Moss gives naysayers some ammunition
Jan 16th, 2008 by Bill Burt
It was a strange day at Gillette Stadium yesterday. Rather than talk about the game, Randy Moss took centerstage.
It was reported earlier in the morning, apparently from an Orlando radio station, that a “restraining order” of some kind was issued to Moss after an altercation with a Fort Lauderdale woman, Rachelle Washington, claimed a “battery” took place.
According a police report, Washington said Moss then would not allow her seek medical attention.
In a strange sequence of events, Moss, who usually doesn’t speak during the week, held two impromptu press conferences inside the Patriots locker room.
His opening statement in the first started like this:
“It’s unfair to athletes if a person makes a false claim. You know, there is nothing we can do. The only thing we can do is either pay up or sit back and listen to what’s been said or what’s being written. I can honestly say I am a … I don’t know what the word is to use … that’s what position I’m in. For someone to make a false claim about me, I’m kind furious.”
Please not that Moss was not angry with the media. In fact, you could see he was looking for some help in getting his story out.
Anyway, after ending his first go-round with the media he came back to his locker and another horde approached him. And he almost welcomed the barrage.
He implied Ms. Washington attempted to blackmail him for “six figures.”
To make a long story short, Moss said he went to Belichick on Friday to look for advice following the “extortion” and Belichick apparent told him to play football and worry about it after the season is over.
Again, it was a strange development. Moss has been the perfect Patriot since coming aboard. What was interesting was the fact that he was more than open to the media on a day he normally wouldn’t be.
Patriots players would not go near the issue. In fact, one player, Kevin Faulk, told a Patriots PR assistant that he didn’t want a particular writer to come to his locker again because he kept asking about the Moss “issue.”
It’s really not what the Patriots want. But we’ve seen them jump bigger hurdles/controversies in the past.
We will stay on this as the moves forward with any developments.
What are you early opinions and/or comments?
2 reader comments to “Moss gives naysayers some ammunition”
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1Scott in Lowell said:
I heard both the pressers on WEEI, and I have to say he sounds very sincere. He even went as far as to use the word “extortion” as you mentioned. I wonder what the accident was, though. I hope this doesn’t blow up over the next couple weeks, the Pats don’t need any more bad press. I believe Randy!
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2Max Kliman said:
I belive Moss also. It doesn’t sound like he would do it.
