Some people don’t seem to understand. Or maybe they let personal biases cloud their judgment.
Two weeks ago while talking to Sports Radio WEEI, ESPN analyst Cris Carter made some disparaging remarks about WR Deion Branch as he compared him to WR Randy Moss:
“(Branch) is just a guy. You guys have to be real about it. Great players, they don’t get hurt as much as the other players. There’s a difference between great ones and good ones and average ones.”
Damn! That’s harsh, but Carter is doing what he’s paid to do – tell it like it is.
Well, more like tell it how he sees it. A great analyst makes accurate evaluations based on performance. Carter knows his stuff with 16 years of experience as an ex-NFL wide receiver. But he’s letting his personal relationship get in the way.
No one has forgotten that Carter and Moss were teammates for four years in Minnesota. Carter saw Moss up close and was wowed by Randy’s freakish talents. Carter saw that Moss was unstoppable no matter what defenses tried.
And for three years Moss was still that same player with the Patriots. He and QB Tom Brady quickly formed a bond and together they embarrassed opponents. Brady never had a receiver like Moss and Randy was Tom’s favorite toy.
But whatever the reason, the offense wasn’t clicking with Moss in 2010. And just four games into the season, head coach Bill Belichick dropped a bomb and traded Moss for a 2010 third round pick. A week later Belichick used a third round pick to acquire Branch from Seattle.
We can go on and on drawing conclusions as to why the trade was made, whether it was the shouting match between Moss and offensive non-coordinator Bill O’Brien, Moss pouting about his contract, or Moss taking his cross-dressing alter ego personality too far. The trade was made for on-field reasons only.
It didn’t take long to see the difference. In four games Moss had nine receptions for 139 yards and three touchdowns, including a game against Miami where Randy had zero receptions. Branch’s debut with New England was a nine catch 98-yard performance with a score.
The offensive transformation took a little time, but now that it’s clicking, Branch is flourishing. 7-71 against Pittsburgh, 7-70 against Indianapolis, 3-113 and two TDs against Detroit, 3-64 and a score against the New York Jets, and eight receptions, a career best 151 yards and a score.
And what has happened to Moss? His time in Minnesota was short lived as he accounted for 13-174-2 and one very bad aftertaste left behind for insulting the catering. His latest stop is Tennessee, where the coaching staff has found it difficult to use Moss’ out-of-this-world talents: just 5-62 in five games.
If Branch is just another guy, why is he out-performing Moss in his last days in New England? It boils down to fit. The offense now emphasizes shorter routes that require receivers to get open quickly. As much of a weapon Moss’ deep speed is, Randy doesn’t have Branch’s quickness to get separation in a short area and gain yards after the catch.
Comparing the two games against the Jets, the difference was clear. New York CB Antonio Cromartie blanketed Moss in the second half and held Randy to zero catches. In the rematch, the Patriots seemingly attacked Cromartie and Brady connected for three touchdowns on Cromartie.
Familiarity helps as well. While Moss adjusted to Brett Favre in Minnesota, then Vince Young and now Kerry Collins in Tennessee, Branch played four years in New England before being traded to Seattle in 2006. It took a few weeks, but Brady and Branch are playing catch like they did from 2002 to 2005.
Carter saw seven games of what Branch can do for the offense, including back-to-back seven reception games. Carter didn’t compare Branch to Moss by what they are doing today. If Carter did, he’d have to say it’s Moss that “disappears” instead of Branch.
Give some credit to Branch for not taking the opportunity to fire back at Carter. Deion played oblivious and said he didn’t hear it. Branch probably heard it before. Just some talk for just another analyst.
Question? Comments? Send to talktome@randolphc.com.
