National Football League

Childress on Moss: 'A poor decision'

Published Nov. 3, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Brad Childress calls the acquisition of receiver Randy Moss ''a poor decision.''

The Vikings coach addressed the media Wednesday, two days after he decided to cut Moss less than a month into his second stint in Minnesota.

Childress declined to answer repeated questions about the specifics of the decision, including the motives behind it and who he consulted before placing him on waivers.

''It was a poor decision,'' Childress said. ''I've got to stand up and I have to make it right. When it's not right, you need to make it right.''

Moss hit the waiver wire Tuesday after catching 13 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in four games with the Vikings. They lost three of those four games to drop to 2-5 heading into Sunday's game against Arizona.

Moss first raised some eyebrows in the Vikings locker room last Friday when he berated a caterer who brought in food for the team after practice.

''I wouldn't do it,'' Brett Favre said. ''I was sitting in my locker eating the food. I thought it was pretty good.''

Moss also showed little effort to catch a pass near the end zone in the loss to the Patriots on Sunday, but the final straw may have come after the game.

Moss gave a rambling statement to the media after the 28-18 loss, gushing with praise for coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots and criticizing Vikings coaches for not listening to his game plan input during the week.

''I wished and hoped that it would have worked out as well,'' Childress said. ''But it was a programmatic non-fit, and it didn't work out. When things don't work out, you need to move quickly to take steps.''

The poor start and the abrupt dismissal of a player the team spent a third-round draft pick to acquire from the Patriots has Childress being confronted with questions about his job security.

''I'd say that's up to everybody else to look at,'' Childress said. ''I know that basically it's usually tied to how many wins you have and how many losses you have.''

Favre said that he, like most of the players on the team, was ''a little bit shocked'' when Childress informed them Monday that Moss would not be back. But he also said support for the team ''never wavered.''

Favre said he would be the first to admit that he doesn't always see eye-to-eye with Childress, but also acknowledged that some of the coaches justifiably disagree with the decisions he makes on the field.

''Good teams are the teams that can overcome adversity, work well together,'' Favre said. ''Having a good working relationship doesn't mean you have to like each other. That goes for any phase of business or sports.''

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League