Randy Moss refused to play for Packers, hung up on calls

[RashanGary]

It sounded to me like Moss felt disrespected. You don't tell the most spectacular WR to ever play the game that he's second fiddle to a good but no where near great WR like Donald Driver.



You tell Randy Moss that you think he's the greatest fucking thing since sliced bread and you've seen all of the negative storys and you worry, but you want to give him a chance. You ask him if he's willing to work and wants to be a part of your team. If he says "yes" then you have your guy. You don't tell Randy Moss that he better be on his best behavior and he's second fiddle. That is stupid.



I don't think it was a horrible mistake because I don't think anyone expected this kind of year. Only two GM's even dared touch him so it's not like anyone saw this coming. It's all hindsight. We all complain about 1,000,000 things and when one of them pans out, we all knew what we were talking about and the GM's an idiot. Reality is that Ted didn't realize what he passed on but neither did 30 other GM's so I can't really whine too much about Ted.

I agree with Woodbuck that this story in no way makes it seem like it was all Randy's decision. It acctually sounds like the Packers made him feel unwelcome by telling him he's not "the guy". It's one thing to tell that to Ryan Pickett but quite another when you tell it to a guy like Randy Moss. Treating him that way was a mistake.

[RashanGary]

The way I read that, is if the Packers made Moss feel welcome and told him they'd love to have a spectacular talent like him on the team he'd be here. Instead they tried to tell him he was worse than Driver and better thank us for giving him a chance.

Yeah right. Moss might be the greatest offensive weapon to ever play the game.

[twoseven]

The way I read that, is if the Packers made Moss feel welcome and told him they'd love to have a spectacular talent like him on the team he'd be here. Instead they tried to tell him he was worse than Driver and better thank us for giving him a chance.

Yeah right. Moss might be the greatest offensive weapon to ever play the game.

We only got RM's side of the phone call, but if it's remotely true our guys need some work on their salemenship/wooing skills. I too love to be reminded of my shortcomings and have people suggest I toe the line as someone is negotiating that I come and work with them.

[Scott Campbell]

You don't tell the most spectacular WR to ever play the game that he's second fiddle to a good but no where near great WR like Donald Driver.

Problem is, Randy was not the most spectacular WR to ever play the game when Ted was talking with him. He was the piece of crap stinking it up and pouting in Oakland, and years removed from the type of play we saw this year. His value was so diminished that the Pats only had to give up a 4th for him. Think about that. They got him for a 4th round pick. Think about how bad his reputation had become that the Raiders would have to settle for a lousy 4th. The Pats made a small bet on a longshot, and it paid off huge. Good for them. But I don't blame Ted or any of the other GM's in football that didn't bet more on the guy for not taking a longshot chance on damaged goods.

Hindsight is 20/20.

[Scott Campbell]

I too love to be reminded of my shortcomings and have people suggest I toe the line as someone is negotiating that I come and work with them.

I think Randy's reaction to his likely role on this team was a necessary indicator of his willingness to fit in here. If he couldn't deal with it, we wouldn't have wanted him. Unless you knew he'd have a humongous year. Which you didn't.

[Patler]

What would it have said to Donald Driver if the Packers fell all over Randy Moss to get him there? Some of you are concerned with not respecting Randy Moss, how about not respecting Donald Driver?

2004, 2005 2006 combined stats:

Moss- 42 games, 151 receptions, 1,825 yards.
Driver 48 games, 262 receptions, 3,724 yards.

Based on the last three seasons, you are going to tell Driver to step aside because Randy Moss is here? No, you tell Moss that he has to come here and earn his throws, just like everyone else, because Driver and Favre have a connection that has served both well for years.

It was much easier for NE to tell him that he could come in and be #1, because they had no established primary receiving threat.

[twoseven]

I too love to be reminded of my shortcomings and have people suggest I toe the line as someone is negotiating that I come and work with them.

I think Randy's reaction to his likely role on this team was a necessary indicator of his willingness to fit in here. If he couldn't deal with it, we wouldn't have wanted him. Unless you knew he'd have a humongous year. Which you didn't.

I simply stated that if what he said was even a bit true our side needs to work on their salesmanship. Forget Moss. Are they going to address future phone calls with the same scolding parental tones if the player has had issues? Pretty stupid if you ask me, and a total waste of cell phone minutes. I don't care if it's Randy Moss or Mother Theresa on the phone, nobody that has any pride or self-esteem wants to be talked to like that, or reminded of problems they have tried to put behind them. Both Briggs and Hayensworth have had issues, is the first step towards negotiating a deal with them to bring up the Lamborghini crash and stepping on players faces? I would hope not. If you have a big enough problem with those types of things maybe you shouldn't be calling the player in the first place, eh?

[vince]

I was one who advocated for signing Moss last offseason, and obviously he has produced like no other receiver in history over the course of this regular season. However, Moss's upside potential was clearly not without an equal potential for a cancerous presence if things didn't go the way he wanted them to. His continuing personal problems are also a negative weight to the team.

I think the approach taken by the organization was justified, particularly when you look at the fact that they've put together a potent receiving group without the potential cancerous presence. With the production and depth we now have, it's hard to argue we'd really be much better off with him. Someone already mentioned it, but Moss would not likely have made a big difference against the G-Men.

You can second guess every decision a GM makes. You obviously have to look at the overall body of work and the actual results.

[packinpatland]

Moss didn't want to come to GB............he 'stunk-up' our goalpost.

[twoseven]

If they can figure that much about a player's character, intentions, and current ability with a phone call then I wish they had called Ahmad Carrol a few more times before they drafted him.

[Scott Campbell]

Both Briggs and Hayensworth have had issues......

Not on the field they haven't. Randy's problems were greater on the field than anywhere else.

[twoseven]

Unless you knew he'd have a humongous year. Which you didn't.

I could give two spits about Moss after he became a Pat, but while you are making blind assumptions about me, for your info count me as one of those people that said he still had the goods.

[twoseven]

Both Briggs and Hayensworth have had issues......

Not on the field they haven't. Randy's problems were greater on the field than anywhere else.

So when Hayensworth stepped on that guy's face on the field and during a game, how exactly was that not an on the field issue?

Briggs getting drunk, crshing his car, fleeing the scene, then calling the police from his house to say his car was stolen is somehow not as bad as squirting a ref, mooning our fans, and walking to the lockerroom before then WAS game ended? C'mon.

[Scott Campbell]

Unless you knew he'd have a humongous year. Which you didn't.

I could give two spits about Moss after he became a Pat, but while you are making blind assumptions about me, for your info count me as one of those people that said he still had the goods.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I knew the Pack would go 13-3.

[RashanGary]

If you read all of my post SC, I agree with you. It's hindsight now. Still, Moss had been a GREAT player. I consider him the greatest WR or RB that I've watched.


He wasn't as productive in Oakland for a number of reasons. Still, you don't tell a guy like Moss that he's second fiddle. Whether you think it or not, you don't say it if you want a guy to come to your team. You tell him how amazing he was in Minnesota and if he plays half that good with your team, you'll be extatic.


I agree that htey need to work on their smoozing skills. That was just a piss/poor way to treat a player you want. If I was all of a sudden a great player and I was talked to like that, I'd go to the other team too. Even if I had a chance to play for the Packers and I was a fan like I am, I'd still go to the other team if they appreciated me more. I would not want to be somewhere that I wasn't wanted. That was their problem. They made him feel unwanted.