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In a class of his own

Moss easily wins Offensive Rookie of the Year award

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Posted: Sunday January 03, 1999 03:01 PM

Can't catch me: Moss had catches of longer than 40 yards in eight different games this season AP

NEW YORK (AP) -- Just like Randy Moss to run away from the competition.

The game-breaking wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings was a landslide winner of The Associated Press' NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award Sunday. Moss, who led the NFL with 17 touchdown receptions and averaged 19 yards per catch, received 44 votes from a nationwide panel of 47 sports writers and broadcasters.

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, the top overall pick in the 1998 draft, got two votes. The other vote went to Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor.

Moss, who refused to be interviewed after learning he won the award, was chosen 21st in the draft. Although he was an All-American and a dangerous receiver at Marshall, off-field problems made most NFL teams leery of taking him.

The Vikings had no reservations, and were rewarded with an All-Pro year in which Moss made 69 receptions for 1,313 yards.

And Moss wasn't even at full strength the entire season, bothered by a sprained ankle he injured while playing basketball in May.

"I said it before: You won't see all of Randy until next year," coach Dennis Green said.

Moss helped the Vikings produce the league's best record (15-1), and set an NFL record with 556 points. He found many ways to get free deep, and if he didn't, he used his size (6-foot-4) and tremendous leaping ability to outjump defenders.

"I think of the things we've done and the success we've had, we've had huge explosiveness," offensive coordinator Brian Billick said. "He's brought the offense to a critical mass. He's taken it from an offense that is one of the best in the league to challenging, maybe, the all-time best, based on points and yardage."

Can Moss be one of the best ever? Green, who was an assistant coach during Jerry Rice's early days in San Francisco, has some thoughts.

"I think they're different style of players," he said. "Jerry has had great health. Randy had the disadvantage of coming in and overcoming an ankle. But ... it's clear to everybody that Randy has exceptional speed, exceptional eye-hand coordination, and those things have held up for him so far."

Moss had two TD receptions and 95 yards in his NFL debut and never slowed down. He drew national attention in a Monday night victory at Green Bay, where he had 52- and 44-yard TDs, gaining 190 yards on five catches.

"I'm just going out there playing," Moss said during the season. "There's nothing that comes that I get down on myself or try to outdo anybody. I just try and do my job. I don't talk trash. You'll never hear me talk to a defender. They get paid to do what they do, I get paid to do what I do. My job is to make it happen."

No rookie did that better this season.

Moss is the fourth Vikings player to win the award. Last year's winner was Tampa Bay running back Warrick Dunn.

 

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Inside the NFL with Gary Horton: Moss may be next Say Hey Kid Inside the NFL with David Fleming: Taylor, not Moss, is NFL's top rookie Five Vikings, including rookie Moss, named to AP All-Pro team
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