CANTON, Ohio — Randy Moss has never lacked confidence.
As the former Vikings wide receiver prepares to go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night, Moss made it quite clear that he still thinks he has what it takes to succeed on the field.
Speaking at a press conference at McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio, the man who ranks second all-time with 156 career receiving touchdowns said he could still find the end zone a few more times if he wanted to.
"I'm 41 [years old] right now and could still play this game," Moss said. "I really truly believe that I could still average 10 touchdowns a year.
"The game is that easy, and I don't mean that being cocky or arrogant," Moss added. "I love the game. I really feel I could bring that to the game, and it's what the game really meant to me. For me to sit back and reflect, it was a great ride."
Moss, who ranks fourth all-time with 15,292 career receiving yards, spoke to the media for roughly 45 minutes Friday afternoon.
He was his usual self — brutally honest and a tad brash — but the Vikings Ring of Honor member was also reflective.
Earlier in the day, Moss had attended a private luncheon for current Hall of Famers to welcome to the inductees to the club.
Moss was animated Friday when talking about how special the moment was for him.
"Man, whooooo. My great man was Walter Payton," Moss said. "But I'm sitting at the Ray Nitschke Luncheon … and all the guys I grew up watching and trying to emulate in the backyard, I'm sitting there looking [at them].
"I'm at a table with Mean Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Aeneas Williams, Jerome Bettis … guys that paved the way," Moss added. "These guys put it down for me to be able to play."
Moss was also reflective on his 14-year NFL career, including about his time in Minnesota. The 21st overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Moss paid tribute to the man who brought him to the Vikings.
Moss said Friday that the late Dennis Green, a father figure to him, would have been his choice if the former Vikings Head Coach was still alive. Green passed away in July of 2016. Instead, Moss' oldest son, Thaddeus, will present him before his speech on Saturday night.
"I think he's here in spirit," Moss said. "While writing my speech and thinking about the festivities and things going on here at the Hall of Fame, I always kept Coach Green in my mind.
"He's here in spirit," Moss added. "Where would I be if Coach Green had never drafted me in Minnesota?"
Moss also said that he takes little personal validation on one of the biggest weekends of his life. Instead, he said he's happy that those closest to him get to share in his accomplishments.
"I'm more excited for my family, friends and the fans of the game that I'm here," Moss said. "Me personally? It's just something I did since I was 6 years old. It's just a game."
Dawkins, Urlacher dish on Moss
Moss will be joined by a handful of others in the Hall on Saturday night, including former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and Eagles safety Brian Dawkins.
The two legendary defensive playmakers dished on what it was like going against Moss.
"I loved playing against him," Urlacher said. "We put Charles [Tillman] on him and Charles would jam him on every single play, and we'd have somebody over the top on every play. That's how it was going to be all game long.
"Every once in a while we'd go man, but that was when we absolutely had to," Urlacher added. "We couldn't do it versus Randy. He played hard and was a fun competitor."
Dawkins was more succinct in his praise of Moss.
"Randy was a beast. He was a beast," Dawkins said. "From the first whistle to the last, he was a beast."
