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Belichick Praises Moss's Consistency

Dec 18, 2009 – 9:02 AM
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Michael David Smith

Michael David Smith %BloggerTitle%

Patriots coach Bill Belichick appeared on ESPN Radio Friday morning and the subject, no surprise, turned to Randy Moss.

But what is a surprise -- at least, based on all the NFL analysis we've heard this week -- is one particular word that Belichick used to describe Moss: "Consistency."

"I love the consistency and the leadership that Randy has brought to our football team," Belichick said.

What we've heard this week -- first from some players on the Carolina Panthers and then from many members of the media -- is that Moss is anything but consistent. That Moss dogs it when the ball isn't coming his way. That Moss doesn't hustle on every play. That Moss, as he himself once said, plays when he wants to.

Belichick, however, insists that that's not the case. I'm willing to take Belichick's word on that, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that a player like Moss could go an entire game with only one catch and still be a consistent player. As I wrote in today's Wall Street Journal, the balance of the Patriots' passing game has tilted toward Wes Welker and away from Randy Moss this season, and the result has been less production than the Patriots got in 2007.

So it's great that Belichick is so pleased with Moss's consistency. But it would be nice to see that consistency translate into more than the one catch for 16 yards he had against the Panthers on Sunday.
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