Cris Carter calls Moss performance "pathetic"

[Disco Volante]

From today's appearance on Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN radio.

Mike Greenberg
Help us with this. There were members of the Carolina Panthers secondary yesterday who used the words “shut it down” when describing the way Randy Moss played. They said “We knew he would shut it down.” and there were a lot of people who watched Moss’ performance yesterday and suggest that he looked somewhat disinterested out there on the field. Now you know him pretty well, when you were watching that what did you see and what do you think it means?

Cris Carter
Well for one, you can not watch that [without] it [having] an effect on you. If you're a football enthusiast, if you're a Patriots fan, for me as someone who teaches wide receivers, how to be wide receivers and how to run routes and what type of effort and stuff it would take, it was pathetic. I was shocked because I know it's in him, but I thought he had matured to the point where I wasn't going to see it anymore.

Something happened to Randy, something had an effect on him. He had 1,058 yards going into this game, leading the AFC. Now something had to happen. When they sent those players home, did that have an effect on Randy? I’m not going to say that in particular because I’m not there in the locker room - I don’t know that. But something happened that affected Randy and his approach to the game and what he decided he was going to put out there yesterday.

I’ll give you a prime example, if you look at last night’s game and you look at DeSean Jackson, you [see] the energy he [brings] to a team. I know what Randy’s capable of because I know what he spurred me on to late in my career and the energy he brings to a team. And when Randy is like that - like he was yesterday - it’s hard for the team to overcome that. So I was shocked by seeing that.

 

[Rob0729]

Carter has always defended Moss. So that is surprising.

 

[PrairiePat]

No surprise there - he played awful. The big question is ... why? Just a bad game? Bad attitude? Injury? I think the Patriots know, and Randy knows, but they're not talking...

 

[Kid~Brady]

it was a bad performance tho. he fumbled, dropped the ball like twice. you can see through his body language that he wasnt in the game. thank goodness Welker was out there playin ball. Randy needs to let what happened last Monday go and focus. December is wayyy to important especially this season with Jets and Dolphins right under us.

 

[DarrylS]

He looks like he is playing hurt, and is afraid of a hit...

He had a bad back a while back, and injuries this time of year take a long time to heal..

 

[Mogamedogz]

He looks like he is playing hurt, and is afraid of a hit...

He had a bad back a while back, and injuries this time of year take a long time to heal..

As TFB would say...

EVERYONE is playing hurt this time of year.

 

[bakes781]

funny how everone is just now catching on to the fact that Randy's been dogging it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Tough to defend Randy this am. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he took a hit early in the game to aggrevate a pre-existing injury but.....

 

[emoney_33]

Tough to defend Randy this am. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he took a hit early in the game to aggrevate a pre-existing injury but.....

IF he tweaked his back it could have happened early on with the pass in the middle that he leaped for that was out of his reach. But anyway, he had a bad game. Everyone has bad games, but it seems some people think Moss has to be perfect otherwise he's a scumbag who intentionally dogs it.

 

[The Dynasty]

IF he tweaked his back it could have happened early on with the pass in the middle that he leaped for that was out of his reach. But anyway, he had a bad game. Everyone has bad games, but it seems some people think Moss has to be perfect otherwise he's a scumbag who intentionally dogs it.

There is a difference between bad games and lack of effort, and it is not hard to tell the difference. If Moss had just dropped a pass and fumbled then fans and the media would not be on him as much. His lack of effort and not playing hard is what drives the fans and media to get on him.

If it was just a bad game the CB that was covering him the whole game would not say that he was not giving it his best effort. It isnt like Gamble just decided to announce it to the media, he was asked a question about the way Moss played and he answered it honestly. He would know best, he was the one who lined up against him all game.

 

[RobertWeathers]

IF he tweaked his back it could have happened early on with the pass in the middle that he leaped for that was out of his reach. But anyway, he had a bad game. Everyone has bad games, but it seems some people think Moss has to be perfect otherwise he's a scumbag who intentionally dogs it.

Agreed. Overall, Randy's tenure as a Patriot has been exemplary. The problem is with the 4 uneven performances since the Indy game and with last Wednesday's dicipline, I do wonder where his is mentally as well. They need him. He can't go into a shell.

 

[brady et al fan]

need to hear a little more about what Carter meant by pathetic. If he means Randy just had a crappy game that is one thing. If he means Moss was giving up (see Gamble) that is another thing entirely. He definately had a case of the alligator arms on that dropped slant ball.

I am still on the fence as to whether his back is the issue or whether he was just sulking this week. I also don't know which I want it to be. If he's sulking, maybe he gets over it. If its his back, at least we can think its not a failure of character and he's not quitting.

 

[BelizePats]

Randy had an absolutely terrible game yesterday. But that is a far cry from quitting. I have to think that there is a physical issue here that we are not aware of.
From the minute he got here he's been nothing but professional and his passion for the game is pretty clear to all who watch the games.
The dude was late on Wednesday and should not have been. He did not get much bad press at all about this and as a team captain, he's damn lucky AD chose this moment to expose what an idiot he really is. Moss can't be upset about the small hits he took in the media last week. He's a grow man. I think Faulk was just looking out for his buddy when he spoke on behalf of Randy after the game yesterday.
Moss must be hurt physically way more than we know. Its the only thing that makes any sense.

 

[BradyManny]

We can agree he doesn't seem like the same player, but to me at least, it's pretty apparent Moss has been playing hurt all year. I find it hard to believe its a lack of effort. The guy used to go up and get any ball thrown in his zip code - yet this season I could count the number of times on my hands that he's been able to either a) jump for a ball or b) raise his arms above his shoulders. We've seen him nursing that shoulder on the sidelines at times this year, Tampa game, Atlanta game I think as well. To make the leap that its a lack of effort is a disservice to him. Making the leap that he's playing through injury is a much more logical conclusion, and also a fairer one to the play.

 

[emoney_33]

There is a difference between bad games and lack of effort, and it is not hard to tell the difference. If Moss had just dropped a pass and fumbled then fans and the media would not be on him as much. His lack of effort and not playing hard is what drives the fans and media to get on him.

If it was just a bad game the CB that was covering him the whole game would not say that he was not giving it his best effort. It isnt like Gamble just decided to announce it to the media, he was asked a question about the way Moss played and he answered it honestly. He would know best, he was the one who lined up against him all game.

Champ Bailey said Moss likes to set you up, could setting you up mean making you think you have a tell on him and then burn you deep. I think Revis said Moss likes to lull you to sleep. How does Moss get open deep for TDs year in and year out, when it's just so easy to see his body language and know for a fact that he is or isn't going out for a pass?

It was ONE frigging bad game and we have no idea whether there is something physical or personal. All past and present evidence points to something ELSE being the cause and not lack of effort. But again, the media knows more than his teammates I guess. Whatever, I'm done with your willful ignorance.

 

[chevss454]

Agreed. Overall, Randy's tenure as a Patriot has been exemplary. The problem is with the 4 uneven performances since the Indy game and with last Wednesday's dicipline, I do wonder where his is mentally as well. They need him. He can't go into a shell.

Moss is a great player when he plays with confidence. Patriot nation would be well-served to support Moss at this critical time.

 

[DefenseRules]

Wow, if Cris Carter is calling him out you know that there is something to it.
We need him. He is one of our captains. He needs to step up. At this point, little Welker is acting more like a team captain than Moss. I agree with those who say that we fans should support him, but I hope that it's not for nothing. I didn't like the trade for Moss because of his reputation in Oakland. BB said to give him a chance. We all did. I hope that this was just a bad day at the office. We need him.

 

[The Dynasty]

Champ Bailey said Moss likes to set you up, could setting you up mean making you think you have a tell on him and then burn you deep. I think Revis said Moss likes to lull you to sleep. How does Moss get open deep for TDs year in and year out, when it's just so easy to see his body language and know for a fact that he is or isn't going out for a pass?

It was ONE frigging bad game and we have no idea whether there is something physical or personal. All past and present evidence points to something ELSE being the cause and not lack of effort. But again, the media knows more than his teammates I guess. Whatever, I'm done with your willful ignorance.

I agree with what you are saying with Moss setting the defense up for burning them deep, but you cant act like that every play. That is what he did yesterday. It hasnt been one bad game. I said in another thread that he hasnt been the same since the Saints game. 11 catches in 4 games, is not Randy Moss like. Whether it is a injury, personal issue or lack of effort, something is not right.

As for the media, the are around the team more than anyone else. They can see what is going on. The national media such as Cris Carter and Boomer Esiason they talk to people, they get the first hand account of what is going on. I cant stand people that bash the media when they write about things like this. They are doing their job and writing on what they see, it isnt always going to be positive.

 

[Sicilian]

I feel like, if Moss were dogging it or quitting on the team, we'd see it in the blocking game first, then the receiving game. I saw him throw a couple blocks on running plays that looked just fine to me. Why would he dog it on the glory plays but still fight for a block?

Seems to me his head just wasn't in the game. Not necessarily a better outcome for us (very crucial time for a team captain to lose focus), but I'm not ready to character assassinate this guy and claim he's not trying.

 

[BradyManny]

It was ONE frigging bad game and we have no idea whether there is something physical or personal. All past and present evidence points to something ELSE being the cause and not lack of effort. But again, the media knows more than his teammates I guess. Whatever, I'm done with your willful ignorance.

Once the media paints a guy as one thing or another, it sticks. People won't take the time to learn otherwise. Belichick's a jerk, Brady's a pretty boy, Peyton's a perfect human being (other than throwing teammates under the bus or sexually harassing University nurses, of course ), Dungy likewise is seen as a Saint despite having personal/family problems that if Belichick had, for instance, would garner him a lot of criticism and skepticism. The media just has fun branding guys, it makes headlines, sells news, and is just generally more convenient.

Moss hasn't given anything but 100% from the day he's been a Patriot. While I'll say his performance is lacking of late, I would personally look for answers outside of blaming his effort.