The Minnesota Vikings paid tribute to Randy Moss during halftime of the team’s 29-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday night.
The 40-year-old retired wide receiver — who was drafted by the Vikings as a first-round pick in 1998 and played in Minnesota until 2004 — was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor. Fans in Minneapolis roared and many of them donned Moss’s former No. 84 jersey.
“First and foremost, I wanna give honor to God for being able to bless me with this talent, to be able to showcase this to you guys,” began Moss, the five-time NFL leader in receiving touchdowns. “Without him, none of this would be possible.”
The six-time Pro Bowler and and four-time First Team All-Pro — who was sporting a purple jacket — then went on to thank other Vikings legends, including Hall of Fame offensive lineman Randall McDaniel and former athletic trainer Fred Zamberletti. Moss also thanked Chuck Foreman, Matt Blair, and Scott Studwell among others.
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Moss finished off by thanking Vikings principal owner Zygi Wilf — who stood beside him — and his family, as well as former coach Dennis Green, who tutored Moss during his first four seasons in Minnesota, and the franchise’s fans.
Third-year Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs paid homage to Moss in Monday’s game by donning special cleats signed by the former receiver and by impersonating Moss: Diggs celebrated the first of his two touchdowns, which came in the second quarter, by imitating Moss’s dance moves:
Kyle Rudolph scored Minnesota’s final touchdown early in the fourth:
Sam Bradford finished with 346 passing yards and three touchdowns for the Vikings, while rookie running back Dalvin Cook — Minnesota’s second-round pick out of Florida State — carried the ball 22 times for 127 yards.
The game also marked the return of former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to Minnesota. Peterson, who signed a two-year deal with the Saints this offseason, finished with just six carries for 18 yards for New Orleans.
The Vikings next visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, when the Saints host the New England Patriots.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 13: ESPN NFL football commentator Randy Moss on the set before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Coliseum during preseason on August 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
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