2008 Woodie Awards
Moss thrives to the dismay of Vikings fans
Alex Voigt
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Sports
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While watching "Mike & Mike in the Morning" on ESPN the other day, I found myself comparing my plight to a scene from the movie "Anchorman."
Everyone remembers the memorable scene in which Ron Burgundy's friends abandon him, leaving him to lament about his miserable situation and belt out the unforgettable line: "Milk was a bad choice!"
How does this random movie quote relate to my situation you ask? Well, during this show, both hosts gave their opinions of who the most valuable player had been in the NFL so far this season.
The consensus pick amongst the two sportscasters? None other than former Vikings wide receiver Randy "I play when I wanna play" Moss.
The decision by Mike and Mike led me to repeat Burgundy's line from the movie, only in place of the word "milk," I inserted "Napoleon Harris."
Harris, as Minnesotans may recall, was the key player the Vikings got in return for Moss in the trade made with the Oakland Raiders in 2005; an unknown linebacker who supposedly had decent upside to justify giving up a once-in-a-generation talent at wide receiver.
The other key player the Vikings got out of that trade was the rights to Oakland's pick in the 2005 NFL draft, which was used to pick the speedy Troy Williamson as a possible replacement for Moss.
The return on the two key players the Vikes got for Moss? Well, Harris turned out to be a good, but not great linebacker in Minnesota, who the Vikings allowed to leave through free agency last off-season. Williamson, the No. 7 pick in the 2005 draft, continues to prove blazing speed doesn't compensate having bricks for hands.
Look, I realize there was a lot more to the infamous Moss trade than the talent of the players involved.
Moss was perceived as a malcontent who couldn't stay out of trouble and brought down team chemistry. Many Minnesota fans openly embraced the trade as a sign the franchise was moving in the different direction.
We've gone in a different direction, all right. The Vikings have gone 16-19 in the two plus seasons since the Moss trade, and their offense has become about as potent as a Super Soaker in a gunfight.
Everyone remembers the memorable scene in which Ron Burgundy's friends abandon him, leaving him to lament about his miserable situation and belt out the unforgettable line: "Milk was a bad choice!"
How does this random movie quote relate to my situation you ask? Well, during this show, both hosts gave their opinions of who the most valuable player had been in the NFL so far this season.
The consensus pick amongst the two sportscasters? None other than former Vikings wide receiver Randy "I play when I wanna play" Moss.
The decision by Mike and Mike led me to repeat Burgundy's line from the movie, only in place of the word "milk," I inserted "Napoleon Harris."
Harris, as Minnesotans may recall, was the key player the Vikings got in return for Moss in the trade made with the Oakland Raiders in 2005; an unknown linebacker who supposedly had decent upside to justify giving up a once-in-a-generation talent at wide receiver.
The other key player the Vikings got out of that trade was the rights to Oakland's pick in the 2005 NFL draft, which was used to pick the speedy Troy Williamson as a possible replacement for Moss.
The return on the two key players the Vikes got for Moss? Well, Harris turned out to be a good, but not great linebacker in Minnesota, who the Vikings allowed to leave through free agency last off-season. Williamson, the No. 7 pick in the 2005 draft, continues to prove blazing speed doesn't compensate having bricks for hands.
Look, I realize there was a lot more to the infamous Moss trade than the talent of the players involved.
Moss was perceived as a malcontent who couldn't stay out of trouble and brought down team chemistry. Many Minnesota fans openly embraced the trade as a sign the franchise was moving in the different direction.
We've gone in a different direction, all right. The Vikings have gone 16-19 in the two plus seasons since the Moss trade, and their offense has become about as potent as a Super Soaker in a gunfight.