So, instead of answering the question about the M word, Moss should have said, “I don’t want to talk about that, because whatever I say is going to be misinterpreted.”

If the interrogator continues with the same line of questions, say, “I already addressed that issue.” If it works for the President, it can work for a football player.

It’s common knowledge that Moss used to smoke weed. It’s why he couldn’t get into Notre Dame or any other big-time football schools and had to play college ball at Marshall. So he could also say, “That’s in the past,” also without lying, even if the past means the night before the interview.

Moss is a great receiver, but the Vikings didn’t want him on the team because of unthinking behavior like this. Living in the moment can be a lot of fun, but you have to be able to know when it’s time to think about the consequences of your actions.

Moss isn’t very good at that. If it passes through his brain, it passes out of his mouth. If it feels good, he does it.

I’d still probably take him over Terrell Owens on my football team – if I were forced to choose one or the other. Moss at least hasn’t engaged in a premeditated campaign to alienate his coaches and teammates. On the other hand, T.O. hasn’t fessed up to not going all-out on every play. So it’s a close call.

But if I were going to get Moss off my team, it wouldn’t be because he admitted to smoking pot.

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The International Olympic Committee does not test for marijuana because the IOC has determined that it’s not a performance-enhancing drug. From my memories of the 1970s, when I actually did inhale — but that’s in the past, and I don’t want to discuss it further — that would be an accurate judgment, unless the sport were eating Doritos or ice cream, in which case it could help someone to a world record.

The NBA doesn’t test for marijuana, either, which is a good thing, because the occasional joint is one of the preferred methods of unwinding for players of that game. If the NBA tested for weed, there might be more guys serving suspensions than actually playing the game. Robert Parrish, who won a few championships with the Celtics, is one of the big names who got caught with it.

But it is illegal in the NFL, and that’s another reason Moss shouldn’t talk about it. Also, there’s the issue of kids watching, and while I don’t care if grown adults indulge, I do think it’s a bad idea for 13-year-olds to know that their favorite football player likes to get high. Moss said something similar to that himself.

Maybe he’ll grow up some day and learn that total disclosure is neither necessary nor advisable. Honesty is a fine thing, but there’s no need to carry it to extremes.