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July 27, 2007

Moss transcript

Here's what Randy Moss had to say today on the field...

Q: How was the first day out there in pads?

RM: It felt weird, but it felt good just getting back into the swing of things and really putting the armor on and just getting used to the field. It is summertime and it’s a little hot, but that’s something that we have to get used to.

Q: How much have you and Tom Brady accomplished already in terms of building chemistry?

RM: I think that in order for us to have the chemistry on the field, we first have to build a relationship off the field. That’s one thing that we’re trying to do. I’m not trying to step on his toes and he’s not trying to step on mine. It’s just a mutual friendship and we have an understanding and we have high respect for one another. Like I said, we have to start a relationship off the field in order for it to work on the field. We’re starting that.

Q: How are you learning the system so far?

RM: I’m really liking it. When I went to Oakland and then came here to New England, it was just more of trying to learn the plays and getting back to classroom work, meaning studying at night, opening up books, taking notes and things like that. I’ve been taking notes and studying since minicamp and I don’t intend to stop now. It’s just putting me into bed a little earlier and putting me into my book a little earlier too.

Q: You went deep a few times today. That must have felt pretty good.

RM: That’s just part of football. As coach says, everybody has a position and I’m here to get open and to catch the ball. I’m just trying to do what I can to contribute to the team.

Q: Tom Brady’s favorite receiver is the one who’s open. How does that help the entire receiving corps go through their routes and be prepared?

RM: I just think that makes everybody work a little harder because Tom distributes the ball to everyone. Who doesn’t want the ball? I think that just makes us as a whole unit – all of the skill positions – work a little harder. As you can see we have a lot of skill positions out here that are very loaded. Coach is going to put 11 [players] on the field and we’re just going to try to execute.

Q: Are you happy if your impact is getting somebody else open because the defense is paying attention to you?

RM: I’ve done that my whole career. If you’re asking me whether I mind being a decoy, [the answer is] no.

Q: Does it take you off your feet all of this here at camp with the electricity and the expectations?

RM: No. I just see the excitement and that’s what makes me happy. Just seeing the excitement of the fans, players and coaches … You can see how family-oriented this organization is, including the fans. Like I said in minicamp, I’m glad to be here and I’m happy to get it started. It’s something that I hope will pay off at the end of the year.

Q: Were there this many fans in Oakland or in Minnesota for the first day of training camp?

RM: Well, football is America’s sport and there are fans all around the whole world, not just in our country. I know the Patriots are going to bring them out. I’m happy to see them.

Q: Can you hear the fans cheering for you?

RM: You can. You all even heard it. That’s just something that you try to block out because you have a job to do. It does feel good to hear the cheers and the kids screaming. That’s really who drives our sport, it’s the children. It is exciting and it’s good to feel the love, but at the same time we have a job to do and we need to concentrate and focus on what we have to do on the field.

Q: Do you think it’s really important to bust out at this time, right now? Is this time of the year very important?

RM: I think that training camp is really where you get the feel of football. Sunday, really, is easy because you work so hard during the week and prepare yourself and study film and things like that. That’s the hard thing about playing football in the National Football League – [working hard] throughout the week. Sunday it becomes easy. Training camp is when it starts, with the heat, putting the pads on, getting out of meetings at 9:00, being at curfew at 11:00. That’s the hard thing about football, is getting all of the little things done early in football season.

Q: When do you anticipate things really clicking with Brady? September maybe?

RM: We don’t really have to click as individuals. I think we have to click as a whole unit. You have 11 players on the field and if one of those 11 lets down, then anything can happen. It’s not just me and Tom who need to be on the same page. We need 11 guys on offense, 11 on defense and 11 on special teams and everybody needs to contribute. Everybody has a job to do. Hopefully we can all do that.

Q: Randy, everybody knows that you put some things aside to come to the offseason program. Do you see that work paying off now when you put the pads on?

RM: Of course. I’ve always done offseason workouts with every organization [I’ve played for]. I really don’t know why it was a big issue here. I planned to come in here and work and get myself in shape and in condition to go through training camp and the regular season. I’m not doing anything that I normally don’t do any other year.

Q: What about besides getting in shape?

RM: I haven’t done anything that I normally don’t do. Everything is the same. I’m just glad to be here and going out there and catching balls.

Q: How is this camp different from others you’ve been through?

RM: I think that just coming in and working right away. We had minicamp and we had time to prepare for what we’re going to go through in training camp. We had to report yesterday. We had our test and then come right back the next day and get into pads. I’m not used to that with the teams that I was with before. Just being in pads and knowing that we can run around and hit a little bit and feel the physicalness of football, it feels good to be right into the pads and not wait three or four days to get in them.

Q: How was that test?

RM: The test was okay. It wasn’t bad. It kind of hurt, don’t get me wrong, but…

Q: [Interrupts] Was it something you haven’t done before?

RM: Every team has a test, but here it’s everything. If you touch the grass wrong you’ve got to go back. It’s just something, every organization hopefully has some kind of conditioning test so players don’t drop or fall off early in training camp. It’s up to us to get ourselves to get ready to come into training camp and the coaches and the organization want to see if we’re ready.

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