April 29, 2007
Moss, final part
When did you get word that this was going to be your fate?
"I think last night. I talked to Coach Belichick and he really talked about a couple of things and the possibility of me becoming a Patriot and I just told him that I’m going to keep my fingers crossed and try not to do anything stupid, meaning how happy I am to even talk to Coach Belichick and them entertaining a possible trade of me becoming a New England Patriot. Like I said, I am still excited, but at the same time, I’m still in awe that I’m a part of this organization."
Is it true New England was the only team you would restructure your contract for?
"No. I think that, at the time, [there were talks] about possible trades with the teams and I found out that New England was interested. How many players can you ask in the league that wouldn’t want to come up here and play for the New England Patriots? Like I said, their organization really speaks for itself. You don’t have to really go out and ask Mike Vrabel, Tom Brady, Richard Seymour, you don’t have to ask those guys about the organization because the organization speaks for itself. When I found out that the organization was interested, like I said, I really found out last night how interested they were. I heard it, like I said, through the grapevine, through my friends and on the television through the media that they might be interested. I didn’t really get too excited because I didn’t know if it would work or not."
Did you feel like anything went wrong in Oakland and with Coach [Lane] Kiffin?
"No it wasn’t Coach Kiffin. I wish Coach Kiffin the best. I really haven’t had a chance to really, really talk to Coach Kiffin because there was a little bit of bad blood in Oakland. It was not one particular person. I think it was just not winning and that's what frustrated me the most is not being able to win. As far as I'm concerned with Coach Kiffin I wish him the best. They drafted JaMarcus Russell. They had the two acquisitions this offseason. I don’t have any bad blood with any particular person, even Mr. [Al] Davis, or with the organization. I wish everybody there the best. I really do."
There’s a report that Coach Belichick saw you run 4.2940, is that true?
"Let’s put it this way, the Moss of old is back. We’ll leave it at that.
Posted By: mreiss | Time: 04:55:29 PM | Link | E-mail to a friend
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April 29, 2007
Moss, Part 5
Have you had any contact with Corey Dillon and in any ways do you see any similarities, as he was someone who came here with an unflattering reputation?
“I think that you guys, the media, has put the reputation and all this stuff out there about me. My coaches that I’ve played for, the players I’ve played with, never seemed to have a problem about my character. Only the media does. So one thing I’m going to promise you guys – I’m going to try my best to give you all a little bit of short interviews, but at the same time I’m going to stay away from it [laughter].”
Can you give us an idea of what the new contract looks like – is it still two years left in length, and how much was converted to incentives, do you have incentives?
“No, I’m not here to really discuss my contract. All I want you to know is how excited I am to be a part of this organization. I think a lot of things have been said, probably over the last week or two about the draft coming – ‘Am I still going to be in Oakland? What team am I going to be on? – that really kind of bothered me because I really didn’t know my fate. Not knowing my fate, that really scares me. What it scares me into doing is working out, getting my body conditioning, so whatever team I get on, that hopefully I can showcase my talent. Luckily, it was the New England Patriots. You all are going to see some things you haven’t seen before, and when it does happen, don’t say I didn’t tell you.”
Posted By: mreiss | Time: 04:21:08 PM | Link | E-mail to a friend
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April 29, 2007
Moss, Part 4
What type of coaching do you think gets the best out of you?
“I think that Coach is going to give me his best as far as getting me prepared weekly and motivating me. I think he’s the kind of coach that can motivate me and motivate not just me, but the team, to go out there and win. He has a proven track record, so why not be happy, so why not be excited to come play for this organization?
Are you OK to be treated exactly like somebody else?
“I’ve never had a problem with it before in my lifetime. It’s just other people have.”
One of the things with Tom Brady is that he’s known for spreading the ball around. There are games where his top receiver hasn’t seen a pass. Are you comfortable with that?
“Of course I am. I just want to win. I don’t know where you guys are coming from, knowing that I’m going to be so selfish about this trade and me becoming a Patriot. I’ve never been a selfish ballplayer. I’ve been selfish for winning, but as far as me getting the ball and me getting my numbers, I’ve never been selfish. I understand that an organization pays me a certain amount of dollars to make things happen, and when things don’t happen, of course I get mad, of course I get angry. Hopefully some things will work out and I’m looking forward to this opportunity to showcase my real talent.”
Being a Marshall guy, do you know Troy Brown and did he have any impact on you when he was there?
“I’ve always considered myself the second best receiver to come out of Marshall. Being able to play with a Troy Brown, and what he’s done for the organization – and I know Troy is not an individual, and I know they don’t live off individuals – but you see what he’s done in the past and his Super Bowl experience, his punt return against the Pittsburgh Steelers. There are things I love in the game that you have to pay attention to. Troy being from Marshall, me being from Marshall, like I’ve always said, he started the trend of guys going into the league from Marshall and I just wanted to continue that but at the same time just enjoy myself and have fun.”
Posted By: mreiss | Time: 04:13:37 PM | Link | E-mail to a friend
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April 29, 2007
Moss, Part III
I know you’ve admitted to using marijuana in the past. Are you in the drug program right now?
“I’m really not going to get into the past.”
How about right now?
“I think that a lot of things that you guys are going to try to come up with, and dig into, is very confidential between player and organization, and also the NFL, so I’m not really going to get into that.”
Do you think the Patriots are a favorite to win the Super Bowl?
“Well, when the opportunity came around for me to get traded to New England, and I talked to Coach Belichick, once I started hearing the buzz in the air and on the TV, it was just like me getting a chance to really get on that Super Bowl stage and really show the world who I am and what I’m able to do. What I’ve done in my nine-year career is just a glimpse of what I can do. So me being able to get the right things in place for me to be able to succeed on the field is right here in New England.”
How hard has it been playing in losing situations year after year?
“I think it’s frustrating for any player, any athlete, not just football. Any athlete, if it’s golf, an individual sport, if it was a team sport, it’s always frustrating. When it happens, it’s like you’re going week in and week out and losing and can’t find ways to win, it’s very frustrating. I think that what I’ve done in the past as far as losing and sometimes getting out of control, I think that’s just my competitive nature of wanting to win and helping my team getting into position to win. Like I said, losing sometimes gets contagious. As a player you can’t let that settle in. That’s one of the things that bothered me. I didn’t want it to set in. It didn’t set in. It was just really nerve wracking, knowing it was hard for me to win.”
Do you have a relationship with anyone on this team, and have you talked to any Patriots at this point?
“I talked to Tom Brady today, just to jump some things off, and to let him know how excited I am to play with him. And also, the other players on the team, I know Tom is not no individual. I’ve done my homework on this organization, because they’ve won three Super Bowls, so who hasn’t? They have players in place who are well respected and well known throughout the league. For me, to talk to the players, there are some things right now going on right now, I’m still overwhelmed. At the same time, kind of star-struck that I’m part of this New England Patriots organization. The only person I’ve really talked to is Tom Brady thus far.”
unscathed and very well-rested . . ."
unscathed and very well-rested . . ."
