Bill Williamson

We can go on and on about how special of athletes Randy Moss and Terrell Owens are.

It’s clear they are simply better than everyone else. We’ve known that. We’ve seen it for years.

Moss is the ultimate super freak. He is world class in nearly every area — body movement, speed, strength. Owens is an equally stunning athlete. He is muscular, has the body fat of a superhero and is the best player on the field at all times.

But again, we’ve known that. We get that. We’ve gotten that for years. The difference is, this year, the two most talented receivers in the NFL have finally grown mentally into their bodies.

They are both focused. They are both keeping their mouths shut. They both see a good thing. That's what is most remarkable about the seasons that Moss and Owens are enjoying. They both have seen the light.

Long compared, on and off the field, maybe Moss and Owens have inspired each other to get it together on the field. All great individuals hate being left behind by another.

Until this season, what did we most remember about Moss and Owens? It wasn't the on-field production. It was the waste of talent or the discontent in the locker room.

We’ve all said Randy Moss would set the single-season touchdown record if he just kept his head in the game. We’ve all said Terrell Owens would be the leader of a Super Bowl quality team if he cut down on the "me, me, me" act and play football.

Moss and Owens finally listened.

Moss has completely bought into being a New England Patriot after going into the tank the past two years with Oakland. He even took less money to make this happen. For all his issues in the past, Moss has always talked Super Bowl ring. His miserable tenure in Oakland clearly made him lust and wonder if he’d ever get the chance. He’s gotten the chance.

There hasn’t been one word about Moss dissing team sponsors on the bus after a game, faux mooning opposing fans, or squirting officials with a water bottle. Those days appear over for Moss. All he is doing is setting records.

Same thing for Owens. He has done what was seemingly impossible for him, stayed out of the spotlight. He has made it about the Cowboys and unlike Moss, whose production comes after good behavior, Owens may be behaving because he knows he can produce.

Two complex characters, for sure, but two remarkable talents. And for the first time in each of their careers, it is the talent that is being shown off more than the boorish behavior.

Is it worth it in Minnesota?
The Vikings are showing some life after two straight wins, and, at 5-6, are in the running for a wild-card spot. That could be bad news for the Vikings in the long-term. With Minnesota having a heartbeat in the NFC playoff picture, it may cause coach Brad Childress to rush superstar rookie Adrian Peterson back onto the field sooner than he should be.

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That would be a mistake.

Peterson is going to be a star for the Vikings for several years, but he needs to get healthy now. Spending a couple more weeks on the sidelines is what's best for Peterson and his wounded knee. The problem for Childress is that he may not get the chance to coach Peterson for the next several years if he doesn’t get to the playoffs. The coach may be tempted to rush Peterson, who actually tried to play at the Giants last week, on the field too early.

It’s natural for Childress to feel the pressure. Peterson is his best player, so you can understand the urgency. What needs to happen in Minnesota is ownership needs to tell Childress that he will get a third year regardless and let Peterson heal properly. If Minnesota misses the playoffs by a game this year and Peterson is healthy, they are still winners.

If Peterson shreds his knee for a team that probably won't make the playoffs anyway, well, that would be a waste worth costing Childress his job.