via Getty
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 31: Former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning speaks during a ceremony to reveal his name on the stadium Ring of Fame at halftime during a game between the Denver Broncos and the Washington Football Team at Empower Field at Mile High on October 31, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
via Getty
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 31: Former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning speaks during a ceremony to reveal his name on the stadium Ring of Fame at halftime during a game between the Denver Broncos and the Washington Football Team at Empower Field at Mile High on October 31, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Randy Moss joined the Manning brothers on the latest edition of Manningcast on ESPN this past Monday. The star-studded trio watched the Buccaneers vs. the Saints game on Monday Night Football. The legendary wide receiver teased a lot of Tennessee Volunteers’ fans.
Following his reunion with Peyton Manning on the show, Moss revealed that he could have gone to the same college as the Sheriff himself. But he also laid the blame on Peyton for the failed recruitment attempt.
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The fans could have seen the legendary wide receiver play for the iconic NFL quarterback. But the move did not come to fruition. Randy Moss was a hot prospect coming out of school. Needless to say, many colleges were after the highly touted prospect, including the University of Tennessee. And while they were never the front runners, they had the allure of Manning as their quarterback.
However, on his visit to the university, he faced the tardiness of the quarterback. “When I went to Tennessee, all I heard was Peyton Manning was in Virginia at a family member’s house. He is trying to drive back just to recruit you.” Explained the Hall of Famer.
.@RandyMoss says Peyton Manning messed up his recruitment to Tennessee 😂
"That was the reason I didn't become a Volunteer, Peyton was late." pic.twitter.com/BlohotL6P6
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 6, 2022
But they kept the player waiting for too long. “I was like, ‘Well, if he is driving here just to recruit me, why isn’t he here right now to get me?'” added Moss.
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In his defense, Peyton explained that he was visiting his girlfriend and now wife, Ashley, who was attending the University of Virginia. Although he left for the meeting at the right time, he could not help but be a little late to show up.
Peyton Manning still could not entice the WR
According to the 46-year-old Broncos and Colts legend, he gave it his best when it came to recruiting Moss. “I said Randy, ‘We are going to throw it every play here,” added Manning. However, his attempts were not enough to make Moss reconsider his choices. “He was not hearing it. He was headed for Notre Dame. I gave him my best pitch, though.”
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Randy Moss opted to go to Notre Dame, where he never played a single snap due to legal issues. Even after his rocky start, Moss transferred to Marshall University in West Virginia. The WR established himself as one of the best players to come out of that college. He declared himself for the NFL draft the same year Manning did. While the QB went to the Colts as the 1st overall pick, Moss joined the Vikings as the 21st overall pick.
Watch this story: Patrick Mahomes names the single greatest season by a QB according to him and it is not Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
