Randy Moss’ bizarre press conference Sunday night wound up being his farewell to the Minnesota Vikings. It’s safe to say this time is for good.
NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi reports that the Vikings waived Moss on Monday. At his Monday press conference, Vikings coach Brad Childress mentioned that he allowed Moss to stay back in Boston for a few days before re-joining the team.
It looks like he can stay there.
We have no reason to believe the story is not true, but PFT can report via a league source that Moss is not yet aware that he’s been released.
Moss would now be subject to leave waiver rules and could be claimed by any team. (To clarify, even veterans are subject to the waiver process after the trading deadline. Think Chris Chambers last year.)
The Bills would have the first crack at him because they have the worst record. Any team claiming Moss would have to pay the rest of his $6.4 million base salary. If Moss goes unclaimed — a distinct possibility we’ll know by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday — the Vikings owe him the rest of this contract.
Lombardi writes that Childress informed the Vikings in a team meeting that Moss was out.
Vikings linebacker Ben Leber has since confirmed the news.
Perhaps there was more to the story of Moss not returning with the team on Sunday night. It’s more likely that Moss’ press conference frustrated Childress more than he let on.
Either way, two different teams have decided in the last month that Moss’ declining production was no longer worth all the trouble of keeping him around.
At least the Patriots got a third-round pick out of it.