The most compelling television going at the moment isn't a show about zombies or chefs or people stranded on an island or Mitt Romney's hair. No, the most compelling thing on television now is a single individual sitting in front of camera and talking to his computer. It's Randy Moss.
If you haven't seen Moss' stream-of-consciousness rants that are quickly becoming an Internet sensation, well, you've missed some unbelievable stuff. It's difficult to describe. It's a combination of a train wreck, stunning visual, smart talk, dumb talk, infantile actions, and just about everything between.
During the past 48 hours, Moss has video-chatted up the following with fans: writing a tell-all book; his poop (you read that correctly); his upcoming attempt to return to the NFL; spending Valentine's Day with his kids; mocking past critics like Jerry Rice and Joe Buck; picking his nose on camera and wiping the excavated finding on his sleeve (you read that correctly, too); saying he no longer needs to be a No. 1 receiver; blasting the media; praising the media; telling Cris Carter stories; and, did I mention he wants to pen a tell-all book?
What Moss is doing is writing another chapter in the evolution of the athlete and social media. It's stunning to watch.
In many ways, it's more head-shaking than the infamous Stephon Marbury meltdown because you don't know if Moss is losing his mind, playing us for suckers, or both. Or, if an impending meltdown is on the way. Moss appears on the channel, chats and answers questions for an hour, and then promises to come back. He tweeted on Monday he'll be back on Wednesday night. It's like a TV series.
Everyone is watching, including NFL team executives. I spoke to one who said he has seen the Moss videos and believes Moss is utterly obliterating his chances of returning to the NFL. Oh, yeah, I forgot: on one of his video streams, Moss announced he was attempting a comeback.
The executive said his franchise was once considering Moss, but after watching the video stream, the team is no longer doing so. So while Moss might be creating buzz for a future show, he might also be utterly destroying any comeback chance.
The team executive noted that the one thing they would want to see from Moss is stability in his life. Not so sure a team watching Moss pick his nose and wipe it on his sleeve inspires a sense Moss has changed from a man-child to a grownup. My guess is these Moss videos are spreading across football like wildfire, and more than a few teams that might have considered Moss are no longer doing so. But I could be wrong.
This has always been Randy Moss -- compelling, irresponsible, without a filter, impossible to ignore, impossible to coach. The new-media universe is perfect for him.
I don't think a team will trust Moss enough to seriously invest in him. Maybe a team takes a one-year flier, but Moss has quit on more than one franchise, and many coaches and team executives have long memories. They won't trust Moss. He'll need to prove himself. And his video debut doesn't help.
But boy, is it fun to watch.
2. There is a great deal of interest in free-agent cornerback Stanford Routt. Not sure why there is a great deal of interest in free-agent cornerback Stanford Routt. But there is a great deal of interest in free-agent cornerback Stanford Routt. He's good, but not Deion Sanders. The interest is yet another example of how teams are desperate for good corners, even if they're kinda average corners (the Raiders released him for salary-cap purposes). In this new passing NFL, where refs call interference on cornerbacks for having gingivitis, any competent defensive back is going to draw massive interest. Unless he has a limp and 12 toes. Even then ...
3. Former 49ers wide receiver Freddie Solomon died this week after a battle with cancer. For those who didn't know, he was a class act. For the past 20 years, he worked with a county sheriff's office in Florida mentoring kids. "Freddie and I have been friends for 35 years, and he was one of the most gentle and best men I have ever met in my life," former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. said. "Scores of generations will remember Freddie through their children and the youth he's helped over all these decades. I have never met a man who cared so much about the human race, and there will never be another Freddie."
How much did DeBartolo care for Solomon? According to the San Jose Mercury News, in the final weeks and days of Solomon's life, DeBartolo took Solomon to chemo sessions and sat with him while he received the treatment.
4. Jerry Jones tells the SportsBusiness Journal that Dallas will bid on Super Bowl L (that's 50 for the Roman-numeral-challenged like myself). And Dallas might get it, because Dallas has a lot of cash, stadium seat capacity and Jones is a powerful owner. The fact that one of the worst-run Super Bowls in history was held there last year won't matter. As Moss once said: straight cash, homey.
5. Wouldn't be stunned if Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Moss all end up in Washington. One place I know Manning isn't going: Houston.
6a. Champ of the week: Moss. Just 'cause.
6b. Chump of the week: Giants running back Brandon Jacobs. He once told Jets coach Rex Ryan "it's time to shut up, fat boy." He also said the "Jets have a big-mouth, big-belly coach that talks too much." Well, OK then. But now that Jacobs might be discarded by the Giants and become a free agent, he told The New York Times he would have no problem playing for Ryan. Ah, the hypocrisy of some players.
6c. Tweet of the week: Ochocinco to Terrell Owens: "Wake up young black Jedi, tweet you must at this time."
7. Why in the hell would any player complain about Roger Goodell's salary?
8. Some team executives tell me they think the early favorite to make the Super Bowl next season shouldn't be the Patriots. Instead, they're picking Baltimore.
9. The Cleveland Browns remain uncertain exactly how to handle running back Peyton Hillis. Some in the organization want to try and keep him, while others want to part ways and draft Alabama's Trent Richardson. I think the draft option will win out, but no one knows for certain just yet.
10. A sign the Mayans are correct: Victor Cruz at the Grammy Awards doing the salsa.
Source: http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=c4e6c89a4430b9953f6d256f82cca7af
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