Moss celebration likely to bring 'heat' from NFL (ESPN)

Randy Moss didn't leave Lambeau Field before the Vikings' playoff game was over Sunday. He still was in the middle of controversy, however. Moss -- whose reputation is still smarting for skulking off the field with 2 seconds left in a loss in Washington last week -- pretended to pull down his pants and moon the crowd after scoring on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Daunte Culpepper in the fourth quarter. "Just having a little fun with the boys a little bit," he told Fox after the Vikings' 31-17 wild-card victory over the Packers. "I hope I don't get in trouble by it, but if I do I'll take the heat."

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Moss can expect some "heat" from the NFL. When asked for a reaction to the touchdown celebration, an NFL spokesman told Mortensen: "Randy Moss can expect to be hearing from us." Also Sunday, an ESPN interview with Moss did little to discount criticisms of his selfishness. Earlier, Moss said -- in a roundabout way -- he was sorry about the negative reaction caused by his early departure from the field at Washington in the regular-season finale. This time, though, none of his comments could be characterized as apologetic. "Defenses don't frustrate me," Moss said. "My team is what frustrates me. A defense can't frustrate me. What frustrated me is seeing us not doing what we're supposed to do." Moss clarified that quote by claiming he was concerned solely about the Vikings' offensive success, as opposed to catching a certain amount of balls. But in brushing off a question about center Matt Birk's confrontation with him in the locker room following the loss to the Redskins, Moss said he wasn't listening to Birk's rebuke and that he really didn't care what his teammate said.

He also gave a rather ambiguous answer when asked if he thought Minnesota was the right place for him. "Do I want to be traded? No. I have my times when I think I want to," Moss said. "It all has to do with the frustrating part. ... There's something that's unfinished here in Minnesota that started since my rookie year."

Moss, with his hair poofed out in a giant Afro, had four receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Moss wasn't the only Viking to go the huge hair route. Running back Larry Ned, left tackle Bryant McKinnie and defensive lineman Darrion Scott joined him in a movement that Moss led last season for a home game against Kansas City. Afros, by the way, stands for America's Finest Receivers on Sunday. At least to the Vikings, it does. "It seems to be working, so we might keep it," McKinnie said.

Lambeau ambush: Vikes, Moss stun Packers (Larry Weisman, USA Today)

Moss' antics only added to the weirdness of this win. A week ago, when he walked off the field before the end of yet another loss, even teammates expressed anger and concern about his attitude. Sunday, after catching a 34-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter that stretched the lead back to 14 points, Moss aimed his backside at the crowd and began a celebration that Fox announcer Joe Buck said was "disgusting." He and Moss don't agree on this. "Just having fun, that's all," Moss said. "Basically, what I was doing was pretending to moon the crowd and then bump the goalpost with my butt."

Some teams would think of this stuff as a distraction. Moss said it helps. No one, he said, talked about this playoff game last week. Instead they focused on him. "All you heard was Moss. That was a good thing. I felt very comfortable about being able to take the heat."

The NFL pretends to be outraged by stunts like the infamous Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction at last year's Super Bowl but lets players like Moss get away with this sort of misconduct with mere slaps on the wrist. If the League is serious about policing misconduct, they would have ejected Moss from the game after the incident and suspend him for next week's game. Fines are virtually meaningless to multi-millionaires. Keeping them out of games, though, would send a much stronger message.

via OTB