Randy Moss finds new home, becomes a Tennessee Titan
Wide receiver Randy Moss has found a home again. For good this time it seems. Earlier this season, the New England Patriots traded him to the Minnesota Vikings. Vikings were Moss’ first home when he was drafted into NFL and there was excitement in Minnesota
about his return.
However, Moss’ ‘eccentric’ personality got the best of him. Just weeks after being acquired by Minnesota, Randy Moss was placed on waivers. The reason was not explicitly made clear by the Vikings. All they said was that the decision was made while keeping
the short and long term interests of the organization in mind. Rumours would however suggest that it was because of differences with Vikings' head coach, Brad Childress.
Childress has been having trouble keeping his house in order. On the field, the Vikings have been thrashed left and right. The coach had also been part of a public exchange of ‘disagreements’ with quarterback Brett Favre and threw a fit over how the game
against the Green Bay Packers was officiated.
Childress isn’t looking good these days, and in all of that decided to cut Moss, some say to assert his authority. Whatever goes on behind closed locker room doors is irrelevant now. The bottom line is that Moss was waived and he has already found a new
home with the Tennessee Titans.
Under the waivers process, the team with the worst record gets the right to claim a player. If they chose not to, the name moves down the wire until someone claims the player. Tennessee Titans were the 23rd team in that order. Ross is possibly
the best wide receiver in the league at present and there is hardly any doubt that he would find a place for himself in the NFL hall of fame. Yet somehow 23 teams passed over Moss until the Titans claimed him.
Titans' quarterback, Vince Young should be mentioned among some of the stronger quarterbacks in the league but this season, he has been plagued by injuries. He was injured again this week when Titans faced San Diego Chargers. Kerry Collins has been standing
in for Young and keeping the Titans afloat. Young is expected to return by week ten. When that happens, Randy Moss paired with Vince Young would be a treat to watch.
Currently, Young has the best passer rating in the league while Moss, it appears, is off his game. But, simply the numbers aren’t the right way to judge what Moss contributes to a team. When Moss was with the Vikings, quarterback Favre was not having a good
time leading Minnesota’s offense. When the quarterback is struggling, the receiver can’t do much better.
Moss’ presence on the field draws attention. He draws cornerbacks and safeties away from other receivers so even if Moss isn’t picking up receptions and making touchdowns; his team is still doing better. Titans aren’t short on good receivers. Nate Washington
has recorded 4 touchdowns this season and averages 16.7 yards per reception. Damian Williams is coming up as a dependable receiver and of course there is Kenny Britts. Britts has averaged an impressive 18.9 yards per reception. He has delivered 7 touchdowns
in 23 receptions and 434 yards.
“We had an opportunity to upgrade our offense, and Randy has been a tremendous threat wherever he has been”, said Titans' coach Jeff Fisher. You could say a lot about how much trouble dealing with Moss could be for a team and its coach but on the field,
there is no doubt that having Moss is an advantage.
Moss’ abilities as a receiver are matched only by his ability to be a pain for coaches. Maybe after being let go twice in rapid succession, Moss would be more agreeable this time with the Titans’ head coach. Fisher is hopeful that the reason that led to
Moss’ ejection from the Vikings won’t be a concern in Tennessee. “We have a great locker room and I know our team is going to welcome him and I know he is going to enjoy playing here”, added Fisher.
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