Randy Moss News

"Starting Friday, Randy Moss' image will be visible at post offices throughout metropolitan Charleston, W.Va. And, no, we're not talking about those most-wanted posters. The NFL's in-and-out-of-trouble star wide receiver is being honored with his own limited-edition envelope from the U.S. Postal Service. "

"What really went down behind closed doors between Randy Moss and the Sunshine State sweetheart who said he hurt and degraded her may always be gossiped about, but it won’t be bared in open court."

"The woman who obtained a restraining order in a domestic violence case against Patriots receiver Randy Moss had the order dissolved and the case closed yesterday, saying through her lawyer that there was no malicious intent."

"On Day 2 of the story of how the Eagles felt they almost acquired Randy Moss, the whole business got even more puzzling."

"The Eagles made a valiant 11th-hour push to try to lure Randy Moss away from the Patriots. There also were a few other teams involved, trying to convince the receiver to give them a shot."

"There was silence as Randy Moss's agent pondered the question for a moment. Was there ever any doubt that Moss would wind up back with the Patriots? Tim DiPiero's answer, or in this case non-answer, spoke volumes about whether the three-year, $27 million contract that Moss signed Monday was a slam dunk."

"For the Pats, they didn’t have to break the bank to keep the man who brought their offense to a different, often other-worldly level. The Pats kept the wide receiver in the fold with a 3-year, $27 million contract - $15 million guaranteed, with a $12 million signing bonus - that made Moss one of the highest paid receivers in the league."

"In the end, common sense won out over dollars and cents. Randy Moss wanted to be with the Patriots and the Patriots wanted Randy Moss, so the sides agreed to extend their mutually-beneficial marriage yesterday, settling on a three-year, $27 million deal that included a $12 million signing bonus as part of a total of $15 million in guarantees."

"Moss, who caught an N.F.L.-record 23 touchdown passes from Tom Brady last season, lingered on the free-agent market for three days and, according to various news reports, had begun to seek other suitors. But on Monday, with no other teams publicly stepping forward to pursue him, the drama ended when he and the Patriots agreed on a deal that The Boston Globe reported as a three-year, $27 million contract, with a $12 million signing bonus. "

"And just like that, everything’s all right. The Patriots stopped the bleeding in a major way yesterday, re-signing wide receiver Randy Moss to a three-year, $27 million contract that puts to rest any concerns about his frustration level or his desire to play with Daunte Culpepper - not to mention the growing unease among Patriots fans that the 2008 offseason would represent one giant step backward."

"The Eagles' run at Moss leaves one wondering if any other wide receiver is on their radar. Aside from the 31-year-old Moss, this was considered a weak free-agent class at the position when the market opened... The one free agent who still may be on the Eagles' radar is Javon Walker, who was released last week by the Denver Broncos after missing eight games last season with a knee injury... The source said to forget the idea that the Eagles will be able to acquire Arizona star Larry Fitzgerald from the Cardinals, even though the team has been unable to resolve a contract issue with the wide receiver."

"The Eagles, according to a source close to the situation, made a prolonged effort to sign free-agent wideout Randy Moss, who ultimately decided to stay with the New England Patriots for $27 million over 3 years, $15 million guaranteed... And, of course, there is the fan base's great white whale, Larry Fitzgerald, who still isn't being traded by the Cardinals, but might be, eventually, if the sides can't agree on restructuring his contract. "

" With their legacy tarnished – or at least placed on hold until we hear from Matt Walsh – the New England Patriots needed Randy Moss more than he needed them."

"After a quiet few days of activity on the opening of free agency, the Patriots are on the verge of making a big splash with receiver Randy Moss. A contract agreement between the Patriots and Moss is imminent, according to a source with close ties to Moss. The deal is for three years and is worth $27 million."

"Three days have passed since Randy Moss hit the open market, reportedly seeking to find a better deal than what the Pats already have put on the table. However, the Pats’ offer appears to be the only one of note that has been extended to him."

"Three days into the free-agent signing period, with every other marquee player already off the market — and interior offensive linemen becoming rich for the second year in a row — receiver Randy Moss remained available. Most observers expected Moss to be re-signed by the New England Patriots a few strokes after midnight Friday, when the signing period began."

"A month after the New England Patriots lost the Super Bowl, rumors are swirling that they could lose a superstar. The Patriots have yet to re-sign All-Pro receiver Randy Moss, who broke Jerry Rice's NFL single-season record with 23 touchdown receptions last season."

"Although it still seems to make the most sense for Moss to stay in Foxboro, the money has to work, and right now it doesn’t. The NFL.com story also noted that Moss doesn’t plan to take another discount to stay with the Pats. If Moss leaves, where might he go?"

" According to the NFL Network report, those who know Moss say he is becoming frustrated at the lack of progress being made in talks with New England for a new deal. Further, Moss is now willing to make free-agent visits and listen to offers from other teams."

"Get Randy Moss. The record-setting receiver is an unrestricted free agent and, although he's negotiating with the Patriots, the two sides aren't close to a deal, according to ESPN. Moss is out there, willing to be wooed. The Jets should pick up the phone and start wooing."

"Three days into free agency, everyone is wondering where Randy Moss will end up. Raiders fans know where they want him to go. But we digress..."

"The silence is deafening. Still no word on Randy Moss. No word on if the Patriots have the free agent wide receiver locked up, or if anyone else has already whispered in Moss’ ear and promised dollar signs that will easily trump what Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli had in mind."

"Yesterday wasn't quite Black Friday for the Patriots, but it also wasn't an ideal start to free agency. First, the team lost cornerback Asante Samuel to the Eagles, and now it could be poised to lose record-setting wide receiver Randy Moss."

"When the clock struck midnight this morning, Randy Moss technically became a free man. But he’d have been crazy to go anywhere."

"As of the wee hours this morning, Randy Moss was not an ex-Patriot, but he also didn't have a long-term contract to keep him in New England, while cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Randall Gay appeared headed out of Foxborough via free agency, which officially kicked into gear at 12:01 a.m."

"Why would they leave Moss exposed, even if they have a deal in place or are nearing one? A popular view is this: They simply didn’t want to tick him off."

"The New England Patriots passed on a chance to apply the franchise-player designation this week to Randy Moss. But that doesn't mean they plan to let their star receiver run a fly pattern to another team."

"There will be no game of tag between the Patriots and Randy Moss, as the club declined to place the franchise label on the receiver by yesterday's 4 p.m. deadline. Moss, whose contract expires when the league year ends next Thursday, can still return to the club next season, although the Patriots surrender leverage by not tagging him."

"The deadline for placing franchise tags on players came and went yesterday. The most notable player to dodge the designation? Wide receiver Randy Moss. The likely meaning? He will be a Patriot for several more years because the two sides have verbally agreed to a multiyear deal. "

"The New England Patriots did not designate receiver Randy Moss as their franchise player by yesterday’s 4 p.m. deadline, but the move may not have been made because it won’t be necessary. The feeling here is that Moss and the Patriots are close to a long-term deal and he won’t test the free agent market."

"The Patriots did not designate Randy Moss as a franchise player Thursday, a decision that could indicate the sides are close to agreeing to multiyear contract or at least confident one can be reached in the near future."

"Today marks the deadline by which teams can place the franchise tag on players, and if the Patriots use the tag, it is expected to be on wide receiver Randy Moss. Moss's contract expired after this past season, and both sides have expressed their desire to reach an extension."

"Would the Patriots consider using the franchise tag to retain wide receiver Randy Moss? The answer will become known over the next two weeks because today marks the start of the 15-day period in which teams can assign the tag to players. The Patriots have 13 players scheduled for unrestricted free agency, a group headlined by Moss and cornerback Asante Samuel."

"The only bowl Tom Brady and Randy Moss will play in this season is the Super Bowl. The two were among the eight Patriots selected to play for the AFC in the Pro Bowl, but both informed the NFL they won't be making the trip to Hawaii for the game, which is Sunday."

"Asante Samuel knows he may have played his final game as a Patriot last night. Playing under the franchise tag this season, the cornerback becomes an unfettered free agent... Wide receiver Randy Moss, another free agent, also reiterated his desire to stay."

"Randy Moss walked slowly to the podium, carefully stretched his 6-foot-4 frame into a director’s chair and explained the pain of being so close to his dream of winning a Super Bowl."

"Fast legs, Velcro hands, and a leap factor not seen since the Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. And, oh yes, that chip. For all his talents, Randy Moss assuredly wouldn't be Randy Moss without that chip."

"Randy Moss's final catch of the season gave the Patriots their final lead of the season in a 17-14 loss to the New York Giants last night in Super Bowl XLII."

"Randy Moss’ first visit to the Super Bowl as a player ended in a loss. The 10-year NFL veteran and future Hall of Famer was looking forward to having a big game on the biggest stage – Super Bowl XLII – but Moss was limited to five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown."

"There was a glitch in the Patriots’ high-speed connection Sunday night. Because of increased traffic in the backfield, Tom Brady to Randy Moss was not working."

"Randy Moss caught the fourth quarter, 6-yard touchdown pass that Tom Brady always throws, and he was 2:42 away from his first Super Bowl championship."

"So hellacious was the situation with the Raiders that Moss was willing to take a huge pay cut for this season to wind up with the New England Patriots. This was the smartest decision ever made by Moss, a man previously renowned for making poor decisions going all the way back to high school."

"The first prediction is dicey considering he's averaging one catch per playoff game: Randy Moss will be the MVP tonight. "

"This is the biggest day of Moss' 10-year career, and I believe he will respond with a game that defines his greatness as an extraordinary football talent, if not necessarily such an extraordinary a human being."

"Randy Moss is due. Make that long overdue. The NFL’s most explosive receiver is still waiting to detonate in the playoffs. "

"Sam Madison told the young guys how fast Randy Moss is. He warned them, actually, and reminded them that covering Moss would be unlike defending any other player in the NFL."

"It was a Sunday morning in late April, a day when the rest of the NFL's collective eyes would expectedly be focused on the remaining four rounds of the draft. But Patriots owner Bob Kraft's eyes were staring elsewhere. They were looking deep into the soul of the man sitting across from him, searching for a reason to endorse coach Bill Belichick's desire to bring wide receiver Randy Moss to his New England Patriots. ''Mr. Kraft,'' Moss said, ``I've made a lot of money, more money probably than I need. This is about winning.''"

"He arrived right on time to his appointed slot on the sideline, a towel slung over his neck to help ward off the morning's mild chill. Eighteen games into his stay with the Patriots, not to mention a decade of waiting for his championship chance, Randy Moss performed his Super Bowl Media Day duties to a tee."

"Several national writers came away from Randy Moss’ media session yesterday shaking their heads. Who was that impostor?"

"With his teammates in the New England Patriots’ locker room, and in his infrequent-but-always-entertaining press conferences this season, Randy Moss has never seemed to be at a loss for words."

"Anger, Randy Moss says. That's what fuels him. That's what drives him. That's what makes him a pain in the neck for opposing defenses, and that's what sometimes makes him a pain in other anatomical areas for his own team."

"Randy Moss scored more points Tuesday. In a season in which he has already broken the single-season record for touchdown receptions and re-established himself as the league’s premier receiver, Moss — the individual — is being celebrated."

"Randy Moss stepped to his assigned podium for Super Bowl media day, scanned the scene in front of him and laughed."

"New England receiver Randy Moss doesn't wear boxing gloves but he has had a Tyson-like effect on NFL defenses this season."

"Sometimes, a guy like Randy Moss sits for one of the few interviews of a mostly nasty and obnoxious career, two earrings gleaming, red bandanna sticking out from under his baseball cap, and you are ready to pounce on him. Then he pounces on you."

"Randy Moss flashed a grin, a smile, a wave and a big hello. This was pro football's angriest man on the most hectic morning in the countdown to any Super Bowl. Out in front of him stood this mass of media jousters who could document every ounce of baggage Moss lugs with him. "

"Randy Moss weaved through the crowd of teammates and media, past a female reporter in a bridal mini-gown, to his booth for his first Super Bowl media day."

"It took 10 years for Randy Moss to reach the Super Bowl, and he sounded Tuesday like a man determined to seize the opportunity. This is his legacy moment, which means it could be an uh-oh moment for the Giants."

"Cornerback Asante Samuel and wide receiver Randy Moss, a pair of AFC Pro Bowl starters, are due to become unrestricted free agents in March if the New England Patriots aren't able to lock them up with long-term contracts."

"Will the Patriots be able to pull it off again? Will New York preventing it serve as an equalizer? Will Moss really go the entire postseason without a big play?"

"The Patriots themselves need to imagine what they would look like without their star receiver because Moss is scheduled to be a free agent in a little more than a month. A chance exists that Moss will play his last game for the Patriots on Sunday."

"Randy Moss is at the Super Bowl, a long way from his former friend Rachelle Washington. A temporary restraining order against him was extended until March 28 during a meeting Monday in Fort Lauderdale."

"Instead of being in a Florida courtroom, Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss was with his teammates at practice yesterday, preparing for Super Bowl XLII."

"Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin understands the difficulty teams had this season trying to shut down the Patriots offense. He also knows why taking Randy Moss out did not ultimately work for either Jacksonville or San Diego."

"For most of the week, Randy Moss found himself where he had worked so hard not to be - in the eye of the storm. But now he’s back on course. He’s headed to Arizona for Super Bowl XLII."

"Whether it was his latest off-the-field flap, the frigid conditions, or a game plan designed specifically to prevent him from getting the ball, Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss yesterday was a nonfactor for the second straight playoff game."

"The Chargers picked up where the Jaguars left off last week, taking wide receiver Randy Moss completely out of the game. "

"Randy Moss had been in the NFL for 10 years and has been one of the best wide receivers in league history over that time."

"The New England Patriots’ march toward N.F.L. immortality continued Sunday, but once again they advanced despite a second consecutive unimpressive performance by the star receiver Randy Moss."

"He mattered because of his exceptional athletic ability. Regardless of which sport Randy Moss conquered in his native West Virginia, whether it was plucking a football out of the sky, running down a baseball in center field, slam-dunking a basketball, or sprinting past everyone on the track, he invariably became the focus."

"Randy Moss is in the midst of the longest playoff scoring drought of his career. He’s coming off one of his least-productive games, ever. Sounds like he’s due."

"No saint, Tom Brady. Nor is he an idiot. Back when the New England Patriots were given a tiny window of opportunity to work out a trade for Randy Moss – the recalcitrant, problematic-yet-peerless wide receiver was pouting away his contract with the Oakland Raiders – it was natural to foresee problems between Moss and the Pats' undisputed leader with the glamour-boy image. Brady knew better. "

"Clearly, wide receiver Randy Moss is no angel, but for those who believe the Moss vs. Rachelle Washington controversy will be a distraction to the Patriots on their march to the Super Bowl, dream on. They feed off this stuff."

"Moss needs no introduction, having taken the NFL by storm and setting a league record with 23 touchdown receptions. He’ll often be matched up with Cromartie, the league leader in interceptions with 10 despite spending the first month of the season as a reserve."

"It has been seven years since receiver Randy Moss was one victory from a trip to the Super Bowl. Considering what happened the first two times he was in this position, being denied again might just leave him in disbelief."

"Finally, mercifully, the Patriots were preparing to take the field last night, but not without a little more incentive for Randy Moss. The NFL yesterday announced that Dallas Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis was named Comeback Player of the Year, an announcement that went over in New England like the release of new Coke. Moss finished second, just two votes behind."

"The Jacksonville Jaguars took away Randy Moss, but still didn't come away with a victory."

"After two difficult years in Oakland, where injuries and attitude slowed him and his coaches hurled reputation-killing accusations his way — getting old and dogging it — Moss has reset himself on the path to the Hall of Fame."

"Receiver Randy Moss, who wound up being a deal-of-the-decade acquisition, was so intent on joining the Patriots that he chartered a private jet so he could make it to team headquarters and meet with owner Robert Kraft."