NFL now fines Randy Moss
You’d think there was no way for the Vikings to keep NFL happy. Phil Loadholt was fined $20,000 for a face mask penalty against Green Bay and in the same week, the league fined Minnesota’s head coach, Brad Childress essentially for talking too much. Childress
was fined $35,000 for criticizing the way the game between Minnesota and Green Bay was officiated. Now, the league has fined Vikings’ wide receiver, Randy Moss for talking too little.
Granted that player contracts require players to make themselves available to the media at certain times but it wouldn’t hurt if the league dialled down on the fines a bit.
Moss hasn’t spoken to the media since October 13th. He didn’t have anything to say when the Vikings defeated Dallas, kept to himself leading up to the game against Green Bay and declined interviews after being defeated by them.
There is quite a bit of interest in Randy Moss currently as we head for Sunday when Moss would play against his former team for the first time since being traded to Minnesota. So far, Moss hasn’t spoken to media about the game. NFL has had enough and they
put a $25,000 fine on him for failing to co-operate with the media.
Vikings are no strangers to fines. Just this week, the league placed a total of $80,000 worth of fines on Minnesota. Total fines for all teams this week come up to $102,000. The league fined Cardinal’s defensive tackle, Darnell Docket for a hit on Seahawk’s
Mike Williams. Also this week, Albert Haynesworth was handed over a $7,500 fine for taking down J’Marcus Webb at a time when the league believes he was out of play while Haynesworth’s teammate, DeAngelo Hall was running with the ball on a 92 yard interception
return touchdown.
Last week, the league was even more fine happy. NFL decided to make a point to show its seriousness against illegal hits to the head. Last week, a total of 15 players were fined. Two of them were given $50,000 fines and a third was hit with a $75,000 fine.
Moss briefly spoke to the media about the coming game but the league still thought that his general aversion of late to speaking to the press was fine worthy. When asked about his feelings regarding the upcoming game, Moss simply answered that he didn’t
have feelings about the game and was just excited to play football. On Wednesday, he turned out reporters again in signature Randy Moss style. “I don't have any questions or answers for you, man.”
It is not known if Moss would speak to the media before the game after having been fined by the league. It has been reported that the league had warned Moss before placing the fine on him. Moss turned down repeated attempts by reporters to get a word with
him. During his time in New England also, Moss went through periods of media blackouts but this was the first time the league has taken notice of it. The monetary cost of not speaking to the media is something that Moss can indeed sustain. But, if he continues
the blackout, the league might take tougher action.
Maybe we can wait and see what Moss has to say about the fine.
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