While it was strange to see
Randy Moss on the opposite side of the field wearing the purple and gold of the
Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Gillette Stadium for the
New England Patriots, it was even more strange to hear the news that he reportedly was jettisoned by the
Vikings less than 24 hours after their 28-18 victory.
Monique Walker of
The Boston Globe caught up with some of the players in the locker room on Monday, among them wide receiver
Wes Welker. Since coming over to New England in a trade from the
Miami Dolphins after the 2006 season Welker has been the team's most productive receiver in terms of catches, and having Moss on the field with him to draw the attention of opposing defensive backs certainly helped his cause.
"Yeah, absolutely," Welker said in the
Patriots' locker room when asked if he was surprised to hear the news. "Randy is obviously a great player so that's a tough deal if it is true. Who knows? But I find that hard to believe."
Of course it was all over the Internet by then, but Welker didn't know that. He was a little more guarded when he was asked if the team would welcome Moss back should the Patriots end up claiming him off of waivers.
However, Moss' name was not on the waiver wire by the 4 p.m. deadline, so that might never come to pass.
"You know that's all coach (Bill) Belichick's decision," he said. "So whatever he decides we're open to as a team and I'm sure he'll do what's best for the organization."
New England is 6-1 overall and 3-0 since Moss was traded to Minnesota for a third-round draft pick in 2011 two days after the Patriots knocked off the Miami Dolphins, 41-14, on Monday Night Football in Miami. Moss was held without a catch in that game and managed just 13 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown in four games for Minnesota.