Randy Moss

Randy Moss has retired. It's unfortunate that he wasn't currently on a team. No tearful press conference at the team facilities. It'd be cool if he could sign a contract with the Minnesota Vikings so that he could retire where he started. None of that is something that I think would interest Moss. That would be of greater benefit for the fans than for him. Despite his sensational season with the New England Patriots and the tragedy that was last season, I will always think of Randy Moss as a Minnesota Viking.

It's so hard to believe that the career of Randy Moss is at an end. In the pre-Internet days, Moss was the first high school player that I'd ever seen gain nationwide recognition. I followed his recruiting with curiosity. This unbelievably talented receiver. I followed his brief steps at Notre Dame, Florida St. and finally a home, near his West Virginia home, at Marshall. He destroyed the college record books. Embarrassed opponents. "The Freak." He was out of this world, but could he do it in the NFL? Could he stay out of trouble? That unbelievable draft day in April 1998 just doesn't seem that long ago. Moss never should have made it out of the top ten. He certainly shouldn't have made it all the way to the Vikings at 21. Randy Moss said that he would blow up the league. He took apart a Packer team that was a year removed from the Super Bowl. The Packers took cornerbacks with their first three picks in the next draft. Moss did blow up the league. He changed defenses. Teams started looking for tall, fast receivers. But, there will only be one Randy Moss.

I have seen few athletes as physically gifted as Randy Moss. Few athletes so much better than everyone else. He didn't have to work at football to be good. He may not have even had to work at it to be great. But, he did. Former Vikings receiver Cris Carter's offseason workouts were legendary. Moss did them too. He never stopped working. He never stopped learning. He became a smart football player in addition to being a spectacular football player. His work ethic may seem surprising to some considering his reputation for taking plays off. Unfortunately, he did. I never understood this in Moss. It seemed so contradictory as he is so competitive. He hates to lose, but he takes plays off. It makes no sense. It was frustrating. I loved to watch him play football, yet he was never one of my favorite players.

I fear that those in the media will fail to give Randy Moss proper credit for his work on the football field. He didn't always welcome the media into his life. They aren't likely to forgive that. Some say that Moss may have to wait for induction into the Hall of Fame. If that happens, the voters confirm their idiocy. Atlanta Falcons' receiver Roddy White said that if Moss isn't a first ballot Hall of Famer, the media should give the voting to the players. Randy Moss is not only one of the best receivers of all time. He is one of the best football players of all time.