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Moss doesn't want T.O. as a teammate
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb sits on the bench after giving up a 46-yard interception for a touchdown to the Dallas Cowboys in the final minutes of the fourth quarter Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, in Philadelphia. The Cowboys won, 21-20. (AP Photo/Miles Kennedy)

By Janie McCauley, AP Sports Writer | November 16, 2005

ALAMEDA, Calif. --Randy Moss wants no part of playing alongside Terrell Owens. Nor does he see any similarity between himself and Owens.

"No, I'm not here," Moss said when asked how he would respond if Owens were to come to Oakland.

"I mean, T.O. could be good here with the Raiders but I don't think with his baggage and everything he's been through, and my baggage and what I've been through, I don't think that would work. As far as being compared to the league and myself, I mean they don't talk to me, I don't talk to them, so we don't even have a relationship. No communication."

Moss hasn't spoken to the local media since the Raiders' Sept. 8 season opener at New England despite numerous requests. Moss vowed from early in training camp to go about his job with little fanfare this season, minding his own business as he makes a fresh start following seven rocky seasons with Minnesota.

His teammates have supported Moss, saying he is a strong leader in the locker room and on the field. But the Raiders aren't winning with him -- Oakland is 3-6 heading into Sunday's game at Washington.

Moss has kept a low profile, constantly wearing giant headphones or chattering away on his cell phone. He has five touchdowns this season and caught a 29-yard TD pass from Kerry Collins in Sunday's 31-17 loss to Denver. Moss' six receptions in the game were his most catches since joining the Raiders in March.

In the ESPN interview, Moss seemed to think hard when asked about his relationship with coach Norv Turner, pausing several seconds before responding. Moss has played a limited role in recent weeks as he recovers from a hard fall against San Diego on Oct. 16, when he bruised his ribs, strained a groin and bruised his pelvic area.

"Um, I think his approach, being an offensive-minded coach, is something that I can accept, I like," Moss said. "I mean, he's the man, uh, and, you know, I'll leave that at that."

Owens was suspended by the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 5 and told not to return to the team following a series of incidents, including repeated criticism of quarterback Donovan McNabb and insulting the organization.

Oakland owner Al Davis is all for giving second chances to NFL veterans in spite of their past, so nobody around the Raiders would rule out Owens one day wearing silver and black.

"You know, T.O. is his own player; I'm my own player," Moss said. "We have no similarities whatsoever. I'm a playmaker, he's a playmaker. It's just who makes the most plays is what separates me and him."

Moss also said NFL is taking "the fun away from the game" by restricting how players can celebrate their achievements on the field.

Moss was fined $10,000 for pretending to pull down his pants and moon the Green Bay crowd during Minnesota's playoff win last season and also drew criticism for leaving the field with 2 seconds left in a regular-season loss against Washington.

Other transgressions included bumping a traffic control officer with his car in 2002, verbally abusing corporate sponsors on a team bus in 2001 and squirting an official with a water bottle in 1999, in addition to his infamous "I play when I want to play" comments.

"I mean, how can a guy go out there and really let everything, like I've always said, I like to play, within those white lines, I let myself go," Moss said. "I like to be free. That's why I have my time to just go and just erupt. And with all the rules and the guidelines we've got to follow, man, the league is, they're taking away the fun."



VERY interesting comments about Norv.

Why would he want him there? He'll steal the spotlight when Moss implodes next year.

The Assassin wrote:


VERY interesting comments about Norv.

Not really. He knows what the rest of the fucking world knows-that norv is a walking shitbag who'll be nothing more than an offensive coordinator for the rest of his NFL life after this disaster.


And if you saw the interview, Randy wanted to talk some serious shit on Norv, and just stopped short of saying he sucked as a coach. It took him almost a full fucking minute to get that answer out.


Fuck Norv, and Fuck Al for another shitty coaching hire.


I've got $$$ that says Al re-signs collins again as well.


Al may try to win by bringing in great players, but he just re-fucks himself when his bloated ego makes the coaching hires. How surprising.

Raydah James wrote: And if you saw the interview, Randy wanted to talk some serious shit on Norv, and just stopped short of saying he sucked as a coach. It took him almost a full fucking minute to get that answer out.

Of course he did- he's trying to be the model citizen- but we all know what he was saying in his head.

Rack Moss.

Presented with a golden opportunity to improve his image in the wake of the T.O. nonsense ... he's attempting to take full advantage.

I don't care what he thinks of Norv, the fact that he showed restraint when the soapbox was his for the taking actually shows some, GULP ... class.

Whatever the talking heads might lead you to believe, a pregnant pause is STILL better than throwing the coach under the bus. Besides, as James said, there's no need when everyone knows it as fact already.

I mean, T.O. could be good here with the Raiders but I don't think with his baggage and everything he's been through, and my baggage and what I've been through, I don't think that would work.

Beautiful and to the point.

The Moss meltdown everyone's waiting for might well happen ... but not today. Not today.

Rack Moss again.

orcinus wrote:Rack Moss.

Presented with a golden opportunity to improve his image in the wake of the T.O. nonsense ... he's attempting to take full advantage.

I don't care what he thinks of Norv, the fact that he showed restraint when the soapbox was his for the taking actually shows some, GULP ... class.

Whatever the talking heads might lead you to believe, a pregnant pause is STILL better than throwing the coach under the bus. Besides, as James said, there's no need when everyone knows it as fact already.

I mean, T.O. could be good here with the Raiders but I don't think with his baggage and everything he's been through, and my baggage and what I've been through, I don't think that would work.

Beautiful and to the point.

The Moss meltdown everyone's waiting for might well happen ... but not today. Not today.

Rack Moss again.

Don't rack him just yet. I was listening to the Dan Patrick show today and he had the women who had interviewed Moss. What ESPN is holding back (till this weekend) is what Moss said before that which prompted the question as to whether Moss likes Norv. Moss said there is a black cloud over the team and it's not from the players.

That statement alone, while truthful, is a clear sign that Moss is not happy with Norv. The 13 sec pause was just gravy.

Laughable at best.

Pot, kettle much?

While Moss and T.O. share and trade honors as the best WR's in the NFL, they also share and trade the honor of ignorance.

Both of them want to be THE MAN, however neither of them knows how to be THE MAN. Nor do they know when to shut the fuck up.

To hell with any of you that are RACKING Moss for his comments. He is on a 3-6 team. He should not have replied at all, or simply stated, Im not going there, Im only focused on winning the game Sunday at Wash.

Moss is in the AFC, T.O. is in the NFC. What the hell does Moss' opinion matter in this? REALLY? One ignorant superstar wr, commenting on the ignorance of another superstar wr?

Some one needs to call Jerry Rice, and inform him of this. Im thinking he could educate both of them. Shut up, play, get paid. Nothing more.

I disagree Dave. Moss has had his moments but he is half the trouble TO is. I would take Moss on my team anyday, but I wouldnt want to TO if he agreed to play for the league minimum. Moss chose to choose his words carefully while TO just spouts off from the mouth whenwver he feels like it.

His teammates even said that he is a good leader inside the locker room while I have never heard any of TO's teammates say he led shit. Moss is a primadonna, as most WRs are, but I dont think Moss is the TO of the AFC. I think Chad Johnson wins that award. He is the next TO in my opinion.

jiminphilly wrote:Don't rack him just yet. I was listening to the Dan Patrick show today and he had the women who had interviewed Moss. What ESPN is holding back (till this weekend) is what Moss said before that which prompted the question as to whether Moss likes Norv. Moss said there is a black cloud over the team and it's not from the players.

That statement alone, while truthful, is a clear sign that Moss is not happy with Norv. The 13 sec pause was just gravy.

Of course maybe Moss was refering to Alice and his constant meddling.

I'd take Moss over TO on my team easy . I've had TO on my team . Sure he made plays . But he was a giant pain in the ass , and made Garcia's life hell .

BSmack wrote:

jiminphilly wrote:Don't rack him just yet. I was listening to the Dan Patrick show today and he had the women who had interviewed Moss. What ESPN is holding back (till this weekend) is what Moss said before that which prompted the question as to whether Moss likes Norv. Moss said there is a black cloud over the team and it's not from the players.

That statement alone, while truthful, is a clear sign that Moss is not happy with Norv. The 13 sec pause was just gravy.

Of course maybe Moss was refering to Alice and his constant meddling.

Alice is paying Moss a lot of money so I am sure Moss has no real beef with him. But there is something going on in the locker room that Moss clearly indicated was not with the players. He didn't exactly endorse the coaches by that statement did he?

jiminphilly wrote:Moss said there is a black cloud over the team and it's not from the players.

That statement alone, while truthful, is a clear sign that Moss is not happy with Norv.

Maybe he was talking about the air quality in that dirty stinking shithole of a city that they call home.