Travis KriensRandy Moss fan

The move to release Randy Moss by the Minnesota Vikings, or more specifically Brad Childress, was not expected. It is obviously not a very popular one at that amongst fans, players and the front office. But somehow, Childress got his way and cuts the greatest receiver in team history just 26 days after they traded a third round pick to New England for him.

Childress said that “This decision was made based on what we thought was in the best interests of the Minnesota Vikings, both in the short and long term,” which is funny because I thought acquiring Moss in the first place was in the best interests of the Minnesota Vikings, both in the short and long term. How one man can have the say over a decision that affects the entire organization and that one person not be the owner beats the hell out of me.

The Vikings have given me plenty to cheer and plenty to hate for the past 15 years, but I can honestly say that for the first time in that span, I am embarrassed to be a Vikings fan.

Most of the heartbreak has been on the field, from the ’98 NFC Title game, to 41-0, to the Cardinals have knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs, to last season’s loss to the Saints. But this one takes the cake.

Randy Moss is my favorite football player of all-time and I consider him to be the greatest wide receiver the NFL has ever seen. That of course is debatable, and you may have your own opinion, but what can’t be debated is the impact he had right out of college during his rookie season of 1998 and for the past 13 seasons. He changed the way the game was played, both offensively and defensively and I don’t think it is any coincidence that he was on the two highest scoring teams in league history, the “98 Vikings and the “07 Patriots, that went a combined 31-1 in the regular season.

Say what you will about Moss’s attitude and his “I play when I wanna play” mentality. Once you have an impression of a person, it is hard to change that, even if the person changes.

You had to know that something was up when the Patriots decide to trade Moss a month into the season. New England doesn’t do things that hurt their football team. They have three Super Bowls in the past decade to back that up.

In what seemed like a dream that was almost too good to be true, the alarm clock finally went off and I awoke to same pathetic team I have always known. I will still root for the Vikings and hope that once in the next 50-60 years of my life that they will do what they seem destined not to and that’s win a Super Bowl.

What Moss said at the press conference wasn’t anything shocking. He called the coach out for his decision making and I think that’s the real reason Moss was let go. Childress doesn’t like being questioned, whether it’s from Moss, Favre or anyone else who accomplished more in the game of football then he has.

He has been hated by the majority of the fan base from season one even if he improved by two wins each of his last three seasons and was a play or two from the first Minnesota Super Bowl appearance in over 30 years. An offensive coordinator from the Philadelphia Eagles that didn’t even call the plays, Chilly’s “kick-ass offense” has usually gotten its ass kicked by the opposing defense more times than not when a future hall of fame quarterback is not under center.

Don’t worry Vikings fans. Childress is as good as gone from Minnesota in a matter of months. As soon as the clock hits zeros for Minnesota’s final game of the season the Vikings will be on the lookout for a new head coach. And I hope that management explains to Chilly that they are doing what they think is in the best interests of the Minnesota Vikings, both in the short and long term.

#1.1655801:2599443231.jpg:Travis Kriens: Sports Genius:Travis Kriens: Sports Genius:File Photo