Please sign in to complete your action
 
DONE!
Cheer and debate with
6,000,000+ fans!
My Team:
Charlotte
My Team:
Michael
My Team:
Britney
9/16/08
Randy Moss Is Stepping Up For The New England Patriots In Tom Brady's Absence
Remember When Randy Moss Was Supposed To Implode Whenever He Wasn't Getting As Many Catches? Don't Count On It
When the Patriots traded for Randy Moss, it was widely considered a steal, but with one condition. Randy Moss had to get the ball as much as he wanted, or everyone thought that he would become the locker room cancer that he was perceived to be in Oakland.

When Tom Brady went down, some people voiced concerns that Matt Cassel wouldn't be able to get Moss the ball often enough to keep him happy, and Moss would stir up trouble. The first of those concerns has been valid. In the Patriots game against the Jets, Moss caught only 2 passes for 22 yards. He had another huge opportunity, but Cassel's pass was under-thrown, giving Darrelle Revis an opportunity to knock it out of Moss' hands.

As for worries that Moss will become a malcontent, there are certainly no signs of that happening any time soon. In fact, quite the opposite is happening. Moss is stepping up as a leader on the team, and is buying into Bill Belichick's win-first attitude. Moss summed it up excellently after the Jets game:

"That’s how this team is really designed. They really emphasize that this organization is really a team. That’s how they build it. If one guy goes down, we rely on someone else to step up and make it happen. Today was definitely a team victory."

He's confident that the Patriots can win without Brady, whether or not he's the focal point in the offense. In fact, he gets a bit offended when anyone doubts the Patriots. Although Moss didn't light up the stat sheet on Sunday, he (as always) took plenty of the Jets defense's attention away from guys like Wes Welker (7 catches, 72 yards) and Kevin Faulk (4 for 50), as well as the Patriots surprisingly potent running game, led by Lamont Jordan's 62 2nd-half yards on 11 carries.

Is Randy ready to shed his bad-boy image and take on a leadership role for the rest of the season? The Patriots definitely need that, with their unquestioned offensive leader out for the year. Moss is the most talented veteran on that offense, and is able to change the team with his demeanor. As long as he stays positive and focuses on winning, the Patriots have a very real chance to beat anyone in the league, no matter who is under center.

At the end of this season, you just might see another Patriots team waltzing into the playoffs with a first round bye and an MVP. It's really all up to Moss.


Randy Moss Takes A Lead Role [Boston Herald]
14 comments
Vote!
Comment!
Your votes determine top comment
Top comment earns 300 Points!
289 days ago
0
VOTE:
 
+0
 
+0
 
+0
 
-0
the hoodie makes sure that everybody is on the same page or your chapter is edited out. see ty law,lawyer milloy,etc. i won't say they're gonna be as tough with cassel, but they have circled the wagons and i would'nt be so sure that all you patriot haters might get it shoved back up your a-hole. it's early yet,but as a bear hunter there is one thing i do know, a wounded animal is a very dangerous thing, beware you haters, you might want to cover your ass.
 
289 days ago
2
VOTE:
 
+0
 
+2
 
+0
 
-0
Randy Moss drank the Kool-Aid. EVERYBODY PANIC!
 
289 days ago
1
VOTE:
 
+1
 
+0
 
+0
 
-0
Don't not count on it, either. It's only 2 games into the season. You're forgetting the key ingredient in the Randy moss equation - See what happens when the losses start to happen...
 
289 days ago
0
VOTE:
 
+0
 
+0
 
+0
 
-0
buckhntr wrote:
the hoodie makes sure that everybody is on the same page or your chapter is edited out. see ty law,lawyer milloy,etc. i won't say they're gonna be as tough with cassel, but they have circled the wagons and i would'nt be so sure that all you patriot haters might get it shoved back up your a-hole. it's early yet,but as a bear hunter there is one thing i do know, a wounded animal is a very dangerous thing, beware you haters, you might want to cover your ass.
Patriot haters can cover their ass VERY easily = 18-1.

Nothing you can say or do will ever go back and make them not lose to ELI MANNING!!!

Think about it Allen Iverson-style... ELI Manning? Eli Manning? ELI?... seriously... ELI Manning... not Peyton Manning... not Archie Manning... not Cooper...  ELI Manning. We talking about ELI Manning!!!
 
289 days ago
1
VOTE:
 
+1
 
+0
 
+0
 
-0
So after one week the Patriots are stronger than ever and Randy Moss won't even consider complaining about anything?  Sure the Patriots looked okay last week and Randy is saying the right things, but its one week. Also, as DrCommento pointed out, Moss only loses heart when his team starts losing. 
 
288 days ago
0
VOTE:
 
+0
 
+0
 
+0
 
-0
MannyStiles wrote:
Patriot haters can cover their ass VERY easily = 18-1.

Nothing you can say or do will ever go back and make them not lose to ELI MANNING!!!

Think about it Allen Iverson-style... ELI Manning? Eli Manning? ELI?... seriously... ELI Manning... not Peyton Manning... not Archie Manning... not Cooper...  ELI Manning. We talking about ELI Manning!!!
I could have sworn they played the New York Giants, not Eli Manning.

The more you go on and on with the foolish "the QB is the only guy that matters" drivel, the more ridiculous you sound. And this Patriots team will prove that this year.
 
288 days ago
0
VOTE:
 
+0
 
+0
 
+0
 
-0
kantwistaye wrote:
So after one week the Patriots are stronger than ever and Randy Moss won't even consider complaining about anything?  Sure the Patriots looked okay last week and Randy is saying the right things, but its one week. Also, as DrCommento pointed out, Moss only loses heart when his team starts losing. 
This team won't start losing. It's funny how before the season, everyone was whining about how easy the Patriots' schedule is, but now that Brady is down, people are picking them to lose 10 games or something crazy.

The Patriots will still be able to win at least 11 games, and take the division pretty easily. I'm not saying that the Patriots are "stronger than ever", and I don't think ANYONE has said that. But they are still one of the better teams in the league.
 
288 days ago
0
VOTE:
 
+0
 
+0
 
+0
 
-0
RenegadeLG wrote:
Your last comment isn't showing up for me, Pat.. but we should do an av bet for the Broncos/Pats game.
It's not showing up for me anyway. But hopefully this one does. My question is: Where do you think those 8 losses are going to come from?
 
288 days ago
0
VOTE:
 
+0
 
+0
 
+0
 
-0
Wow, the hate for NE is wild. If I do recall a lot of people here and evetywhere thought that ingrate Favre was going to beat NE, oh wait it takes more than one player to beat a good team. NE is still good enought to win 10-11 games this year. Maybe Buffalo gives them a run for their money. Sure Moss is a wildcard, but maybe just maybe Moss having been so close to winning the Super Bowl wants that more than anyting right now.
 
288 days ago
0
VOTE:
 
+0
 
+0
 
+0
 
-0
RenegadeLG wrote:
@ San Francisco will be tough, but they should win. If I'm going to go all the way with my 'Chargers are crap without Merriman' defiance I have to believe the Patriots can win there, too. Denver is a loss. @ Indy is a loss. Split with Buffalo. Jets are an unknown but Favre will be better next time, although it's at Gillette. Pittsburgh loss. @ Seattle will be tough assuming Holmgren calms them down. Arizona will have a lot to play for in week 16.

You were right, there's only 5 losses I feel comfortable with. 7-9 is an absolute worse case scenario, so it's funny that some people are predicting that or worse.
That's the thing... their schedule is so pathetic that even without Brady, 11-12 wins is reasonable. And I know you're a Broncos fan, but how can you say that @SD is a win for the Patriots, but home vs the Broncos is a loss? If not for Hochuli's blown call, the Chargers would have left Denver with a win.

Also, I have seen nothing from the Colts that would make me believe that's a loss. Their offensive line is lost without Saturday, and now Sanders is out for a month and a half. I'd wait for them to play at least ONE good game before we call that one.
 
 
Preview
HOTTEST ARTICLES
NFL GEAR
Loading...
NFL TICKETS
Loading...
MEET OUR FANS
Myka
Lindsey
 more
12,798,192+
ANSWER TODAY'S POLL
 more
PLAY NEVER-ENDING TRIVIA
Rubber
Cork
Plastic
Foam
 more

TAKE A QUIZ
 more

PREDICT THE SCORE
NFL
NBA
NHL
NCAABB
Soccer
 more
2,555,658+
sillygirltr07 joined the NFL league NFL Draft League.
Just now!
kumar9990397218 warned 93jags that he is about to pass 93jags in the rankings! He is only 1.6 points behind 93jags.
Just now!
mid_ie joined the Fishing league the test.
Just now!
joined the Arena Football league Fans of New York (Arena Football).
Just now!
joined the Arena Football league Fans of Arena Football.
Just now!
sitinursuriatizainor joined the Soccer league Barclay's Premiere Fans.
Just now!
uwee_bloody joined the NBA league LakersFans.
Just now!
sitinursuriatizainor joined the Soccer league Manchester United Fans.
Just now!
uwee_bloody joined the NBA league NBA Fantasy.
Just now!
Just now!
 

Join Today
About FanIQ
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Contact Us
Report A Bug
Help