Stung by criticism, Moss could take it out on Ravens
If criticism can be a motivator, the Ravens better be braced for New England's Randy Moss on Monday night.
In a telephone press conference on Wednesday, Monday Nigh Football analyst Ron Jaworksi ripped Moss for taking off plays during New England's 31-28 close call with Philadelphia Sunday night.
From the transcript of the press conference, Jaworski said, "When I went through the tape, it was the first time that I was personally disappointed in a Randy Moss performance. I did not see the same energy on every single play that I had seen so far this season. When he was the No. 1 go-to guy on a route, he gave great effort and hustle. There were some plays on the back side, when he wasn't the primary receiver, I did not see the great effort. Knowing how the Patriots handle things internally, I'm sure there have been some discussions on Randy, 'Every snap, we need 100 percent out of you.' I thought a few times Tom (Brady) tried to get him involved in the game and tried to force some balls in to him."
Jaws went on to say that he expected that when the Patriots went through their tape review of the Eagles game that Moss would be asked what he might have been thinking on some particular plays. Jaworski also said that with effort being the difference between Moss and Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens, at the moment he would take Owens over Moss as a teammate.
Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe reports in his blog that New England quarterback Tom Brady came to Moss' defense. Among the things Brady had to say were: "I have never, ever felt he has taken plays off. Are you kidding me? There is nothing there about Randy's game that I'm not 100 percent positive on.
"Randy is an extremely mentally tough person and people have criticized him since the day he got here. People have pre-judged him and stereotyped him. He's been nothing but a positive influence on this team, on this locker room, and his performance speaks for itself. He's probably the most feared offensive player in the game, so what somebody says outside of this locker room means nothing."
The Ravens have played against Moss before in a Monday night game. It was the Ravens' second-ever MNF game, a 19-3 Baltimore win on Jan. 7, 2002. Moss was involved in a trick play on Minnesota's only scoring drive but not as the guy making the catch. Moss threw the ball, a 29-yarder to Chris Carter, that helped set up a field goal.
Photo credit: Winslow Townson/AP
Comments
Jaworski was a mediocre QB and an even worse Media Anaylst.
Granted I am not a Moss fan. But, I disgaree with Jaws opinion.
I believe the Ravens are going to pay dearly for Moss getting riled up.
Posted by: Captain Jack | November 30, 2007 3:08 PM
From what I have seen about Moss throughout his career, I hope someone on the Ravens staff alerts the officials to his practice of subtly pushing off when the ball is headed in his direction.
He does this routinely when the play takes place in the end zone.
Yet I don't recall it ever resulting in a flag for offensive interference.
And if the Patriots begin to blow out the Ravens and still persist in playing their regulars, especially Brady, I for one won't be dismayed if the defense starts taking shots at his knees.
That would simply be a case of one classless act instigating another one in retaliation.
Posted by: Gus Smegma | December 1, 2007 8:07 AM
A good article, but personally I feel that one thing Tom Brady said was very important, and was left out. That was where Brady (in the same interview) said that Moss is a smart player, and knows that with all the snaps he is in on, that he must have some gas left in the tank after running 50 fifty-yard dashs in the game. Moss is in on more skill player snaps than anyone else on the team (besides the QBs.) Jaws was wrong, but in this season, it seems that we must have an anti-hero. That is apparently the Pats, and it includes Randy Moss.
Posted by: Bob Cook | December 1, 2007 10:51 AM
Can't wait for Moss to burn the Ravens
Posted by: Tim | December 1, 2007 1:40 PM
Yup. The Ravens are going to get a severe a#$ whoopin'. Watch out for the Brady/Moss team....Remember the Montana/Rice game?? Brady/Moss is just warming up, far from being fine tuned. Watch out football fans, you ain't seen nothin' yet.
Posted by: Judy W | December 2, 2007 1:30 PM
Gus smegma wrote: From what I have seen about Moss throughout his career, I hope someone on the Ravens staff alerts the officials to his practice of subtly pushing off when the ball is headed in his direction.
He does this routinely when the play takes place in the end zone.
Yet I don't recall it ever resulting in a flag for offensive interference. And if the Patriots begin to blow out the Ravens and still persist in playing their regulars, especially Brady, I for one won't be dismayed if the defense starts taking shots at his knees.
Do you even watch the games?
Moss has been called more than once for pass interference on calls that were fairly marginal this year.
And hoping that somebody takes a cheap shot at people to injure them? What is wrong with you?
Jealous no-talent whiners with no class think that way. You're a pathetic excuse for a human being.
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The stat I saw on the Boston Globe Patriots blog had Randy Moss for five penalties, certainly not all of them for pass interfence. I also noticed that the Patriots have more offensive pass interference penalties then defensive pass interference calls, which seems to say a great deal about their DBs.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: dcartist | December 3, 2007 4:01 PM
I think Jaworski is a (player hater). Don't the numbers speak for themself. Randy Moss is way better then T.O and when the Pats win the Super Bowl this year its because Hot Suce Moss.
Posted by: Tone | December 3, 2007 5:10 PM