Moss pulls down $10,000 fine
Randy Moss trudged out to his truck in the subzero cold, with a huge, black hooded sweatshirt covering almost his entire face. All that was showing was a carefree smile.
In his usual flippant manner, Moss showed no remorse for his latest misdeed.
Minnesota's controversial wide receiver was fined $10,000 yesterday by the NFL for pretending to pull down his pants and moon the Green Bay crowd during a playoff win last weekend.
"Ain't nothing but 10 grand. What's 10 grand, to me?" said Moss, whose salary this season is $5.75 million. He then jokingly suggested he might perform a more vulgar celebration next time.
Peter Hadhazy, the league's director of game operations, penalized Moss for unsportsmanlike conduct in a letter released by the NFL.
"Your actions were based on poor judgment, did not reflect well on you or the Vikings, and were insulting to many," Hadhazy wrote. "They have resulted in widespread criticism and needlessly detracted from Minnesota's dramatic playoff victory."
Moss also briefly bumped the goalpost with his backside before hugging teammates in the end zone following a fourth-quarter touchdown catch that clinched the Vikings' 31-17 victory over the Packers.
Moss's agent, Dante DiTrapano, said the fine was unnecessary. "If you can't have freedom of expression on the football field, come on," he said.
Injury report
Moss didn't practice for the second straight day because of a sprained right ankle, but Minnesota's star wide receiver remains probable for Sunday's game game at Philadelphia. Running back Moe Williams (sprained right ankle) was upgraded to questionable, and coach Mike Tice said he anticipates the veteran being able to play a limited role against the Eagles . . . While the Eagles prepare for the Vikings, Terrell Owens is spending most of his time in the trainer's room, hoping to return this season if Philadelphia can win its next two games without the flamboyant Pro Bowl wide receiver. "He is making progress," Eagles coach Andy Reid said three weeks after Owens had surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right ankle. "We will just see what time does with it in the next couple of weeks." Owens has an outside chance of playing if the Eagles reach the Super Bowl Feb. 6. Without Owens, versatile running back Brian Westbrook becomes the team's primary threat. He gained 1,515 yards from scrimmage and scored nine TDs in 13 games. "Hopefully, I have the ball in my hands a little bit more because of the absence of T.O. and I'm always ready to make something happen when I have the ball in my hands," said Westbrook, eager to play after being held out the last two games.
