In a year where rookie commissioner Roger Goodell has been cracking down on the NFL so hard that the only rules left to implement are "No substitutions," "No penalties," and "No time limit," two of the league's most provocative and controversial wide receivers have begun the season with amazing numbers.
Seriously, what the hell, God?
Randy Moss, exiled from both the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders, has over 400 yards through three games. His five touchdowns already total more than his entire output from last year, when he had three. Six more scores — which he should get all in next week's Monday night game against Cincinnati — and he'll equal his two-year touchdown total in the Silver and Black.
This is the same person who, in his first nine seasons, compiled a litany of questionable actions and curious statements, including admitting to not trying 100 percent on every down, smoking marijuana during past NFL seasons, and publicly calling out Oakland Raiders teammates and coaches. He also ran into legal trouble a couple times, such as running over a traffic patrolman with his car and being cited for marijuana possession.
But in this, his 10th year, the enigma known as Randy Moss is suddenly the New England Patriots' exclamation point to a 3-0 start.
Equally goofy is not Terrell Owens' 329 receiving yards and three touchdowns — he's typically good for those kind of numbers — but the startling revelation that he isn't a distraction this year.
In seasons prior, Owens would call out his team quarterback, were it Jeff Garcia, Drew Bledsoe, or Donovan McNabb. He bitched about being traded to the Baltimore Ravens, enough, in fact, that he got the trade voided and instead was sent to Philadelphia, where he ultimately became the league's biggest locker room cancer. Shipped overnight to Dallas, his shenanigans picked up once again as his idea of "training camp" was "pedaling on a stationary bike," and many believe that Owens' presence was one of the factors in Bill Parcells retiring as coach of the Cowboys.
Oh, and there was that whole attempted suicide frenzy. That was kinda funny.
This year, he did say in Time that he'd like to have Donovan McNabb as his quarterback, which I thought the fans and media would have read more into that quote, but perhaps it was too mind-boggling that we all ignored it. Tony Romo sure has ignored it, because the Cowboys quarterback has gone to him with regularity. His 329 receiving yards is second in the NFC, and his Cowboys, like the Patriots are 3-0.
Article comments
1 - Chris McVetta
I really like those new white San Diego uniforms, don't you? Almost as much as the powder-blue ones.
Wait... where am I?
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
I'm more impressed that Tomlinson, despite his poor yards-per-carry, can still execute the aerial Lotus position.