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Raiders take Moss' latest ramblings in stride
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...xDubYF?slug=ap-raiders-moss&prov=ap&type=lgns
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Raiders have much bigger concerns to worry about than Randy Moss spouting off again.
With an 0-3 record and a team that's struggling in all phases of the game, a disgruntled wide receiver is the least of their problems.
In his latest ramblings, Moss told Fox Sports Radio this week that he wasn't concerned about the team's poor start because "it doesn't seem like nobody else is concerned."
"I don't really want to single players out," Moss said. "I mean, I don't really know what the feeling is. But I know the feeling is bad, so that's saying no one cares about what's going on around here."
Moss has not talked to local media members since after the team's second exhibition game in Minnesota on Aug. 14, but has been critical of the team and coach Art Shell in various national interviews the past few weeks.
In his latest, he said the coaching staff is not letting the veterans be leaders and said he'd welcome a trade if management thought that would help the team.
"I don't want to be the downfall, or the negative or the cancer of the team," Moss said. "That's definitely not my goal to do. If they feel trading me and getting me out is the best thing to do, I've been traded once, two won't hurt."
Shell said he's not concerned by what his players say to the media.
"I don't worry about all the stuff that's being said," he said. "I know the character of the players in this locker room. I know what they're like and I know what they're capable of doing and what they've done. I don't worry about that. Maybe I'm naive, but I don't worry about that."
Quarterback Andrew Walter said the players have to focus on their responsibilities, not what others are saying.
"He has his views. I have to go out and do my job," Walter said. "Really, it just comes down to, the game of football is about individual battles, working together with the team. So, what I have to do isn't affected by what anybody says, outside or inside the program. He's entitled to his beliefs."
The criticism of the Raiders has been rampant so far this season, from analysts, fans, media members, players like Moss and even ex-Raiders stars like Tim Brown and Rich Gannon.
Both Gannon and Brown have questioned the leadership on a team that has lost nine straight games dating to last season. Gannon's last year with Oakland was 2004, a season after Brown was let loose.
Those critiques are only reinforced by the comments from Moss, one of the team's captains. But the other players take issue with the remarks from former Raiders.
"It's interesting to me that those guys would make those comments when I haven't seen either one around here in years," said offensive lineman Barry Sims, who played with Brown and Gannon. "They're not in the locker room. They don't know what's going on inside the building. Usually when teams are struggling or have bad records that can be the case. I don't see that as the case here. We do have leaders here. It's hard to make comments like that when you're not around and not seeing the whole picture."
After opening the season by being outscored 55-6 in losses to San Diego and Baltimore, the Raiders returned from the bye week to blow an 18-point lead and lose 24-21 to previously winless Cleveland last Sunday.
Yet despite another loss, the Raiders see reason for optimism heading into this week's showdown against the San Francisco 49ers.
"We're doing the right things now," fullback Zack Crockett said. "We're continuing to go in the right direction. So it only gets better. We got no room but to go up right now. We're 0-3, and we just continue to try and build. It's still the first quarter. And everybody's panicking and everything like that. Hey, you know something? We got a long season. The year we went to the Super Bowl, we lost four in a row."
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...xDubYF?slug=ap-raiders-moss&prov=ap&type=lgns
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Raiders have much bigger concerns to worry about than Randy Moss spouting off again.
With an 0-3 record and a team that's struggling in all phases of the game, a disgruntled wide receiver is the least of their problems.
In his latest ramblings, Moss told Fox Sports Radio this week that he wasn't concerned about the team's poor start because "it doesn't seem like nobody else is concerned."
"I don't really want to single players out," Moss said. "I mean, I don't really know what the feeling is. But I know the feeling is bad, so that's saying no one cares about what's going on around here."
Moss has not talked to local media members since after the team's second exhibition game in Minnesota on Aug. 14, but has been critical of the team and coach Art Shell in various national interviews the past few weeks.
In his latest, he said the coaching staff is not letting the veterans be leaders and said he'd welcome a trade if management thought that would help the team.
"I don't want to be the downfall, or the negative or the cancer of the team," Moss said. "That's definitely not my goal to do. If they feel trading me and getting me out is the best thing to do, I've been traded once, two won't hurt."
Shell said he's not concerned by what his players say to the media.
"I don't worry about all the stuff that's being said," he said. "I know the character of the players in this locker room. I know what they're like and I know what they're capable of doing and what they've done. I don't worry about that. Maybe I'm naive, but I don't worry about that."
Quarterback Andrew Walter said the players have to focus on their responsibilities, not what others are saying.
"He has his views. I have to go out and do my job," Walter said. "Really, it just comes down to, the game of football is about individual battles, working together with the team. So, what I have to do isn't affected by what anybody says, outside or inside the program. He's entitled to his beliefs."
The criticism of the Raiders has been rampant so far this season, from analysts, fans, media members, players like Moss and even ex-Raiders stars like Tim Brown and Rich Gannon.
Both Gannon and Brown have questioned the leadership on a team that has lost nine straight games dating to last season. Gannon's last year with Oakland was 2004, a season after Brown was let loose.
Those critiques are only reinforced by the comments from Moss, one of the team's captains. But the other players take issue with the remarks from former Raiders.
"It's interesting to me that those guys would make those comments when I haven't seen either one around here in years," said offensive lineman Barry Sims, who played with Brown and Gannon. "They're not in the locker room. They don't know what's going on inside the building. Usually when teams are struggling or have bad records that can be the case. I don't see that as the case here. We do have leaders here. It's hard to make comments like that when you're not around and not seeing the whole picture."
After opening the season by being outscored 55-6 in losses to San Diego and Baltimore, the Raiders returned from the bye week to blow an 18-point lead and lose 24-21 to previously winless Cleveland last Sunday.
Yet despite another loss, the Raiders see reason for optimism heading into this week's showdown against the San Francisco 49ers.
"We're doing the right things now," fullback Zack Crockett said. "We're continuing to go in the right direction. So it only gets better. We got no room but to go up right now. We're 0-3, and we just continue to try and build. It's still the first quarter. And everybody's panicking and everything like that. Hey, you know something? We got a long season. The year we went to the Super Bowl, we lost four in a row."
But the difference is Alex Smith would be able to get them deep balls out to him. That's what Randy Moss is for. Smith gets them to Antonio Bryant, so he can damn sure get them to Moss. The line is able to hold up long enough to make it happen. I don't think it's the fact that the raiders are a losing organization that has Moss unhappy. It is probably the organization itself. They're wasting him in Oakland.
Plus that would make the offense complete. They'd be able to focus on the Defense in the offseason. If they made the right upgrades to the D they wouldn't be a losing organization. Just some thoughts though, 99% chance Moss will never be a Niner.
Plus that would make the offense complete. They'd be able to focus on the Defense in the offseason. If they made the right upgrades to the D they wouldn't be a losing organization. Just some thoughts though, 99% chance Moss will never be a Niner.
