Moss Wants Back in New England

Former Vikings, Patriots, Vikings again, and Titans WR Randy Moss recently conducted a sports radio interview with a local Minnesota station and stated emphatically that his preference is to play football with the Patriots this coming season.

“…if you’re asking me where my heart is, I think just the success as a wide receiver and everything the New England Patriots stand for — I’m a big fan of Bill Belichick, I really am. Not just on the field, I’m a fan of his off the field, because the little grouchy man that you see on camera is not what you see off camera.”

Recall that Moss was traded from the Patriots to the Vikings after Week 4 amid rumors that he was becoming a cancer in the locker room. After a post-game rant when the Patriots defeated the Vikings during the season, Moss released a few days later. He was then claimed by the Titans off waivers. According to Moss, his trade from the Pats to Minnesota was a business decision.

“…people say, ‘Well Moss, you got traded to Minnesota from New England.’ Well, I just told you all this is a business and people have to understand the nature of the business. It’s not just a sport. The sports comes along with the business. If you really don’t think it’s a business, then why are they sitting there fighting over $9 billion?”

Moss discussed his time in New England in an extremely positive and upbeat way, and mentioned that he wanted to play for Bill Belichick and with Tom Brady again.

“If you’re asking me where my heart and where I’m happy is, I love playing with Tom Brady. I love being coached by Bill Belichick.”

The question is, do the Patriots want him back? Was his trade to Minnesota a business decision or was there more going on behind the scenes that they had seen enough of? A business decision in the middle of the season doesn’t make a ton of sense. Sure, the Patriots got a third round pick out of the deal, but if Moss was a model citizen and still a big play threat, why trade him away?

That also lends one to ask another question: Does Moss still have the ability to play at an elite level? After leaving New England, Moss only caught 19 balls for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns. That could be partly due to the QB play in Minnesota and Tennessee, but certainly not completely. There is no way an elite, or even a very good WR catches that few balls. Moss wasn’t exactly lighting it up in New England either before he left, but he did have the highlight reel catch against Darrelle Revis Week 2. It will be interesting to see if there is any interest from the Patriots once a new CBA is completed and free agency begins.

What do you think?