Randy Moss Gets Cowboys Apology from Jerry Jones
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys’ relationship with former NFL star Randy Moss is, as they say in the social media dating word … “complicated.”
Buy maybe it’s gotten cleared up a bit thanks to a hug and an apology from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
“It really felt good,” Moss is saying now as he tells the tale, "because of how many emotions I had on Draft Day.”
Ah, Draft Day 1998. … when Moss was under the impression - based on what Cowboys officials had intimated to him - that Dallas had pinpointed him at the No. 8 overall spot.
"I had everything tied into Draft Day about me being a Dallas Cowboys,” Moss revealed on the “Rich Eisen Show.” “It put everything in perspective for me.”
“Perspective”? This story could use a dose of it. … in part Jones - wrong as he was - had a reason for having passed on the gifted but controversial star.
Moss was entering the NFL with “baggage” from his college stops. Meanwhile, the Cowboys as an organization were reeling due to the misbehaviors of incumbent star receiver Michael Irvin.
Jerry’s logic, in short: We already have one talented headache at receiver; we cannot afford two of them.
That linear mindset was a massive mistake. On the way to a Hall of Fame career after having been drafted by Minnesota at No. 21, the revenge-minded Moss roasted Dallas every single time he encountered “America’s Team.”
A typical outing? Moss’ rookie season included a memorable Thanksgiving Day game against the Cowboys, during which Moss caught three passes 163 yards and three touchdowns - TDs of 51, 56, and 56 yards.
According to Moss, Jones approached him not long ago while a Moss was working a game as a media member.
“I was definitely surprised by him,” Moss said. “That man is worth so many billions of dollars, he didn’t have to do that. It just meant a lot …”
One of Jones’ top scouts, the late Jim Garrett (Jason’s father), tried to talk Jerry into doing the right thing by literally climbing atop a desk and barking in a staff meeting, “This isn’t the Boy Scouts! This is the NFL!”
Alas, Jones opted to pick a “Boy Scout” in defensive end Greg Ellis, who had a fine career. But he was no Moss, who became a legend … with the only thing he ever got from the Cowboys coming in the form of a hug.
