Moss Should Let His on the Field Production Do the Talking Instead of His Mouth

The New England Patriots had just come off an impressive victory Sunday afternoon over the talented Cincinnati Bengals by a final score of 38-24. Moss finished the game with 5 catches for 59 yards. Instead of being happy after a week one win in Gillette Stadium against a team many consider to be a dark house Super Bowl contender, Patriots receiver Randy Moss was telling reporters that he felt this season would be his last in New England because the team had not address him with a contract extension.

Why would he say such a thing after a win? Because he's in the final year of his 3 year, $27 million dollar he signed in 2008. Moss is scheduled to make $6.4 million this season. Superstar players wanting a contract extension is nothing new in today's NFL, where a player is always one play from a career ending injury; however Moss has handled this situation poorly.

This is not the first time that the disgruntled receiver has expressed his displeasure through the media over his contract. On September 6, Moss told CBSSports.com in an exclusive interview that he felt "unwanted" from the Patriots because they had not presented him and his agent with a new contract. Moss was quoted as saying "I am taking that in stride and playing my final year out and whatever the future holds is what it holds, but it is kind of a bad feeling -- feeling not wanted. It is not like my production has gone down. I am speaking from an individual standpoint. I don't know about Tom [Brady's] or whoever else's contract."

What the Patriots need to do behind the scenes is to tell Moss to shut up, play ball and let his production do the talking instead of his mouth, but they can't really do that because Moss is a potentially combustible player, who the Patriots need to be focused and motivated to help them get back to the Super Bowl. The Patriots' players, coaches and brass will publicly praise Moss throughout the season to keep him semi-happy and productive.

There's no doubt in anyone's mind that Moss is still an elite receiver in his 12^th year in the league and a first ballot hall of famer. At the age of 33, the veteran receiver still posses' great speed and is an excellent deep threat. In his four years with the Patriots, Moss has averaged 83 catches, 1,255 yards and 15 touchdowns, numbers that are worthy of a contract extension.

In his defense, Moss has not publicly said anything bad about the organization and reiterated his desire to stay in New England numerous times. Moss should look to franchise quarterback Tom Brady as an example of a professional who kept his mouth closed while waiting for his big payday. Brady, like Moss was also in his final year of his contract has been in the upper echelon of quarterbacks in the NFL for the majority of his career, while being underpaid for the longest time. Never did we once hear Brady complain about his contract even when it appeared the team and his agent was far off from an extension this off-season.

To his credit, Moss has been a model citizen in New England since his arrival in 2007. Moss has done a far superior job in New England as far as his work ethic and leadership in the locker room and on the field is concerned. These are two qualities the Patriots have lauded him for on a consistent throughout his tenure in New England. In his previous stops Minnesota and Oakland, Moss was known as a malcontent, who played hard on his own terms and did not bring the passion to practice.

What Randy Moss must realize is that the Patriots have won 3 Super Bowls before him, with mediocre receivers Deion Branch, David Patton and Troy Brown. The Patriots can easily take the money they are playing Moss and bring someone else to do the job next year if Moss is unwilling to get with the program. The Patriots have a history of not overpaying aging players and letting those players play out their contracts before discussing a contract extension.

If Moss plays his cards right and has a big season without distributing the team chemistry, I'm pretty sure the Patriots would explore a contract extension with him and his agent, but if the Patriots decide to part ways with him, there will be another team knocking at the door.

So it's in Moss' best interests to be like Tom Brady instead of Albert Haynesworth.