EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. » Just four weeks ago, Randy Moss gushed about returning to Minnesota. He felt fortunate to return to his first team and was looking forward to seeing those purple No. 84 jerseys again.
One day after Moss' rant following a loss at New England, the happy reunion was over.
Vikings players confirmed yesterday that coach Brad Childress informed them during a team meeting that the wide receiver had been released.
"This decision was made based on what we thought was in the best interests of the Minnesota Vikings, both in the short and long term," Childress said last night in a team-issued statement. "We wish Randy the best as he moves forward in his career."
The NFL Network first reported the struggling Vikings (2-5) had waived the six-time Pro Bowler less than a month after acquiring him from the Patriots for a third-round draft pick. Moss returned to New England on Sunday and was wistful about his days with the AFC East leaders following Minnesota's 28-18 loss and critical of the Vikings for not taking his game-planning advice.
Moss, who was fined $25,000 last week for failing to cooperate with the media and make himself regularly available for interviews, stepped to the podium after Sunday's game but announced he wouldn't take any questions. He repeatedly expressed admiration for coach Bill Belichick and his former team and criticized the Vikings for not paying enough attention to his advice in the run-up to the game.
"I'm definitely down that we lost this game. I didn't expect we'd lose this game," Moss said. "I don't know how many more times I'll be in New England again. But I leave Coach Belichick and those guys with a salute: 'I love you guys. I miss you. I'm out.' "
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[11/3/10] The Titans felt that Randy Moss was just too good to pass up twice.
So they didn't.
After skipping Moss in the 1998 draft, Tennessee claimed him off the waiver wire Wednesday.
"Timing is everything," coach Jeff Fisher told The Associated Press on Wednesday night. "I really think the quicker we get him on the field, the longer he's here, the more productive he'll be. We think that he can help us, and I'm looking forward to seeing him run under those deep balls."
The Titans didn't seem to be the front-runner to get Moss, ranking 23rd among NFL teams in the waiver system. But Tennessee was the only team to put in a claim on the talented, but much-traveled wideout.
Concerned about Moss' characer in 1998, Tennessee, then the Oilers, drafted Kevin Dyson with the 16th pick overall instead.
Fisher said the Titans did their "due diligence" on Moss. That included talking to Moss and former teammates like current Titans backup quarterback Kerry Collins. Fisher said Moss was excited about the move, and the NFL's longest-tenured coach with his current team isn't concerned about how the 13-year veteran now with his third team this season.
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