Randy Moss: Why He Is the Most Expendable Superstar in NFL History

There is a reason that the best players in the NFL are paid more, generally more respected and usually the mainstays of their franchises.

These players are referred to as "superstars", and less than five percent of the league is made up of players in this elite category.

Names like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre come to mind.

Every profession has a hierarchy based on talent level and pay scale, and everyone respects the top of the pyramid more than the crowded base.

So basically, you make more money than me because your skills are superior to mine, and you instantly become a role model because we all want to get to where you are someday.

Randy Moss is the perfect example of a person who isn't satisfied with what he's accomplished, who he is, or how he's perceived.

Just watching him on the football field is rather disconcerting, as his body language is always confusing because he tightropes the line of actually caring, and effortlessly gliding past defenders at will.

He is the quintessential "feast-or-famine" player. Amazing when he chooses to be, but quite confusing when he doesn't.

Moss has accomplished a lot statistically, and his career numbers are easily first ballot Hall of Fame worthy.

Similar to Terrell Owens, another malcontent that just happens to be immensely talented, his attitude and childlike behavior have caused a trail of disgust from teams and fans alike.

They also have another glaring similarity that is more symbolic of their attitudes than anything else: they haven't won anything, and teams part ways with them faster than Moss's 40-yard-dash time at the combine.

After the Minnesota Vikings traded for Moss, there was a general euphoric feeling that the combination of Favre, Moss and Peterson would fuel the Vikings to a playoff run and inflated offensive numbers.

What resulted was a 1-3 record, with the lone win over the 1-6 and free-falling Dallas Cowboys, and just 13 receptions for 174 yards and two TDs in four games for Moss.

Oh, and an attitude that rivals that of Mike Tyson.

Moss repeatedly took plays off, looked lost and was often not a part of the game, resulting in Percy Harvin stepping up as the go-to guy.

One can argue that the double—and at times triple—coverage on Moss allowed that to happen, but he didn't exactly take advantage when he had chances either.

In a crucial play against his former Patriots team, the Pats ran a jailbreak blitz at Favre hoping for a quick sack.

The Vikings picked it up long enough for Moss to run an in-and-out route that left Brandon Meriweather's shoes in concrete with a streaking Moss open up-field.

Meriweather purposely interfered Moss, but was beaten so bad on the play that Moss still had a chance to catch the ball that Favre perfectly placed under pressure.

When he saw the stream of yellow flags hit the field, instead of continuing on the play, Moss pulled up and the ball fell right in front of him.

Had he caught it, the Vikings would've scored and the penalty would've been declined. Instead, it was a first down from the spot of the foul.

At that point, Brad Childress likely made a final decision, one that stunned the nation Monday afternoon. He released Moss just a month after giving up a third-rounder for him.

Another closed chapter in the troubled superstar receiver's career.

His me-first, I-say-what-I-feel-no-matter-how-it-hurts-people attitude again squarely shot him in the foot, this time without being coddled like a newborn baby.

New England tolerated him longer than it should have, and perhaps that's why he said what he did in the press conference after the game.

"I'm definitely down that we lost this game. I didn't expect we'd lose this game," Moss said. "I don't know how many more times I'll be in New England again. But I leave Coach Belichick and those guys with a salute: 'I love you guys. I miss you. I'm out.' "

Maybe that explains why he didn't catch that touchdown pass against the former team he loves so much. He didn't want to beat them.

Moss looked like he was in his dog days in Oakland Sunday, and his admitted admiration for the team he was playing is as disturbing as it is unfair.

There were 52 players wanting a win in a Vikings uniform Sunday, but Moss mentally had on the opposition's jersey.

How infuriating.

When you couple that with his rant directed at an innocent mom-and-pop establishment's catered food for the team in front of everyone, you can see why the Vikings sent him packing.

According to a report that has now been confirmed, Moss went on an expletive-laden rant as his teammates lined up to eat food catered by Tinucci's Restaurant.

Moss yelled "What the [expletive]? Who ordered this crap? I wouldn't feed this to my dog," a player who witnessed the incident said, according to Yahoo! Sports.

The player also added that Moss was at his locker saying, "You know, I used to have to eat that crap—but now I've got money."

That is just plain ridiculous and unwarranted, especially from one of the supposed team leaders.

Childress was quoted as saying, "This just doesn't fit with how we treat people, how we talk to people and how we act," according to Yahoo! Sports.

Not for any organization or rational human being.

Moss is as talented and gifted athletically as any receiver we've ever witnessed, but he's being passed around like a bad influenza virus for one reason.

His ego is bigger than anyone or anything around him. That is why Randy Moss is the most expendable superstar the NFL has ever seen.

Selfishness and an inflated ego equals a bad teammate, and death to any concept of team chemistry.

Any team thinking about claiming Moss better look within its locker room and ask is it worth bringing in a 33-year-old cancer past his prime.

Just ask Brad Childress.