New England Patriots
Moss: Pats have ‘unfinished business’
01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, August 16, 2008

Randy Moss, who set records for TD catches last season, says he’s a little nervous about how the offense will do this year.
The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach
FOXBORO — In his first comments since the Super Bowl, Randy Moss yesterday said that he’s a bit nervous about meeting the high expectations the Patriots’ offense has after last season’s record-setting results. But he said he has returned to New England to take care of “unfinished business.”
Moss told reporters they had three questions to ask, and he stuck to his word, strolling off the field after answering the third query was lobbed his way.
The 31-year-old receiver caught an NFL-record 23 touchdowns last year after he was acquired from Oakland in a draft-weekend trade. Moss, who signed an incentive-laden one-year deal with New England, agreed to a three-year, $27-million contract with the Pats in the offseason. The pact kept him with the Patriots after flirting with the Philadelphia Eagles, who reportedly offered him more money.
“First and foremost, we have some unfinished business,” he said when asked why he chose to remain a Patriot. “I like the camaraderie around here, especially in the locker room and on the field. They have a great group of guys in the locker room. I think that’s all you can ask for.
“Coach Belichick understands football and understands his players. He puts us together as one and we came together as a team. That’s something you can respect playing in this profession and in this league.”
Moss spent some of his new money on investing in one of his loves, NASCAR. He partnered with longtime Craftsman Truck series owner Donald Dollar, and the No. 81 Randy Moss Motorsports truck debuted last month outside Cincinnati. His star power became evident in late July when it was announced that two-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will drive the Moss truck on Wednesday at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
Asked if he was excited about getting back on the field given the promise this offense holds, Moss raised his eyebrows a bit.
“I am actually kind of nervous. The reason why is because of what we did last year as a whole unit. We are going to try to come out and put points on the board. That is what we are coached and asked to do,” he said. “The expectations and the bar are set so high here. Not by you, all [the media] or the fans, but just by the coaches and the team. We have high expectations for this offense and this team as a unit.
“With what we did last year, I don’t think we can live and dwell off that because that was last year. Like I said before, there is a little bit of nervousness because of how high the bar is set here.”
When Tom Brady spoke Wednesday, he said he feels that the offense is in some way “very far ahead” of where it was last year, in part because everyone was getting to know each other — Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth had all been added — and Moss wound up sitting out most of training camp after tweaking a hamstring.
Moss agreed with the quarterback’s comments.
“For us to have a whole offseason and training camp under our belts to really understand the offense is scary,” he said. “That’s why I say I am nervous, because there is really no telling what we are going to do. The bar is set high and we will see what happens.”
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