Young Titans 'star struck' by Moss

A few of the younger Tennessee Titans admit to being just a little star struck when they first encountered Randy Moss on the practice field and in the locker room.

“Yeah, probably, just because he is Randy,” rookie receiver Marc Mariani admitted. “I started watching Randy back when he was at Marshall, because he killed my (Montana) Grizzlies in the (I-AA) national championship back in '96. So I've been watching him forever, and it's cool to be his teammate and be a part of it, and to be across the locker from him is pretty special.”

Mariani wasn't the only Titans player to be awed by Moss who joined the Titans.

Even two of the team's stars admitted to being wowed by Moss.

“I was excited out there to see some of the things he does. To grow up watching a player like that and to be on the same practice field and get to see him play is exciting,” running back Chris Johnson said. “He was one of the favorites. They named 'Mossing' after him, 'Mossing' somebody. He was one of my favorites.”

Kenny Britt, whose hamstring injury played a role in opening the door for Moss to join the Titans, likewise talked about the term named after Moss.

“It's good to be out there watching Randy,” Britt said. “When I was a little kid, I really didn't watch football as much as other kids and things like that. I played football and everybody would be, 'Oh, you've got a Moss.' When you go up in the red zone and catch one over somebody, everybody would say, 'You got a Moss.' And I was like, 'Who is Moss?' Then I got into watching football and seeing him play now on the same team is wonderful.”

Even veteran quarterback Kerry Collins, who was Moss' teammate with the Oakland Raiders in 2005, said Moss' presence in a locker room has a certain mystique.

“When Randy Moss comes into your locker room, he brings something. Guys are seeing that and responding to it,” Collins said. “The biggest thing is just the way he's working. You never judge a book by what you hear. You wait and see what a guy is about. He's come in here with a great attitude and ready to work. The guy just wants to win. Period. The end. He'll do whatever it takes to make that happen.”