1997 SI article on Randy Moss

[Fencer]

Randy Moss, the most gifted player in college football, is - 08.25.97 - SI Vault

When Randy Moss was in college, he:

• Mistrusted almost everybody
• Cared a lot about money and respect
• Disrespected a lot of fans, organizational image things, etc.
• Never disrespected the game of football
• Was at many times a very good guy
• Never did anything terribly, horribly bad
• Was an amazingly great player

Not a lot has changed in those respects ...

 

[QB12]

Can we please stop ragging on Randy?

 

[Nikolai]

Can we please stop ragging on Randy?

It'll never stop. For some reason fans love to drag down the best players.

 

[Fencer]

Can we please stop ragging on Randy?

One would hope, but how is that comment responsive to my original post?

 

[upstater1]

What killed Moss back then was a story that was going around the combine. Apparently, a scout witnessed Randy going off on a store clerk at a sporting goods store. Why? Because Randy was supposedly livid that the store carried jerseys from a lot of colleges, but there were no Marshall Thundering Herd jerseys available.

I have to wonder if that scout worked for the Minnesota Vikings.

 

[Brady_2_Moss]

I think that was a great article that gives insight into Randy's periodically odd behavior. He seems to really suffer from trust issues and maybe some depression. And if you think about his situation as a youth, it makes sense. No father, racial tension in a poor, rural town, probably every football scout promising him the moon at age 15. It's actually amazing he's still playing at such a high level (maybe loved ones got him into therapy?). A lessor man would have cracked with that first big payday and completely thrown it all away.

 

[Brettlax3434]

I think Moss has greatly matured since his young days and is a great Patriot. I will be very disappointed if we fail to bring him back.

 

[Patspsycho]

Can we please stop ragging on Randy?

OP is not ragging on him, only pointing out where he is coming from. When you understand this, you understand his outburst, and where it's coming from.

 

[Fencer]

I think Moss has greatly matured since his young days and is a great Patriot. I will be very disappointed if we fail to bring him back.

Yep. Same person, but matured. And maturity was really needed.

I'm in the camp that says he did NOT go too far in his recent press conference. He expressed opinions I disagree with; he went pretty close to the line of "too far"; but he stopped in time.

And I might add that his reports of the talk w/ BB suggest BB expressed or implied a similar opinion. I.e., I think the essence of what BB said (as Moss heard it) was: "Do you need to do any more of this? Please say 'No'." as opposed to "You shouldn't have done that. Stop it right now."

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

I think Moss has greatly matured since his young days and is a great Patriot. I will be very disappointed if we fail to bring him back.

:yeahthat: 10 characters

 

[Pats726]

I have not read the article...BUT I will..I DO think Moss is a complex person and misunderstood..THAT is obvious..I DO Want Randy back with the Patriots..I hope all fans DO!!! (ALthough I know many do not..but that is OK) Bringing up more in depth articles from the past is not ragging on him at all...MORE I think helping us understand him...what is needed here.
I did not think his PC was filled with outbursts..as some claim nor did I think it was all about his contract. He needed to get a lot of his chest about HOW he flet..there was nothing wrong with that. The timing was bad...but I also think no matter when he said those things, he would be crucified for them. When would be the good time?
I also think he has found a home here...likes it here and wishes to stay...that HE HAS found a place might be something deep and emotional for him..and he wants a contract NOT for the money..as Mankins does..but TO STAY!! I feel that deeply. and that is a lot different than Mr Logan's thoughts..miles away.

 

[Patspsycho]

I have not read the article...BUT I will..I DO think Moss is a complex person and misunderstood..THAT is obvious..I DO Want Randy back with the Patriots..I hope all fans DO!!! (ALthough I know many do not..but that is OK) Bringing up more in depth articles from the past is not ragging on him at all...MORE I think helping us understand him...what is needed here.
I did not think his PC was filled with outbursts..as some claim nor did I think it was all about his contract. He needed to get a lot of his chest about HOW he flet..there was nothing wrong with that. The timing was bad...but I also think no matter when he said those things, he would be crucified for them. When would be the good time?
I also think he has found a home here...likes it here and wishes to stay...that HE HAS found a place might be something deep and emotional for him..and he wants a contract NOT for the money..as Mankins does..but TO STAY!! I feel that deeply. and that is a lot different than Mr Logan's thoughts..miles away.

Moss was never really happy in Minnesota, and hated it in Oakland. This is the first place he has ever really wanted to be, and the first place he loves and I think that scares him.

 

[Pats726]

Moss was never really happy in Minnesota, and hated it in Oakland. This is the first place he has ever really wanted to be, and the first place he loves and I think that scares him.

I think it scares him having to leave...wishing to stay here...I think that could be in back of it all...Given all of it..he is emotional because he has a home..feels different and wishes to stay...can you blame him??

 

[blackglass3]

Wow, what a great article. Moss is human, just like the rest of us.

On a subsequent note, they really don't make interesting fact driven sports articles like that anymore. I could tell I was reading something from before all the writers wanted Page Clicks and wrote shocking things to get them.

 

[Nikolai]

Wow, what a great article. Moss is human, just like the rest of us.

On a subsequent note, they really don't make interesting fact driven sports articles like that anymore. I could tell I was reading something from before all the writers wanted Page Clicks and wrote shocking things to get them.

Great point. When I first started reading, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was six pages long. It was solid writing without a lot of superlatives. You don't get that kind of reporting anymore and it's too bad.