Moss lashes out at ex-Raider Long

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Moss lashes out at ex-Raider Long
WR believes that Fox-TV analyst questioned his passion for football
By Steve Corkran, MEDIANEWS
Inside Bay Area
Article Last Updated: 10/10/2006 02:40:04 AM PDT

ALAMEDA — Raiders past and present always have excelled at banding together, finding a common bond in playing for a franchise that takes great pride in its tradition, renegade image and penchant for embracing those shunned by other teams.
Now, even that is coming apart as the Raiders season falls deeper into the abyss. On Monday, wide receiver Randy Moss lashed out at former Raiders defensive lineman and Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long for comments Long made about Moss' passion for the game.

"He had his turn when he played," Mosssaid of Long on his weekly radio spot on Fox Sports. "Of course, I know he's an (Fox-TV) analyst, and it's his job to stir up controversy, but for him to take a shot at me and say that I don't have a passion for the game, I love the passion for the game. If I don't have that much passion, you tell his (butt) to come out here and put on some pads and go at me."

Long referenced comments made by Moss on Fox Sports radio Oct.2 in which Moss said: The Cleveland Browns game "was a bad game for me. It really got to me knowing that it's hard for me to get into the game physically, to get myself going out there, to get a sweat. I mean, you have games that it's hard to get up for them."

When reached by phone, Long said his comments were in response to the ones Moss made Oct.2, that he has "never questioned Randy's ability or questioned his passion for the game."

On Monday, Moss said he and his NFL colleagues face a different set of challenges today from the ones Long encountered during a playing career that spanned 1981-93.

"For Howie Long to say something like that is kind of bad because he knows, as a former NFL player, what it takes to get up for a game every Sunday," Moss said. "You got to practice week in and week out. Back in them days, he was probably popping pills and tablets and all that to get them up and going.

"But nowadays with the drug-testing policies and the performance-enhancing policy, then it's hard for a player to just go out there with just himself and go out there week in and week out."

Long said he laughed when one of his sons informed him of Moss' comments. His amusement turned into puzzlement when he learned Moss implied that players from Long's generation needed help getting up for games.

"If Randy wants to know what I was about in my 13 years as a Raider, and I'm a proud Raider, all he has to do is walk upstairs to the coach's office because I had the privilege of playing with and for Art Shell," Long said. "I'm pulling for him, and I'm pulling for the football team."

Moss declined an interview request only minutes before he conducted his interview with Fox Sports. He hasn't spoken with local media since Aug.14.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hoge played from 1987-93. He called Moss' assertion that players from Long's and Hoge's era relied upon "pills and tablets" absurd.

"I didn't even take a Tylenol to get up or didn't need steroids," Hoge said in a phone interview. "A guy like Howie, he had a passion for the game. People who love the game, respect the game, have a problem with the way Randy plays the game. They are disgusted when they watch him play."

Hoge said Moss hides weaknesses in his game by blaming others. He calls Moss a "very limited player, a one-dimensional player. He's an awful route runner. Terrell Owens will play hard, at least."

When asked if he has voiced his displeasure with the way things are going this season, Moss said he no longer seeks out managing general partner Al Davis.

"I've had my times the last two years that I went up there," Moss said. "Most of the times I go up there, I'm usually talking to Freddie Biletnikoff, my wide receivers coach. But going up there and voicing my opinion is like going up there and wasting time. I don't even go."

IT'S WALTER AGAIN: Regular quarterback Aaron Brooks still isn't able to throw the ball as far as he needs to, Shell said, so he is listed as doubtful for Sunday night's game against the Denver Broncos.

Backup Andrew Walter has started the past two games while Brooks recovers from a strained pectoral muscle that he sustained Sept.17. He is expected to start Sunday, as well.

EXTRA POINTS: Right guard Kevin Boothe on Sunday received treatment for a broken nose before being released from a hospital, Shell said. He got hurt in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the 49ers. He is questionable for Sunday's game. The same goes for tight ends John Madsen (quadriceps), Randal Williams (quadriceps) and James Adkisson (groin), cornerback Fabian Washington (hamstring) and linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba (shoulder). Linebacker Grant Irons (back) won't play against the Broncos, Shell said.
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http://www.insidebayarea.com/raiders/ci_4469010
 
You go, Howie!

And Merril Hoge? Whew!

I've defended Moss over these comments. I shall defend no more. Saying things about Howie is a good way to lose the backing of the Raider Nation, I'd say.
 
I think Randy needs to just shut up. Anytime he talks he makes himself out to be a total slacker.

He should have known by the reaction to the I play hard when I want to comments he made in Minnesota, that coaches, former players and fans really don't want to hear that. Yet he makes those comments again.

I like the one take about Terrel Owens will play hard at least. Very true.

What an idiot.
 
TommyGirl said:
You go, Howie!

And Merril Hoge? Whew!

I've defended Moss over these comments. I shall defend no more. Saying things about Howie is a good way to lose the backing of the Raider Nation, I'd say.
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Not that I had alot of respect for him, but bashing Howie like that and accusing him of popping pills is just low class.

Definately lost any last bit of any backing I would give him.
 
He lost my backing totally when he dropped a gimme touchdown. My homerism for Walter knows no bounds.
 
How badly does Moss want out of Oakland? He's starting to hit all the right buttons.
 
I don't think Moss wants out of Oakland. The way he's talking, he wants out of football. It's time to get that Inta Juice company moving cuz that doesn't take work, just money. Hire the right people and let the profits flow.
 
CrossBones said:
How badly does Moss want out of Oakland? He's starting to hit all the right buttons.
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Let's see Howie put on the pads and show Moss what football is about ;)
 
Rupert said:
I don't think Moss wants out of Oakland. The way he's talking, he wants out of football.
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I get this impression as well... Moss just doesn't seem the kind of guy to be concerned about his legacy in the game...He made his money and time with his kids and daily trips to the fishing hole may be looking awfully good in place of the magnifying glass he's constantly put under by the media... Of course the losing doesn't bring any happy happy joy jopy either.... A Moss retirement announcement at the end of the season wouldn't surprise me in the least...


"He had his turn when he played," Moss said of Long on his weekly radio spot on Fox Sports. "Of course, I know he's an (Fox-TV) analyst, and it's his job to stir up controversy, but for him to take a shot at me and say that I don't have a passion for the game, I love the passion for the game. If I don't have that much passion, you tell his (butt) to come out here and put on some pads and go at me."
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Would anyone have a real problem had he said this to anyone but Howie?... Shannon Sharpe or that tool Sean Salisbury perhaps?...


I don't like the pill popping comments at all... it shouldn't be implied of a player of Howie's status without evidence... Not that the reaching into the jar for a pregame hand full of various amphetemines hasn't been a documented part of the pre-drug testing era, but STFU about it...
 
Class act.

Don't let the door hit ya, big guy.
 
Well you can see why he doesn't speak to the cameras. He probally does mean anything of bad feelings towards Long, But he gets caught up in his emotions and his fustration which is a bad formula for anyone responding to comments they saw as negative. I'm sure a couple wins eases this for the moment, but easier said than done.

a cup of stfu would do all our players good at the moment. this clusterfuck is like a knot thats taking too long to untie. I'm almost ready to cut the rope, but not yet. :o
 
Seraph24 said:


Well you can see why he doesn't speak to the cameras. He probally does mean anything of bad feelings towards Long, But he gets caught up in his emotions and his fustration which is a bad formula for anyone responding to comments they saw as negative.
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I'm twisted on this one... On one hand you'd like the guy just to keep quiet and avoid the drama... on the other hand, if that's me that someone is dogging out, my first response would be to lash right back at them, especially if they're questioning my heart...

Expecting Moss or any athlete to sit there and take it is a tad unrealistic... As bad as Moss has been misinterpeted at times through his career, I'd be avoiding the media and any open mike like the plague if I were him....
 
Randy is not a good communicator. I mean he just can't get the words in his head to come out of his mouth the right way.

Think about it. Almost everytime he interviews with FOX people are scratching their heads trying to figure out 1) what he said or 2) they're blasting him for what they think he meant. :eek:
 
Well at this point we think he wants to go Bison Dele on us. Which is probally way off from the truth. Just not good to try and read his interviews on anything more specific than general meaning. For those of you lost of what doing a Bison Dele is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bison_Dele
 
Dude! I'd forgotten all about that. Definitely screwed up.
 
Per Howie on the Jim Rome show, Moss reached out to Howie and apologized for overreacting to what Howie initially said... They squashed it and had a long discussion yesterday about many things... Good for them....
 
I would hope that Randy wouldn't want to wind up like ole Bison.
 
I am glad he talked to Howie and hopefully they got it squared away.

IMO bringing up the pills thing was really lame and a busch league move.
 
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