After six years, Randy Moss’ career has finally come full circle. Early last Wednesday, Randy Moss was traded from the New England Patriots back to the Minnesota Vikings.
Randy Moss’ career has been, for the most part, a bumpy ride. He has been rightfully accused of being a diva on the field, and a less than model citizen off it.
In the 1998 NFL draft, Randy Moss was predicted to be a high first round pick. However, due to Moss’ legal issues off the field, he fell to the Minnesota Vikings and was selected 21st overall. When being interviewed before the draft Moss made a promise to all the NFL teams that would pass him up, “they will regret it once they see what kind of player I am and what kind of guy I really am.â€
The team most notorious for passing on Moss was the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys wanted Moss and Moss wanted to be with the Cowboys. But due to Moss’ off the field issues, the Cowboys decided to pass on him, they had already been put through the wringer with Michael Irvin.
In Minnesota, Randy made history. As a rookie he helped the Vikes score a then NFL record 556 points. Throughout his rookie season, Moss displayed his dominance over the game, and the competition. Those Vikings went on to finish the regular season with a 15-1 record and the obvious Super Bowl favorites. However, the Falcons stunned the Vikes in the NFC Championship Game 30-27.
Moss went on to be named offensive Rookie of the Year and a starter in the Pro Bowl. He finished the 1998 season with 17 touchdown grabs and 1,313 receiving yards.
Moss’ Viking career was impressive. However, his on and off the field issues including his marijuana possession charge, his “bumping†of a Minnesota Police Officer with his car, his playoff mooning incident and leaving the field early during a game were too much for the Vikings to handle. In 2005 he was traded to the Oakland Raiders.
There isn’t much to say about Moss’ career in Oakland. Injuries limited his ability to see the field, and when he did, many fans saw his unwillingness to play. After two short years with the Raiders, Moss was on the move again.
Moss was traded to the New England Patriots in 2007. After Moss recovered from a hamstring injury he suffered in practice, he was back to being his old self again. He silenced critics when he was named to the Pro Bowl again for scoring touchdowns in 13 of 16 games. His 2007 season also included eight multi touchdown games, nine games with 100 yards or more and six touchdown receptions of 40 yards or more.
Moss’ production in the 2007 season helped the patriots win 18 straight games only to lose a heartbreaker to Eli Manning and the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
Moss continued to impress for the next few years in New England. But again, he outgrew his welcome and was traded back to the Vikings on Wednesday, October 6, 2010.
Moss is happy to be back in Minnesota. This is where it started and this is most likely where it will end. The Vikings had enough talent last year to make it to the NFC Championship game but lost on a field goal to the New Orleans Saints. With Moss however, the Vikings have just upgraded.
So, to the Minnesota fans, I say to you the same thing Randy did, dig those old #84 jerseys out of the back of the closet, Randy is home and this ride, could be special.
