FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Thursday that he never had a discipline problem with Randy Moss, identifying "a combination of factors" in the decision to deal the receiver to the Minnesota Vikings in a trade he said was "in the best interest of the team."
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Belichick would not mention specifically which factors led to the trade of Moss, but did rule out discipline problems and contract issues as reasons from the team's perspective. Moss is in the final year of his contract and had been vocal about his displeasure with that status.
"There was never any incident or discipline problem with Randy, there never has been one with me in four years," Belichick said during a press conference addressing the deal. "It certainly wasn't about contract and money, I think Randy showed and proved from the first year he was here what that was all about. He [re-did] his contract and made the whole [trade from Oakland] work. I think you can eliminate those two things."
Belichick also denied a report that Moss had refused to speak with him on the plane ride back after Monday night's victory over the Miami Dolphins.
"Absolutely not true. Total fabrication. I didn't talk to Randy on the plane," Belichick said.
Belichick did not specifically address an ESPNBoston.com report that Moss and quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien had a verbal confrontation during halftime of Monday night's game.
Tom Brady has been an unabashed supporter of Moss during his time in New England. The two also have adjacent lockers in the Patriots' locker room. When asked by a reporter whether Brady had any input in the decision to trade Moss, Belichick kept his answer short and to the point.
"Tom doesn't make personnel decisions," Belichick said.
Did Brady lobby on Moss' behalf?
"Tom's a player," Belichick said.
As part of his opening statement, Belichick called Moss "a pleasure to coach" and wished him "the absolute best" going forward.
"When I spoke with Randy yesterday morning, the conversations were consistent with what they've been for the last four years: honest, open, very forthright," Belichick said. "We talked about a lot of things that I'll keep between Randy and myself. In the end, it was a difficult decision, but one that I feel is in the best interest of the football team.
"Our team, organizationally, we've had conversations and obviously are comfortable with the trade. We wish Randy the absolute best. He's been a player I've had a good relationship with. He's very honest, when I've asked him questions about football and personnel and things like that. He's been very helpful to me personally. He's been very professional and I think a good teammate and a good contributing member of this team.
"But in the end, that was the decision. I have confidence in our players, that if they continue to work hard and improve that we'll be competitive and be able to win games. That's what we're here to do -- win games. We've won more games than any other team in the last decade. Hopefully we'll continue to win them going forward. That's what we're here for."
Moss was in Minnesota practicing with the Vikings on Thursday and is scheduled to address the media around 3 p.m. ET.
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