One of the standard plot devices in horror movies, especially the slasher sub-genre, is the villain/monster/exaggerated parody bad guy who will not die. You know, you club him, stab him 50 or 60 times, set him on fire, pump a couple of dozen .45 rounds into his chest, and bury him, and there he is fifteen minutes later, popping up and killing another disposable cast member. You just cannot get this guy to go away.
There are some ideas that are just like that. Someone will always drag the idea up and put it out there - again. Fans of the Dallas Cowboys have to deal with the same kinds of thoughts, ideas that should have long ago died a natural and merciful death, but that keep dragging themselves up and striking terror into the hearts of some of us.
Like the idea floated in the Dallas Morning News (as it has been so often before in a variety of places) that someone involved with the Cowboys may be interested in signing Randy Moss.
The chances of the Cowboys attempting to sign Randy Moss seems highly unlikely, maybe even close to impossible. Receiver is one of the few areas the franchise doesn't need an upgrade and re-signing Laurent Robinson should be a higher priority than adding a receiver that turned 35 on Monday.
But with Jerry Jones running the show you never really know.
Where are my wooden stakes and thermonuclear weapons when I really need them?
More blood curdling details after the jump.
The story came lumbering out of the Stygian darkness when Moss decided to celebrate his 35th birthday by announcing he wanted to mount a comeback.
"I just wanna go to a team and play some football," Moss announced via Ustream.tv, according to ProFootballTalk.com. "Faith, family, and football, that's my M.O., bro. Your boy be back for the upcoming season."
Look, I have no doubt that Moss might have something to offer to some NFL teams. But when the Cowboys are mentioned as a possible destination, I just think "This is so wrong on so many levels".
The Cowboys have a youth movement going on. Dallas made a pretty definitive statement when it cut Marc Colombo and Leonard Davis to start the 2011 season. The team went with younger players and an eye towards the future, even at the risk (which to a certain extent was realized) of having growing pains with the young 'uns. While there are some conceivable scenarios where signing an aging veteran might help with certain problems (like maybe center), wide receiver just doesn't fit as one of those categories. Miles Austin and Dez Bryant should have years ahead of them, and I would much rather see the team put some effort into resigning Laurent Robinson than bringing Moss on board. Even if the team should lose Robinson to another team, there are still many other options at wide receiver available in free agency (which should also work in the team's favor in keeping LR). And there are some promising young guys like Raymond Radway and Andre Holmes that provide a little hope for depth.
Haven't we been down this road before? Terrell Owens, another player of incredible talent who wants to get back into the NFL, was once brought into Dallas as a quick fix. He gave some stellar production - for a while, Then the same ol' same ol' reared its head. Many had built up hopes that at last he was going to be different, and had them dashed. Randy Moss has his own history, as the story about his announcement mentioned.
A prospective employer would not only get one of the top deep threats in NFL history, but one with a history of controversy.
While with the Vikings, Moss bumped a traffic cop in downtown Minneapolis, squirted a referee with a water bottle during a game, left the field early in a game against Washington and berated a caterer at team headquarters.
There is an ongoing debate about just what fits the Jason Garrett definition of a Right Kind of Guy, but I don't think having a tantrum and storming off the field or getting into water fights with the zebras would qualify. And with his long standing and well-publicized resentment about being passed over in the draft by Dallas, the chance for some kind of distraction developing just seems to be way too big. Besides, the whole idea of the quick fix with a splashy signing just does not seem to be part of the Dallas modus operandi anymore. It's all about value to the team, and I just don't see any here.
The wheels could go at any minute. He is thirty-five. Even if he has most of his speed now, that is no guarantee he will be able to keep his performance up for a full season. And his recovery time from injury is likely to be getting worse. Plus the Cowboys have had some bad luck with older players lately (I'm thinking Keith Brooking in particular).
Jerry Jones does not make these decisions in a vacuum. Speaking of erroneous ideas that won't go away, the assumption in the DMN article is clearly that Jerry is going have a sudden burst of mental flatulence and hire Moss, perhaps spurred by his acknowledgement that it was a mistake to pass him over in the draft. There has been a lot of discussion of that here, and the evidence seems to be overwhelming that Jerry does not call the shots by himself, and is adhering to his statements that Jason Garrett has the final word on personnel. Stephen Jones is also a player, and everything I have been able to find in the past year or so that talks about the way players are signed and drafted indicates that there is a consensus process, where Jerry can and has been outvoted by the others involved. This includes input from assistant coaches and the scouting staff where applicable, and I just have a hard time imagining a majority of the voices involved speaking in favor of signing Moss. I know that there are still many people out there who think Jerry is running the Cowboys as a fiefdom and making these kinds of decisions on a whim, but I think they take too much pleasure from their Jerry hate to accept the evidence to the contrary.
I attribute the speculation about Dallas possibly being interested in Moss as partly a function of trying to find something to write about during the off season (which I am also doing, I suppose), partly a play to find something to stir up some interest (guilty there, too), and a bit of falling back on memes that don't really hold water anymore about the Cowboys in general and Jerry Jones in particular (that is one place I hope I am fighting the good fight). But no matter where it came from, I say this is a bad idea. Epically, ridiculously bad. Randy can go somewhere else in the NFL, but I do not want to see him anywhere near Valley Ranch.
3 recs | 48 comments
I'm sick of this phrase
Seriously, I only thought the morons who Rabble listed as D, E, F, G, and H list draft scouting services subscribed to such lazy analysis.
Rohpuri - February 13, 2012
I am, too.
Jerry has evolved and seems to have learned from his mistakes. He also seems to have finally made the right moves in trying to fix things. And the recent changes in the coaching staff all seem good, so what is wrong with being optimistic as we wait to see what fruit it all bears?
And if the Cowboys do make a move on Moss, I will have some choice things to say. I just don’t expect it to happen.
Tom Ryle - February 13, 2012
Im sure glad a few people see what I see with Jerry Jones.
The whole “flash” thing has been way overplayed. The same Jerry Jones who spent 7 or 8 consecutive 1st round picks on defensive players. In the last decade Jerry Jones has made one “flash” free agent acquisition (Terrell Owens), one “flash” draft pick (Dez Bryant), and one “flash” trade (Roy Williams). Im not saying Jerry Jones is the world’s greatest talent evaluator or football mind, but that nonsense about his obsession with making a splash has to die. He’s not that guy anymore, and I’m not sure he ever was to the extent they want us to believe.
Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) - February 13, 2012
Agree on Flash point . . .
. . . but there is the occasional pacman experiment or the I am smarter than you so I reach for QB Carter; to Jerry’s credit, one Charles Haley and Deion Sanders played key roles in several of the 5 rings. I think Jerry is trying to capture magic in a bottle, but . . . the problem with Owens signing was that Jerry stuck a boot up Bill’s butt with this signing, which sort of cancelled out organizational progress up to that point.
Iowacowboy - February 13, 2012
agreed. I see only sensible decions lately, and during Wade's tenure he let him build his defense
I think it has to do with how much he talks, and the love that Jerry has for being in on the conversation and in front of the cameras. We’ve all seen him talk over Wade at a press conference, but I have yet to see him talk over Garrett. I’d rather have an owner like Jerry who cares, busts his ass to make the Cowboys better and is willing to write the check when he has to (and man, have I liked the sensible club minded decisions lately) than some bum who doesn’t really care
phoenix11 - February 13, 2012
Agreed
Definitely rather have him owning the Cowboys than some of these other cheapskates.
Rohpuri - February 13, 2012 via mobile
Yeah, Jerry isn't running the show anymore, Garrett is
and he’ll certainly say no to Moss without a doubt.
Terry - February 14, 2012
I thought Jerry would never give up running the show until he was dead and buried. I am glad to see he has had his Wellington Mara Damascus Road moment
Seanrude - February 14, 2012
Someone
is trying to talk JJ down from this ledge even as we speak. You know it’s true.
AlanK - February 13, 2012
More dead of winter.....
Nonsense talk.
Cwon1 - February 13, 2012
Probably right.
But I am unable to just let something like this go. It just rankles.
Tom Ryle - February 13, 2012
All the speak of FO admitting mistakes...
This would be Jerry’s equivalent of a long-senile parent giving a long-estranged but successful child a piece of the kingdom.
I just vomited on my keyboard a lot, this would set our franchise back.
BlueNSilverBlood - February 13, 2012
straight cash homie
matt575 - February 13, 2012 via mobile
What can Randy Moss do
that Dez can`t do?
ziggy19 - February 13, 2012
if you ask randy he would say
Take da ball deep take da top off da defense
matt575 - February 13, 2012 via mobile
Need to do a slight rewrite there Tom
that
someone involved with the CowboysJerry Jones may be interested in signing Randy Moss.Hopefully we don’t do it.
Jessy S - February 13, 2012
My.
I think I will have to conduct a subtle humor seminar around here.
Tom Ryle - February 13, 2012
Tom
Can I sign up for your seminar? My humor could use a little more subtlety.
Tennessee_Jed - February 14, 2012
I don't think Jerry even thinks this is a good idea, Cowboy killer or not
not to mention that Garrett would NEVER let that happen. I love offseason “news” because they really start reaching and just making stuff up. How is this even a story?
phoenix11 - February 13, 2012
Garrett would just say to him
remember how Parcells quit on you; remember how this team split apart in 2008? well it wall happen again in 2012 if you sign this guy.
Rohpuri - February 13, 2012 via mobile
They started it.
I just spun another story off it.
Tom Ryle - February 13, 2012
why?
Trying to make a quota?
thebigham - February 14, 2012
Mostly it was the most interesting topic for the day.
Pickings are a little slim right now.
Tom Ryle - February 14, 2012
For me anyway.. no new post is better than a TMZ type post.
thebigham - February 14, 2012
Ham
Lighten up dude. You and KindaBlue seem to never say anything positive about any message posted on this site. Why so negative? Nothing posted here is written by a “professional” journalist. We’re just having fun chatting about our favorite team. Heck, if you want real “journalism” go to the New York Times website or buy a copy of Newsweek. For real, stop picking on everybody. Nobody is forcing you to read the posts on this site.
(Not trying to be mean, but the Professor in me came out.)
Tennessee_Jed - February 14, 2012
I am very positive and one of the bigger optimist here.
You must just catch me at random times.
Take a look http://www.sbnation.com/users/thebigham
thebigham - February 14, 2012
Ok Ham
Maybe I am just catching you at random times.
Tennessee_Jed - February 14, 2012
Not even a single chance
in a thousand this would occur; Redball would quit.
Iowacowboy - February 13, 2012
Hell....Give me a receiver who WANTS to be here.....
and is ALREADY here and a proven playmaker for your offense and PAY HIM in LAURENT ROBINSON over any receiver that’s proven to be a problem, was a BUST in Oakland AND was more or less FIRED in his 2nd stint in MN and a nobody in TN in Randy Moss ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!
LR has great hands, can catch and run after the catch and can also do the LONG BALL thing…..
Go back and beg Kraft in NE to sign you again so Brady and you can lose another one to the Giants.
Cowboy88 - February 14, 2012
I would consider Moss if Laurent doesn't resign
I would consider Moss if Laurent doesn’t resign
I was listening to Teddy Bruschi yesterday on some radio show and he was talking about Moss. One of the things he stated was that he was a “great teammate.” When asked to explain, he said Moss worked really hard, was friendly with all of his teammates, and everybody enjoyed watching him play football (because he was so skilled).
Moss has a bad reputation because he says/does things that are stu-pid. I get that. However, when he is performing at the top of his game, he is a playmaker of the type that would make Michael Irvin jealous.
During the same interview, Bruschi said the biggest questions were “how much and how much” as in how much does he have left in the tank and how much money does he want.
If he still has the speed and he isn’t asking a king’s ransom, then I think he would be a good third WR. At this point in his career, I think Moss realizes that he cannot be the “man” anymore. However, if he still has the speed, he will still scare d-coordinators and will make a lot easier for the Cowboys other receivers.
Young, unproven guys are nice – for the practice squad, but they rarely contribute.
One thing that is lost of many fans is that football players with talent win a lot more games than football players with high “character.” The New England Patriots know this and is why they are willing to take chances on players nobody else wants. They don’t care what the rest of the league, the fans, or the media think. Unfortunately, from reading this post, it appears that many Cowboy fans are more concerned about the Cowboys reputation than about winning.
Conn Cowboy - February 14, 2012
No
No. No. No.
Moss is a POS. He is like a bad case of herpes; you never know when the POS eruption will occur. It might be anytime and this is the problem. I get your point that high character is a bit overrated in terms of what is actually out there on the field. But, Moss, the POS, has routinely quit on the field and his teammates. Plus, he is eligible for AARP.
No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
Iowacowboy - February 14, 2012
tell us how you really feel lol
kitten mittens - February 14, 2012 via Android app
So you vote maybe?
Tom Ryle - February 14, 2012
The guys you were listening to need to do some research before they talk about something like this.
Moss us a huge problem. Do you really think the Vikings cut him 25 days after trading a 3rd rounder for him because he was a pleasure?
Moss doesn’t work hard, that is a joke. I got “local” Vikings coverage during this mess. He regularly only jogs on routes when he isn’t the primary receiver, quits on plays, etc. His teammates wanted him cut after his little scene with their favorite caterer the team uses. And everyone just sits around loving watching him play because he is so special? Sorry, talk about pumping rainbows, who paid them for this?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6853664/ex-minnesota-vikings-coach-brad-childress-rips-randy-moss
Rena - February 14, 2012
Coach Killer?
AustonianAggie - February 14, 2012
Chilly was done with or without Moss. He just made it so he got fired earlier in the year.
Rena - February 14, 2012
This is what I'm talking about ...
People don’t care whether or not Moss can play or not. They’ve already determined that he is a cancer and don’t want him.
Ever since Dallas didn’t draft Moss, I’ve always thought of a “character” issue as akin to a player coming off an injury. Sometimes a player recovers from an injury and never looks back. Sometimes he’ll be OK for a couple of years and reinjures himself. Sometimes the injury affects him permanently and he is never the same. Regardless, there are still plenty of teams that take chances on injured guys because they can get them on the cheap. Same thing for guys with character issues. Its a gamble — sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.
However, if a guy can play at a high level, you take a look. You do your due diligence. If Moss can play, and if Moss shows that he is willing to take a lesser role (and a lesser salary), then you have to determine whether he can help the team or not.
Moss, the player, has far more often been the most dangerous player (to the defense) on the field.
If this was baseball and Jerry was (the late) George Steinbrenner, we could sign all the high character, high talent players we wanted. However, the NFL isn’t baseball. We’ve got just as much money to spend as the likes of the Jacksonville, Kansas City, and Green Bay. To win, you need to make your $ go farther than the other guys $. Sometimes, that requires you to take a risk on a player that might go bust. However, if he goes boom, you are much closer to the promised land.
Conn Cowboy - February 14, 2012
No One Has Ever Said
Moss did not possess the skill set of superstar. But you are delusional if you think for a moment that he is other than a cancer. I certainly agree you gotta take risks to gain ground on those teams with more talent. But a 35 year old, been out of the league, proven cancer head case is absolutely opposite what Dallas is all about today. Moss is an embarrasment to the human race on the football field. Sure Bellicheat got a few years out of him, but, Moss has caused more problems than not, and his quitting on the field is legendary. How could anyone want this do-do head in the Cowboy star?
Iowacowboy - February 14, 2012
Here's the deal
The Cowboys are mentioned EVERY SINGLE TIME a high profile guy hits the market. Writers know it will create interest in their drivel and the leering press is all too happy to float something out in print just to get some attention. This particular writer for the DMN even prefaces his speculative crap with “It’s highly unlikely but….” which shows that even HE knows it’s yellow journalism. Here are some other “highly unlikely” things he can steal from Tennessee Jed for his next article:
It’s highly unlikely but JG might try to replace Marty B with Dirk Nowitzki as the 2nd TE.
It’s highly unlikely but Jerry might snap the next time the Giants visit Cowboy Stadium and pull out a sniper rifle and shoot Eli’s knees out.
It’s highly unlikely but Jerry might fire JG and bring back Switzer as Head Coach.
It’s highly unlikely but Tony Romo and Jason Witten might openly declare their love for each other and get married in San Francisco the next time the team plays the 49ers.
It’s highly unlikely but proof might surface that Keith Brooking was actually born a hermaphrodite.
It’s highly unlikely but the Cleveland Browns might trade both of their first round draft picks for Terrence Newman.
It’s highly unlikely but Montrae Holland (in homage to Chad Ochocinco) might legally change his name to Lumpy Fugnut.
It’s highly unlikely but Dez Bryant might quit football to take over his Dad’s business.
It’s highly unlikely but it might be revealed that Tony Fiametta is actually the love child of Elton John and Madonna.
It’s highly unlikely but the War Room might decide we really, really need another Special Teams draft to help Joe D.
It’s highly unlikely but Rob Ryan may release a sex tape of him and Jay Ratliff having sex with Siamese twin midgets in Jerry’s guest bedroom.
Moss to the Cowboys? Well, that’s highly unlikely.
Tennessee_Jed - February 14, 2012
I think you are right about how the Cowboys always get mentioned.
“Lumpy Fugnut”. That’s so good, it’s fun to say out loud. Which has my wife staring at me.
Tom Ryle - February 14, 2012
Tom
Out of all of the crazy “highly unlikely” things I posted, you thought “Lumpy Fugnut” was the craziest??? O.M.G. ;-)
Actually though, my friend, I think you got suckered into the “high profile player” getting connected to the Cowboys by the media nonsense. Not to say that it’s not worth a post on BTB, because it’s a response to a “news” article, but… for real, there is no way JG brings in Moss. That’s just silly (as I’m sure you know). Never happen in a million years. But, it’s funny to watch “journalists” speculate and postulate over scenarios created in their own fevered brains while trying to post a story in the offseason when nothing is happening. That’s why this DMN chump wrote “highly unlikely” to refute the story he, himself was creating.
“Lumpy Fugnut” does have a certain ring to it though.
(If we sign Randy Moss I’m burning my Ed “Too Tall” Jones autographs, my Randy White jersey, my collection of Dallas Cowboy Weekly from the early 80’s, my poster of Tom Landry, and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader thong panties I bought my girlfriend for Valentine’s in a big bonfire in the backyard.)
Tennessee_Jed - February 14, 2012
Lumpy Fugnut
Priceless
Rohpuri - February 14, 2012 via mobile
Roh
If he was French it would be pronounced:
Loom-PAY Foosh-NAY. ;-)
Tennessee_Jed - February 14, 2012
please, God, no...
that is all.
g8tgod - February 14, 2012
It's comments like these by the media that drive me crazy.........
Yes, we do know. We know that it’s not going to happen. They try to make Jerry seem like Danny Snyder when it comes to big name free agents. It’s just not true. But, it makes for an easy and lazy headline so why not?
TARHEEL PAUL - February 14, 2012
If I were Randy Moss...
I’d keep working out and try to stay in game shape, and really aim to come back in November when a WR is hurt, and that way as an older player he could pick and choose to be on a contender. Moss is probably capable of a huge game, but I doubt he can play week after week. He’d be awesome his first week and decline quickly. Were I him, I’d be saving it for the playoffs
AustonianAggie - February 14, 2012
Here's an Idea....
Give Moss the cell number for the Allen Wranglers IFL and let him play alongside another high profile egotistical HAS BEEN (T.O.) who is all about HIMSELF and let them be mirror images of each other on the field.
I’d LOVE to see that personally and see how long it would take before they both gave their QB a coronary.
Cowboy88 - February 14, 2012
Would say yes if....
This was the 1998 draft again, Moss turned out to be a better player than Greg Ellis and you can say what you want about him being motivated, but he always seemed to be motivated to whip our behinds. Guess who else was in that draft, our own Keith Brooking would loved to have had him in his glory days.
Ihatethesaints - February 14, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Blogging The Boys to post a comment.