Rams News

Great talent, troubled past make Moss
an intriguing option at wide receiver
04/12 08:10 PM
By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff
Dick Vermeil won't touch him with a 10-foot pole, much less a multimillion-dollar contract on draft day. Atlanta also has taken him off its draft board. But somebody will draft Randy Moss on April 18. Who will it be?
``At some point in time you take a chance on his ability,'' said Phil Savage, director of college scouting for the Baltimore Ravens. ``He does have unbelievable ability. He's a hit-or-miss player who could really hit it big. Or he could vanish in two years. Who knows?''
There's the rub. Moss stands just under 6 feet 5, and he's a lean 211 pounds. He has long arms, a nice array of moves, and 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash. His numbers were startling last season at Marshall: 96 catches for 1,820 yards and 26 touchdowns in 13 games.
But Moss also arrives in the NFL with considerable baggage -- and we're not talking Samsonsite.
A battery conviction for assaulting a classmate while still in high school caused Notre Dame to revoke a scholarship. Moss' next stop was Florida State, where he never suited up. He violated his probation on the battery conviction by testing positive for marijuana. Moss served about a month in jail before walking on at Marshall. In 1996, both he and his former girlfriend were arrested for domestic battery.
``I don't think he's a person of bad character,'' New Orleans coach Mike Ditka said. ``I think he's a person who made bad decisions. He's very immature. He's followed some people that he shouldn't have followed.
``He's gone down a road that he shouldn't have gone down. That doesn't mean he can't come back from it. That doesn't mean he can't overcome it. But he's got to realize what's important and then go out and do it.''
Moss raised eyebrows when he showed up for the Heisman Trophy ceremonies wearing sunglasses. Indoors. At night. He then missed the NFL Scouting Combine -- which would have been a chance to show 30 NFL teams he wasn't such a bad guy -- because of dental surgery.
But he showed up for a ``campus'' visit to Chicago two weeks ago dressed for success. (And without sunglasses.)
Chicago (fifth pick overall) could use another playmaker on offense. New Orleans (No. 7), Dallas (No. 8), and Baltimore (No. 10) need receiver help. No matter where Moss ends up, he'll find the caliber of defensive backs slightly different than college.
``He's been able to rely on his natural ability basically his whole life,'' Savage said. ``His talent level was so much more superior than the people he played against. Maybe he hasn't had to put his foot to the gas pedal like he will have to do next year.''

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