Moss: Marijuana use is in the past
Published 12:00 am Friday, August 19, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) &045; Randy Moss acknowledges that marijuana use has been a part of his life. He simply maintains it isn’t now.
“It’s in the past,” the Oakland receiver said.
Moss spoke Thursday after the Raiders practiced in Houston, addressing an interview with HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” where he seemed to indicate that he still smokes marijuana occasionally.
“I have used, you know, marijuana … since I’ve been in the league,” Moss said in the interview, which is scheduled to air Tuesday night. “But as far as abusing it and, you know, letting it take control over me, I don’t do that, no.”
When pressed whether he still smokes marijuana, the star receiver with the checkered past said:
“I might. I might have fun. And, you know, hopefully … I won’t get into any trouble by the NFL by saying that, you know. I have had fun throughout my years and, you know, predominantly in the offseason.
“But, you know, I don’t want any kids, you know, watching this taking a lesson from me as far as `Well, Randy Moss used it, so I’m going to use it.’ I don’t want that to get across. Like I say … I have used (marijuana) in the past. And every blue moon or every once in a while I might.”
When he spoke to the media after practice Thursday, Moss said he was talking about his activities during the early part of his NFL career, along with his high school and college careers.
“A lot of people are jumping to conclusions because they really don’t know the real story or haven’t even heard the real story yet,” he said. “That was really me talking in the past tense of way back in the beginning of my career and my childhood &045; especially in high school and college.”
Raiders coach Norv Turner said he would reserve comment until he had watched the program.
“I imagine I’ll see it and, yes, then I’ll have a discussion with Randy about it,” he said.
Moss’s agent, Dante DiTrapano, blamed HBO.
“In an attempt to promote their dying network, they have maliciously couched his remarks in a manner that is confusing and leaves room for negative interpretation,” DiTrapano told The Associated Press.
He also said the Moss is not in the NFL’s substance abuse program.
HBO spokesman Ray Stallone said the network had no reaction to DiTrapano’s comments, other than to say that the part of the interview which dealt with steroids was “complete and unaltered.”
“We believe Randy’s remarks speak for themselves,” Stallone said.
The NFL’s drug policy calls for up to 10 tests a month after one positive result. A second violation results in a fine equal to the player’s salary for four games, a third in a four-game suspension, and a year’s suspension for a fourth violation.
Moss has never been suspended for violating the league’s drug policy and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said it is confidential whether the receiver is in the drug program or not.
“We evaluate all conduct related to substance abuse and it is handled confidentially by the doctors,” Aiello said.
Moss was traded from the Minnesota Vikings in early March. He was limited by a hamstring injury last season and finished with 49 catches for 767 yards and 13 touchdowns. It was the first time in his seven seasons that he didn’t reach 1,000 yards receiving.
Moss has had problems on and off the field throughout his college and pro career. He lost scholarships at Notre Dame and Florida State because of a battery charge and marijuana use. He set records at Marshall and clearly was the most dynamic receiver in the 1998 draft, but lasted until 21st overall because of past trouble.
Last year, Moss was fined $10,000 for pretending to pull down his pants and moon the Green Bay crowd during Minnesota’s playoff win over the Packers. He also drew criticism for leaving the field with 2 seconds left in a regular-season loss against Washington.
Other transgressions include bumping a traffic control officer with his car in 2002, verbally abusing corporate sponsors on a team bus in 2001 and squirting an official with a water bottle in 1999.