Randy Moss Made A Mistake

Everyone likes to watch a good freak show now and again so when I heard Randy Moss retired from the NFL I was shocked and disappointed. Moss is arguably the best wide receiver of his generation and a sure fire first ballot hall of famer. What made him decide to leave the game?

Pride and ego. Randy Moss considers himself football royalty and believes his pedigree and accomplishments speak for themselves. From high school where he won the 100 and 200 meter state championship to college where he ran the 5th fastest indoor 200 meters in the world to the pros where he was a member of the 1st and 2nd highest scoring offenses in history Randy Moss has always displayed superior athletic ability.

Although Moss is a special player, his attitude can get him into trouble at times. He wore out his welcome in Minnesota (twice), publicly complained about money in New England (an absolute no no) and floundered in Oakland and Tennessee criticizing mediocre quarterbacks. A certain amount of baggage comes with the freak show and at 34 a lot of teams have decided the risk is not worth the reward.

Without a doubt Randy Moss is still one of the top 10 receivers in the NFL and there's probably not 7 cornerbacks in the league that can cover him man to man. It's hard to imagine some team couldn't use a deep threat of Randy's caliber. The problem is Randy Moss wants things on his own terms and feels disrespected by the offers he has received. That may be the case, but retirement is a decision that will haunt him later in life.

I always say play the game until you can't play it anymore. Don't walk away with something left in the tank because you'll regret it forever. There's nothing Randy Moss can do that will replace the feeling of being an NFL star. Everything else will pale in comparison. My hunch is Randy will keep himself in great shape and some NFL team will contact him at the first sign of trouble. Injuries are a part of the game and it's comforting to know there's a future hall of fame receiver a phone call away. The question is will his pride and ego allow him to answer.