The big news in the NFL was Randy Moss being claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans and it happened in time for Inside the NFL on Showtime today. We have the quotage from the show and some more stuff as well.
NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES FROM WEEK NINE OF INSIDE THE NFL ON SHOWTIME®REACTION TO RANDY MOSS BEING CLAIMED BY TENNESSEE TITANSNEW YORK (Nov. 3, 2010) – This week’s INSIDE THE NFL – Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 9 p.m. ET/PT – is highlighted by a discussion on Randy Moss being claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans. The first ever “Great Debate” on INSIDE THE NFL features a face-off between Cris Collinsworth and Phil Simms. New York State candidate for Governor Jimmy McMillan drops by to participate in the debate. Plus, the Mid-Season “Insider” Awards are handed out.Host James Brown anchors INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME with All-Pro NFL greats Collinsworth, Simms and Warren Sapp serving as expert analysts.INSIDE THE NFL is produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films with new episodes airing on SHOWTIME every Wednesday during the NFL season through February 9, 2011. Pete Radovich serves as coordinating producer. The executive producers are Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports, and NFL Films President Steve Sabol.Following are excerpts from the show:REACTION TO MOSS BEING CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS BY TENNESSEESIMMS: I think it’s a good move. You think about the teams, there is nowhere for him to go. I thought it was a good pick-up by the Tennessee Titans. They lost Kenny Britt. They run the football and when they throw it, they throw it down the field. Just what I know, my son played at Tennessee, if there is a coach out there that can handle Randy Moss, Jeff Fisher knows how to handle players. He does it very well. That’s the reason why he’s been there so long.COLLINSWORTH: Kenny Britt is out so it does makes some sense form that standpoint. And it’s a team once again with a tremendous running back in Chris Johnson. Just like they had with Adrian Peterson. So there are a lot of things that make sense here. I still wouldn’t do it. I have seen enough. The press conferences, he seems to be disruptive within the lockerroom. I don’t see the talent and the effort on the game tapes. I’ve called one and I’ve been studying the tapes. I just don’t see it. I am an effort guy. I think that football teams are built around great effort and people looking at each other in the eye and saying, ‘This guy is giving me everything he’s got.’ And it’s just not him. And I wouldn’t do it.SIMMS: Minnesota wasn’t designed for Randy Moss…It’s the West Coast offense. Brett Favre only knows how to go to this guy, this guy and that guy. Because he’s been doing the same offense his whole career. You look at the Tennessee Titans. Randy Moss, you don’t have to worry about the route running. It is raise it up, it is down the field. That is what it is. Look at how they played against the San Diego Chargers. When they throw it, the Tennessee Titans now, they have found the formula. Throw it deep down the field. And Randy Moss, he can go get it.From a player’s perspective, is he excited?COLLINSWORTH: I think it’s a great question, whether or not he is going to be into it. What I saw in Minnesota I thought….this guy is a Hall of Fame player. He is one of the greatest players that have ever been in the position. But you have to be passionate about the game. And he’s going to Tennessee and is he going to be willing to run those slants on occasion, to run a couple of in-cuts, to do something to draw some coverage away from just the deep ball? I don’t think he has the physical skills now to just line-up in one route and just go down the field. Maybe he still can. I don’t think so though.SAPP: The one thing Randy Moss does is energize the lockerroom. But he also can divide it.MICHAEL LOMBARDI: The other reality is that Randy Moss has to be a free agent at the end of the year. They will be awarded Minnesota’s contract, which says the franchise tag cannot be placed on him. So therefore, he’ll enter free agency, assuming we have a free agency period. And Tennessee not only gets a vertical threat, they could get a compensatory pick next off-season if Randy Moss signs a big contract with someone else. So it’s a smart play for Tennessee because of where they are, Kenny Britt’s injury and the style of team.THE INSIDER AWARDSPhil Simms: The Show Me Award:The Show Me Award. Of course that’s after the Show Me State. The two teams Kansas City and St. Louis, how are they doing? Did we think they’d be having this type of year? It’s not only that they’re having good years, they’re doing it with toughness, discipline, they’re both organized. All the things you love about football.Warren Sapp: The Tin Man Award:I call mine the Tin Man Awards. You know, the one without a heart. And I go to the heart of Texas for this one to deliver it to the Dallas Cowboys. I’m talking about a ballclub right now that is just in disarray. No heart. No fire. A defense we thought would come out and just kill, jump all over people, suffocate them. The quarterback is out and the defense goes out and lays an egg against the Jacksonville Jaguars. No heart cowboys!
And there’s more coming.
