11/21/24
August 01, 2011
Randy Moss announces his retirement: The mercurial receiver announces that, despite interest throughout the league, he's calling it quits. Let the Hall of Fame discussion begin!
Yeah, it's really hard to suggest that any of his antics took enough away from his achievements to get him into the Hall of Fame. He was a dominant force and the game's worse off without him in his prime.
posted by dfleming at 04:17 PM on August 01, 2011
Some of his NFL records:
Most touchdown receptions in a season 23 (2007) Most touchdown receptions by a rookie in a season 17 (1998) Most seasons with 17 or more touchdown receptions 3 (1998, 2003, 2007) Most seasons with 16 or more touchdown receptions 3 (1998, 2003, 2007) Most seasons with 11 or more touchdown receptions 8 tied with Jerry Rice Most seasons with 10 or more touchdown receptions 9 tied with Jerry Rice Most games in a season with at least 2 touchdown receptions 8 (2007) Only player to have 1,600 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns in a season (2003)
posted by kirkaracha at 04:52 PM on August 01, 2011
And I think, most importantly, he should be remembered as the man who made Daunte Culpepper look not just like a viable NFL quarterback, but a Pro Bowler. I agree that his on-field performance greatly overshadows any off-field negatives. Furthermore, wide receivers don't make the Hall of Fame based on whether or not they block on every play.
As an aside, I apologize for the hasty, abbreviated FPP. I was running out the door and wanted to get the news out. Maybe should have waited for someone to do it properly.
posted by tahoemoj at 07:04 PM on August 01, 2011
If you didn't like the guy, I think you weren't paying attention.
posted by yerfatma at 09:08 PM on August 01, 2011
If he goes in the HOF, he'll be the second inductee that played for both Bud Adams and Al Davis (after Blanda). Stabler never did get in.
posted by beaverboard at 10:50 PM on August 01, 2011
Unless he gets arrested on murder charges between now and the H.O.F. election he's a first ballot inductee.
A long, solid career, dominate force for many years. Much of the off the field stuff was over-blown...I had a ugly run-in with a meter maid in downtown Minneapolis myself, I know many others that have as well, not sure what those ladies are on, but they are hyped up.
posted by dviking at 11:20 PM on August 01, 2011
Did you hit her with your car?
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:33 PM on August 01, 2011
Heard this morning on Mike & Mike where they compared Moss to Manny Ramirez. Great talent but did he really live up to his potential even with his HOF numbers?
Also, I think that Moss will come out of retirement if the right team gives him a call. As a Cowboys fan, I would hate for it to be the Eagles but a Vick to Moss connection sounds like worth a watch.
posted by BornIcon at 08:57 AM on August 02, 2011
I agree that his on-field performance greatly overshadows any off-field negatives.
I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what the "off-field negatives" are. I never heard of him being arrested or even acting like a jackass in public. He didn't throw his money around in a tasteless fashion. He didn't trash-talk and he wasn't a backstabber. What did he do to make all these people talk about the "off-field negatives", drop a gum wrapper when he was eight years old?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:59 AM on August 02, 2011
I never heard of him being arrested or even acting like a jackass in public.
Multiple arrests immediately preceding college had his scholarship to Notre Dame yanked, which is why he ended up at Marshall. He had a bit of a run-in with a traffic officer in Minneapolis when he refused to obey her instructions, ended up (barely/allegedly) hitting her with his car, and was found with a tiny amount of pot in his car. Again, really nothing to speak of, and mild in the world of today's NFL; they (as I said before) are barely a blip on the radar. But there were some incidents.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:18 AM on August 02, 2011
While I realize Moss' antics on the field and with coaches were questioned a lot, I never heard of him doing anything off the field that would make me not like him. Also I believe he was very straight forward and spoke his mind which some may hold against him. I do believe he was as talented a receiver that ever played the game. Jerry Rice did it with his legs effortlessly beating defenders by running the best routes ever. Randy Moss did it with his hands. I have never seen a better pair of hands (no offense to Larry Fitzgerald) ever.
One of my favorite plays was that one hander in the end zone at full stride and without a bobble or even the need to bring the ball in. He just snatched it, and then held it out there for everyone. Casual perfection.
I think he may come back, I just believe right now the money and team wasn't right. He will only come back for the right money and only then for a team that is a serious contender. He deserves to be a first ballot HOFer. Although receivers seem to rarely make the first opportunity.
I am going to miss the guy as IMO he was the most exciting receiver to watch in his prime and frankly I haven't seen any visible degradation of his skills. He may be a little difficult if he doesn't respect a coach or team but when he is motivated and enthusiastic about the team and it's prospects, you can't find a better or more exciting player to watch. He can always make a spectacular play and make it look easy.
posted by Atheist at 11:20 AM on August 02, 2011
I never heard of him being arrested or even acting like a jackass in public.
And wasn't there the day he disgraced a Minneapolis resutrant owner for a post-practice meal? No DUI, manslaughter or domestic advice ... but that's pretty jackass-y in my book. Then again, nothing that enters the HOF discussion.
posted by littleLebowski at 12:51 PM on August 02, 2011
(^^) I'm not even sure what that means.
posted by bender at 01:03 PM on August 02, 2011
Did you hit her with your car?
I had a motorcycle, which she wisely decided not to jump on. Which is kind of my point, the meter maid in the Moss case could have, should have, just stepped aside. In my case I was parked at a one hour meter, set my digital watch for 60:00 and went to lunch. Saw it was counting down under a minute and went to the car. I was all of 40 yards away and I saw her staring at my meter waiting for it to expire. I yelled, "I'm bringing money" She looks at me, then turns back to the meter. I'm running at this point because my watch is counting down 5-4-3-2-1. I'm 10 feet away and it clicks and she writes the ticket. Says "she has to". I call her some choice names, get her badge number, and trudge on over to the parking department at city hall. Give the guy the story, he voids the ticket. Wasted an hour over a $.50 meter. I can totally see Moss running her down.
As to his pre-college and college related issues, I see no reason why any of that would be even slightly considered for a NFL H.O.F. nomination.
posted by dviking at 04:06 PM on August 02, 2011
So doesn't it seem like everyone's on the same page here, then?
posted by tahoemoj at 04:39 PM on August 02, 2011
So doesn't it seem like everyone's on the same page here, then?
That's no fun.
Let's give him an inverted Greg Maddux Legend treatment!
My suggestion? He drives a private school bus to take kids to their classes when they live outside the district.
posted by grum@work at 05:04 PM on August 02, 2011
Randy Moss gave my second cousin a piece of his liver. And my cousin wasn't even sick!
posted by rcade at 05:10 PM on August 02, 2011
Randy Moss built an orphanage in Haiti with his bare hands after the earthquake.
posted by bperk at 05:35 PM on August 02, 2011
Navy Seal Team Six is actually just Randy Moss and 5 crash test dummies.
posted by dfleming at 05:58 PM on August 02, 2011
Had the talent to be the best all time receiver ... didn't have the will, work ethic, or mindset to be considered in discussions of the best.
posted by cixelsyd at 06:36 PM on August 02, 2011
Again, he's 2nd in nfl history in tds and 100 yard games. He's 5th ever in yards recieving. If that isn't enough to be considered in discussions of the best, that's YOUR issue.
posted by bdaddy at 08:51 PM on August 02, 2011
I couldn't sleep one night, and Randy Moss appeared in my room out of nowhere and read me Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooie...and he even did the funny voices and the dance. Best night of sleep I ever got...
posted by MeatSaber at 09:02 PM on August 02, 2011
Randy Moss once made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but he spread the jelly on first.
posted by jeremias at 09:31 PM on August 02, 2011
Randy Moss disappeared in games when he didn't seem to want to play. Oddly enough he didn't seem to do that with the Patriots. Hall of Famers don't do that. Based on numbers he's a Hall of Fame player, but he could have, and should have, done more.
And for the record, I fully believe he'll play again.
posted by dyams at 09:44 PM on August 02, 2011
Again, really nothing to speak of, and mild in the world of today's NFL; they (as I said before) are barely a blip on the radar.
I'd say it's mild in the world of today's anybody, but then I have to put up with fratboys on a regular basis.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:44 PM on August 02, 2011
Based on numbers he's a Hall of Fame player, but he could have, and should have, done more.
There's not a person who watched, coached, or played with Randy that would have a different take.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:10 PM on August 02, 2011
I couldn't sleep one night, and Randy Moss appeared in my room out of nowhere and read me Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooie...and he even did the funny voices and the dance. Best night of sleep I ever got...
I've gotten a good night's sleep after the funny voices, the dance and the Gooey Kablooie.
But Randy Moss and a hamster had nothing to do with it.
posted by beaverboard at 11:43 PM on August 02, 2011
Chuck Norris fears Randy Moss.
posted by BornIcon at 09:49 AM on August 03, 2011
Only because Randy buys the best birthday presents and Chuck is forever struggling to out-do him.
posted by yerfatma at 01:26 PM on August 03, 2011
There's not a person who watched, coached, or played with Randy that would have a different take.
Seriously? It sounds like some people in this thread have a different take. Do you really believe that none of them ever watched Randy Moss play?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 06:30 PM on August 03, 2011
It's kind of a useless comparison anyway: at the end of the day, we all could have done more. Except for Jesus. Maybe.
posted by yerfatma at 10:45 PM on August 03, 2011
we all could have done more. Except for Jesus. Maybe.
And maybe Tom Waddle?
posted by tahoemoj at 02:32 AM on August 04, 2011
And John Paciorek.
posted by grum@work at 08:27 AM on August 04, 2011
No homeruns.
posted by tron7 at 10:14 AM on August 04, 2011
You saying Jesus can't hit a homerun? Blasphemy!
posted by BornIcon at 11:16 AM on August 04, 2011
posted by yerfatma at 03:26 PM on August 05, 2011
Let the Hall of Fame discussion begin!
discussions? First ballot. 2nd in TDs, 100 yard games...5th in receiving yards.