CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Rand-native Randy Moss will become a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Moss, whose career began at DuPont High School in Kanawha County, enters the Hall of Fame on his first ballot. During his 14-season NFL career, Moss earned All-Pro honors on four occasions and was selected to six Pro Bowls.
Charleston attorney Tim DiPiero, who previously served as Moss’ agent, said he isn’t sure what Moss will talk about in his remarks.
“He’s not the most predictable guy in the world, but I can tell you after the way he responded when the guy knocked on his door and he started filling up and crying, I just think he’s going to be excited,” he said.
DiPiero said there were doubts about Moss during his days in DuPont City and at Marshall University.
“They said, ‘Well, he’s at DuPont in West Virginia. That doesn’t mean a whole lot.’ Then they said, ‘Well, he’s at Marshall, Division 1-AA. Doesn’t mean he’ll be able to do it in the pros,'” he said.
After the Minnesota Vikings drafted Moss in the 1998 NFL Draft, DiPiero said people who questioned Moss realized his on-field talent.
“The first game in the NFL he kicked the ball to himself, caught a couple of touchdowns against Tampa Bay,” he said. “He wanted to blow up the NFL, and that’s exactly what he did.”
Moss’ career is sprinkled with legal troubles; Notre Dame University denied Moss’ enrollment following a fight in high school. Moss later found himself in the headlines because of marijuana use.
DiPiero said Moss has matured since his early years in the spotlight, adding Moss’ duties with ESPN has allowed him to show his warm personality to a nationwide audience.
“He’s always fun loving to those of us who are around him. He’s kind of the Charles Barkley of the NFL,” he said. “It’s just so much fun for me to see. I’m just so happy for him and his family that he’s where he is now. It’s just a good example that we need to give people second chances.”
Moss will be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Bobby Beathard, Robert Brazile, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Ray Lewis, Terrell Owens and Brian Urlacher. The induction ceremony will air at 7 p.m. Saturday on ESPN.