Is Tom Brady really that blind, or that stupid?

by BigBlueShoe on Dec 1, 2007 3:46 PM EST in Analysis

Ryan Wilson of AOL Fanhouse discusses Ron Jaworski's criticisms of Randy Moss, and Tom Brady's laughable reaction to them. What started all this is Jaworski (ESPN's best analyst and the only knowledgeable human being in the MNF booth) called out Randy Moss during the MNF game last week because Randy (eek!) took plays off. Of course, this is nothing new for the rest of us who live on planet Earth. Randy's been doggin' it pretty much his entire NFL career, and it's a big reason why he will never sniff the Hall of Fame, despite all-world talent.

But apparently, Tom Brady took offense to Jaworski's observations in a way that makes me question Brady's sanity or his overall intelligence:

"I have never, ever felt he has taken plays off. Are you kidding me? There is nothing there about Randy's game that I'm not 100 percent positive on," Brady said....

"It bothers me that people take unnecessary shots at him," Brady said. "I don't know what he's done in the past, but he's been great to be around and I think people just like taking shots, unfortunately. If you truly appreciated what he does in his game, then [you wouldn't take shots] ... around us he's a great teammate and everything we're looking for."

Wilson at Fanhouse defines Brady's comments perfectly:

First of all, Brady doesn't know what Moss has done in the past? Really? I guess Bill Belichick doesn't allow televisions on the compound. Otherwise, Brady's full of crap. Second, I imagine Brady knows exactly what Jaws is talking about since he watches the same tape. It's not surprising that he wouldn't call out his teammate, especially one who's on pace to break all sorts of receiving records, but he sounds silly defending Moss.

So, either Tommy Terrific is lying through his teeth, or he's plain blind. I also like how he claims Jaworski took "unnecessary shots" at Moss. Really? Jaws looked at tape, saw Moss doggin' it, and called him out on it. I know. Shocking, isn't it? This is nothing new for Moss, and Brady knows that. Moss is known as a lazy player who only plays hard when 1) The team is good, and 2) When he's getting the ball.

I sometimes wonder if Patriots players are as deluded and disconnected from reality as their fanbase sometimes is. Like Wilson, I fully expect Patriots PR representative and HGH doper Rodney Harrison to start barking about how Randy isn't "respected" the way he should be.

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I'll save One More some time

Can you say..

grasoping at straws...

"Billick also defended Moss against charges by ESPN analyst Ron Jaworksi that Moss took plays off in New England's 31-28 victory over the Eagles last Sunday.

"I think that type of thing is overblown," said Billick. "If you chose to take a Polaroid snapshot of any player at any given time, you could probably find an instance that a player maybe was not 100 percent focused or coming off the ball. I mean, this is a tough game, so if you choose to isolate those things, I'm sure you could find it, but I don't put much credence in that."

Moss is fine...worry about Harrison...

by OneMore on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 11:03:34 AM CST

Yup...

you are right...I no longer like Moss...I will not give this man a chance because of some of the things he has done in the past. Why let him try and prove me wrong and form an opinion based on media exploitation and drama..
Yes..I think a change of uniform/coach/teammates can change a player...here's a tidbit about someone changing their attitude...and I don't wanna hear any excuses about how old he was, habits can change at any time ..

"At tiny Newman, Manning, who was considered one of the nation's three top quarterbacks his senior year, occasionally could be a terror. Receivers who dropped balls and linemen who missed blocks heard his screaming. Even Cooper, who was a senior when Peyton was a sophomore, wasn't exempt. Peyton and Fitzgerald, the fiery basketball coach, had a falling-out over playing time his junior year and he quit, but not before the two had a terrific argument. Archie interceded and, later, Fitzgerald was among the first to learn Peyton had picked Tennessee. But enough was enough. Peyton had forgotten a golden Manning rule: If you have to choose between being a great player or a great person, always choose the latter.

"It wasn't happening that much, but Peyton, at times, was being a jerk," says Archie, staring straight ahead. "I had to get tough with him. I told him we wouldn't tolerate it. It is one thing to compete; it is another thing to have some class. He is just serious as a heart attack about sports and everyone else isn't as committed, and he had to understand that."

Peyton, as always, listened to his dad. "

Maybe Moss just needs someone with a strong father figure like attitude in his life. When he was with Minnesota Cris Carter assumed that role and he thrived...I know, I know, adults shouldn't have to be told how to act or what to do...but alot of these players do need that..publicists, managers, and agents will gladly tell you that...

by OneMore on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 12:26:18 PM CST

by shake n bake on Dec 1, 2007 5:35 PM EST 0 recs

Quoting Billick

Quoting Brian Billick (a man who pretty much defines coaching ineptness) only strengthens the case against Moss.

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by BigBlueShoe on Dec 1, 2007 6:31 PM EST up 0 recs

Oh my...

Yet another silly thing by BBS. Sheesh dude you're running a nice streak of shit posts.

I love the people who take shots at Moss because he "takes plays off"...I am POSITIVE that every player "takes plays off" to be able to keep their enegry for the entire game.

No doubt if Moss was on the Colts BBS and my other fellow colts fans would be jizzing on him. Oh wait...talk about being a homer.

All I know is Moss is destroying the league right now and if he is doing that while taking plays off then hey, all the power to him.

It is amusing when media morons and fans running blogs take shots at athletes like they know them. I'll put more value in the teammates of said players over internet people any day.

And Jaws is an idiot. To saw he is the best espn analyst is hilarious to me. Give me Steve Young any day over Jaworski.

Oh and I bet Moss hits the HoF because unlike internet kiddies, the voters can get past some past issues when the player will have numbers through the roof which is exactly what Moss will have when he retires.

by Rob L on Dec 1, 2007 5:56 PM EST 0 recs

Moss

I'll spell this out clearly for you: I don't care if a player can fly! I expect maximum effort for 60 minutes of every. single. snap. As a fan, I've watched pretty much every game Marvin Harrison has ever played, from 1996 on. I have never once seen him dog a route. Ever. This is why Harrison is a HoF lock, and Randy Moss can't sniff his jock despite having more talent than Marvin.

And Ron L, Moss is playing well now... after years of stinking up the league. His play in Oakland, and his last years in Minnesota, were a clinic on how not to act like a professional.

How you conduct yourself is as important as any numbers you put up on the field. If you are a Moss fan, that's fine. Defending lazy play says more about you than it does about Moss.

Also, Moss's lazy play will come back to bit New England, as it has done for every other team Moss has played for.

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by BigBlueShoe on Dec 1, 2007 6:27 PM EST up 0 recs

This was Jaws' point

BBS, your argument that a player should never take a play off was illustrated by Jaws' highlighting a play against Philadephia where Moss quit running his route about 10 yards downfield. This let the Eagles' FS abandon the middle of the field (which he had to honor in case Moss actually went upfield) and go toward Stallworth on the right sideline, where Brady forced a throw into coverage.

I seem to recall Colts bloggers calling Reggie Wayne out for a perceived lack of effort on a more questionable play earlier this year when Peyton was intercepted (Wayne was hammered beyond the five-yard zone and it wasn't called). This isn't a case of dumping on Moss because he's a Patriot, but because he does, indeed, take plays off. Arguing that Jaworski shouldn't call Moss out is shooting the messenger. Moss is a great talent, sure, so it's good for the rest of the league he doesn't go 100% all the time.

The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.

by Coltsfan58 on Dec 1, 2007 7:22 PM EST up 0 recs

What's funny

here is this isn't a Moss bashing post. Moss is lazy and we all know that. What's funny is Brady either refuses to except reality, or is lying when he says he doesn't know what Jaws is talking about.

This is a rare glance into Brady's state of mind, which he often keeps very private.

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by BigBlueShoe on Dec 1, 2007 8:03 PM EST up 0 recs

I'm sure that sometimes

players don't go 100%, they have to pace themselves to a point, but they have the conditioning to have every play be at the same intensity. What was pointed out by Jaworski was plays where Moss slacking hurt his team. On every play they showed the defense was helped to make a play because of Moss's laziness.

by shake n bake on Dec 1, 2007 11:02 PM EST 0 recs

ok now

"This is a rare glance into Brady's state of mind, which he often keeps very private."

Perhaps you should view this more as a case of a QB publically defending his teammate from outside criticism. Sure, maybe he disagrees personally, but do you really think he would air that to the media? Of course not. If anything is said at all, it will be in Moss's defense. If there is an issue, it would be dealt with in house, not to the media. Basically, if Brady is asked this question the only answer he can even remotely be expected to give is the one he did.

Besides, how many people in the world, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne included, can run 60 or so full on wind sprints in sets of 4, 5 or 8 at a time without slowing down?

by CGM on Dec 1, 2007 11:27 PM EST 0 recs

Workhorse Moss

I think I read somewhere recently that Randy Moss has been on the field for greater than 95% of all the Patriots offensive plays and to me, it seems like New England throws the ball on every single play. So it appears that Ron Jaworski has found a few plays where Moss is catching his breath on the field, as opposed to standing on the sidelines. That doesn't seem like a big sin to me. Many players would point at their chest and want out of the game, it must be that Jaworski favors this type of football player.

This I do know, right now, I'll take Moss over any other pass catcher in the NFL. I bet the Colts wish they could have landed this guy in the off-season. He catches most everthing throw his way and when he's not the intended target, he still draws two defenders. This leaves Welker & Stallworth in single-man or completely uncovered and so the Patriots air attack goes on unaffected.

The Eagles devoted a lot of attention to Moss last week (it was their game plan) and what did it get them... and big dose of Wes Welker and 31 points on the board from N.E. The Patriots actually scored 38 but the offials took a TD away from Moss on a phantom offensive int. call. It looks like the league dislikes Randy as much as Jaworski & Ryan Wilson.

The critisims of Tom Brady are amusing, he's either blind or a liar because he feels... he insists that Moss is a valuable asset to the team. I'm sure you all would have been happy to hear Brady bad-mouth his go-to guy but gentlemen, that kind of talk is left to lesser quarterbacks. You won't hear the Pats QB whine about anything, let alone one of the best receivers in the league.

Jaworski got the press he wanted but, his film review doesn't change the fact that Randy Moss is a highly skilled pass catcher, who makes the opposing team adapt to him and in so doing, allows his quarterback to beat you. Every time.

by ssd on Dec 3, 2007 2:19 PM EST 0 recs