The football world stopped once again for a Brad Childress press conference, except this time Brett Favre was barely mentioned.
“I’m always excited to add a good piece to the puzzle,” Childress said in his incongruous Barry White-like voice when asked about acquiring Randy Moss.
Childress spoke with Moss Wednesday and expects Moss to arrive in Minnesota Wednesday night or possibly Thursday morning in time for practice. Moss will play as expected against the Jets on Monday night.
It remains to be seen, however, if Moss plays for more than 13 games in his second stint with the Vikings. Childress indicated that contract extension talks with Moss haven’t started or haven’t progressed far.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Childress said.
Moss essentially forced his way out of New England because he was unhappy with his contract. But there’s no guarantee he’ll get the “security” he wants in Minnesota before a possible lockout.
Some have wondered if Moss would even sign a long-term contract without knowing Brett Favre’s future, which seems silly. Moss wanted to get traded away from Tom Brady to get a new deal. The dollars will take precedence.
Childress revealed that he spoke with Vikings owner Zygi Wilf about acquiring Moss on Monday. That came before Moss’ outburst at halftime of the Dolphins game and supports a Jay Glazer report that this trade was in the works before Monday night.
Childress says the move wasn’t made because of wide receiver Sidney Rice’s recovery from hip surgery, which Childress says is on schedule. The Vikings coach also isn’t worried about the off-field issues Moss experienced in the past.
“All of us have blemishes. Throw the first stone if you don’t,” Childress said.
UPDATE: Video Evidence: