if you win. Nobody even cares if some of your individual parts appear to not be laboring all that hard in the vineyards to help you win. All that matters is winning. That is what the Patriots did yesterday at Gillette Stadium. They won. They didn't look especially good doing it, but when the final gun was fired the Patriots had 20 points and the motley crew known as the Carolina Pussycats had but 10 - one more point than they had penalties, but I digress. The win kept the ..."

Making an effort in trying times

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December 13

Boston Globe

"On an occasion like today, with his team teetering and his recent production wavering, Randy Moss confronts his most unshakable and longest-standing opponent, albeit one he shows little regard for. Moss cannot escape his reputation. In his three seasons with the Patriots, Moss has played some of the best football and exhibited the most exemplary behavior of his career. He is a captain, and this season ranks second in the NFL in receiving yards and tied for third in touchdown catches."

Moss, others sent home by Patriots

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December 10

Boston Globe

"Even with snow-covered roads, yesterday wasn't the day for members of the Patriots to be late for a team meeting. Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Gary Guyton, and Derrick Burgess all were tardy for the 8 a.m. meeting, and when they did arrive they were told to go home. They did not practice as the Patriots prepare for Sunday's game against Carolina. Coach Bill Belichick declined to comment on the matter, saying, "Anything that happens with discipline on the team stays between me and the players on the team.''"

Randy Moss among 4 Patriots sent home from practice

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December 9

Providence Journal

"The Patriots have sent home four players who were late for today's 8 a.m. team meeting because of the traffic issues the weather has caused. Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Gary Guyton and Derrick Burgess were told to go home and cannot participate in team meetings or practice today. It is unclear if there will be further punishment or fines."

Dolphins rebound, frustrate Brady in win

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December 7

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Tom Brady looked like a child lost in the mall for once. He wore a blue sweater, high-end jeans and the three-day stubble right off the GQ cover, as you'd expect. But as he tried to explain to the cameras and recorders and the bright lights what went wrong for him, how his final six possessions were four punts and two interceptions, it seemed like 20 years melted away from his face. He looked down. He talked softly. "Frustrating," was the word the New England quarterback kept coming back to. The loss was "frustrating to all of us," he said. The inability to finish drives was the "frustrating part." And that final, game-ending interception? He shook his head. "It's frustrating,'' he said. ..."

Burned early, Dolphins rookie locks down Randy Moss

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December 7

Boston Herald

"Cornerbacks — like stockbrokers — should come with a disclaimer: past performance does not guarantee future results. Just ask Vontae Davis. The Miami Dolphins' rookie cornerback had the pleasure of shadowing dynamic receiver Randy Moss on Sunday afternoon, and like the team as a whole, finished the game much stronger than he started. After allowing a 58-yard touchdown to Moss on the game's sixth play, Davis locked down on the receiver, holding him to just one more catch the rest of the game. Davis also made the defensive play of the game when he picked off Tom Brady in the end zone early in the fourth quarter. The interception kept the Dolphins within striking distance in a game Miami ..."

They may be catching the right opponent

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December 6

Boston Globe

"No phase of the Patriots' game could be absolved after their humbling loss to the Saints, but two areas stand out as most in need of a recovery today. First, Randy Moss has not been his typically explosive self for two weeks. Second, the secondary was embarrassed Monday night. In that regard, the schedule does the Patriots a favor. The Dolphins should give both Moss and the New England secondary an ideal opportunity to bounce back. Start with the secondary. Saints quarterback Drew Brees torched the Patriots for 371 yards and five touchdowns, throwing deep balls at will. The Patriots yielded seven pass plays of at least 25 yards. But, after studying film, they believe their mistakes are ..."

Why don't the Dolphins match Randy Moss' size with Sean Smith's?

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December 5

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"At first glance, the decision would seem obvious. Dolphins rookie Sean Smith is one of the tallest cornerbacks in the NFL. At 6 feet 3, he is one of the few players at his position that can look Randy Moss, his boyhood hero, in the eye. Why wouldn't Smith, with his lanky frame and Spider-Man wingspan, shadow the 6-4 Moss wherever he goes in Sunday's rematch with the Patriots? Especially considering the way Moss kept seeking (and winning) matchups with 5-11 Vontae Davis, Smith's fellow rookie corner, in their first meeting on Nov. 8? "I would have definitely been up for that," Smith said. "I'm always up for a challenge." If only it were that simple. That's where the discussion gets bogged ..."