Getty Randy Moss will be the penultimate speaker at Saturday's ceremony.
Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer Randy Moss had his fair share of controversial moments throughout his playing career. As a broadcaster, not much has changed.
The 43-year-old ESPN personality continues to be open and willing to express his opinion. On Saturday, Moss did so again in an epic rant in defense of superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson and his ongoing fallout with the Houston Texans.
Moss counter recent claims that the 25-year-old signal-caller, who is now attempting to take his destiny into his own hands under a franchise in disarray, is acting selfishly.
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Moss: That ‘Shut up and Play’ Era Is Over
In a 90-second soundbite on ESPN, Moss obliterated the Texans’ front office for its failure to build a strong culture around Watson. Now, the fourth-year franchise quarterback could be the crown jewel of the 2021 offseason if he does indeed demand a trade.
“That era of ‘Just shut up and play,’ we’re done with that era. We’re going into the 21st century,” Moss said. “When you look at what the Houston Texans have done with Deshaun Watson — there’s been some great things they have done with him — but I do believe they have failed a guy like Deshaun Watson.”
“That era of just shut up and play, we’re done with that …”
@RandyMoss defends Deshaun Watson’s tweets, saying the Texans failed him.
After a series of questionable decisions in recent weeks, Watson has begun to air his displeasures with the franchise that drafted him 12th overall in 2017. The most notable of which included leaving the three-time Pro Bowler out of internal discussions leading up to the hiring of new general manager Nick Caserio on January 5.
Watson most recently shared a subliminal tweet on Friday saying, “I was on 2 then I took it to 10,” seemingly echoing a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter earlier in the week.
Moss added context to his case for Watson, point to the dilemmas which he has already faced in Houston, including when late Texans owner Bob McNair referred to players as “inmates” during deliberations of how the team could protest the national anthem back in 2017.
“You think about his rookie year when he comes in, Deshaun Watson is from the South and we know his background, we know his story,” Moss continued. “But when you have the late owner that says that, ‘You can’t have the inmates running the prison,’ how do you feel emotionally as a rookie when your owner is saying that? How do you feel when your No. 1 receiver is let go? Billy O’Brien, the offensive coordinator Deshaun Watson loved, he’s gone. [Kenny] Stills is gone. [Will] Fuller is gone. But guess what this man does? He takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”
Moss: Watson’s Actions Are About Respect
Despite Houston’s internal struggles, Watson had previously stuck with the organization through thick and thin, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl nods in his last three seasons despite leading the league in sacks taken (62) in 2018.
Moss claims that Watson staying silent through the tough years is a testament to his commitment to the team, which has since been tested by the front office.
“So I think the respect factor for the Houston Texans for [how] they disrespected Deshaun Watson by not letting him inside the circle — because the reports were saying that he was supposed to be in to any of the input that was going on with the decision making in-house,” Moss said. “He was not kept in the circle, kept in the loop. But like I said, you keep taking a licking and keep on ticking.”
“I don’t think it’s about football guys, I think it’s about the respect and disrespect,” Moss concluded.
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Trevor Squire is a Heavy contributor covering the Minnesota Vikings and journalism graduate from the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities. Connect with him on Twitter @trevordsquire and join our Vikings community at Heavy on Vikings on Facebook.