With Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis cashing in and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady reportedly (potentially) poised to do the same, it’s probably not a coincidence that Patriots receiver Randy Moss opted to sound off -- again -- regarding his own contractual status only a handful of days from the first game of the 2010 season.
He told CBSSports.com that “it kind of feels like I am not wanted,” and that it is “kind of a bad feeling.”
On Tuesday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked about the Moss comments during a press conference.
“I would just say on Randy that he is a professional,” Belichick said, in comments distributed by the team. “He’s had a good training camp. He’s played very well since he’s been here. He’s played at a very high level and I hope that continues. He’s brought a lot of passion to the game -- for the game -- since he’s been here. He’s well liked and he’s well respected on the team.”
Possible translation? “Man, I hope that Moss doesn’t act like he did in Oakland four years ago.”
Belichick then was asked whether Moss’ feelings will become a distraction during the season. “I think I just answered that,” Belichick said. “As I said, he has been very professional. He’s been very productive for us. He is well liked by his teammates and he brings good energy to the field.”
Possible translation? “Man, I hope that Moss doesn’t act like he did in Oakland four years ago.”
Asked whether he’s surprised by Moss’ belief that he’s unwanted by the team, Belichick said, “He didn’t say that to me, so I don’t really have any comment on that.”
Though Moss didn’t say it directly to Belichick, he announced it to the world. But Belichick, a master of saying something while actually saying nothing, is smart enough not to engage Moss in the media. Instead, Belichick hopes to appeal to the adult that has slowly emerged within Moss over the past few years, in the hopes that he won’t piss and moan or give half-assed effort on running plays or when the ball isn’t coming to him -- or when it is.
Either way, Moss’ comments suggest the return of an attitude about which the Patriots were leery when trading for him in 2007. He supposedly was on a short leash that year, but his performance and his subsequent three-year, $27 million contract likely has bought him a bigger buffer.
Though his motivation for sounding off six days before the season opener isn’t clear, the fact that Moss has popped off should be regarded by Patriots fans as troubling, and if the team struggles early in the year Moss will get worse long before he gets better.