Friday, November 27, 1998

Randy Moss' performance off the field wasn't so great

By JEFF WALKER

Staff Writer

IRVING - This space was originally going to be used to praise the performance of Minnesota wide receiver Randy Moss.

After all, 20 teams passed on him in the first round of this season's NFL draft - including the Dallas Cowboys.

He comes to Dallas on Thanksgiving Day in front of a national audience and puts on a show. Three receptions - all for touchdowns that totalled 163 yards.

He could've had two more receptions but the Cowboys were flagged for pass interference, one resulting in a 50-yard penalty by the Cowboys.

That was Randy Moss on the field.

After granting ESPN an interview immediately following the game, Moss joined his Vikings teammates in the locker room. Normally, this is the time when the rest of the media gets their chance at the players. The "superstars" get brought into a separate room to field questions from the media.

One Minnesota representative said "Moss won't do that." So the majority of newspaper, television and radio reporters waited patiently for Moss to talk in front of his locker.

"I'm not talking," he belted out angrily on several occasions.

No problem, the guy wants to get dressed.

The reporters wait even longer, still trying to maintain some semblance of patience. One reporter asked if the former Marshall All-American was going to talk at all, he responded, "Nope."

When asked why, he said, "Because I don't feel like it."

Moss grew testier as the media still waited, hoping for a word on his Thanksgiving performance. After getting dressed he put his walkman on and rushed out to the bus.

"I got my mike on," Moss said angrily walking away from the trail of reporters.

Moss dropped to 21st in the draft because many believe teams were hesitant to take a risk on his personality. He ran into trouble at Florida State his freshman season and transferred to Marshall.

Moss also had problems with the law that involved the use of marijuana.

Many believe the influence of fellow wide receiver Chris Carter has changed Moss and helped him down the path of righteousness.

On the field, perhaps.

Moss' performance against the Cowboys gave him more receiving yards as a rookie than any other Viking in the team's history.

Off the field, however, I wonder if it's all nothing but a smoke screen.

Jeff Walker can be reached at 676-6711 or at sports@abinews. com.