Randy Moss expects ‘a fun ride’ with Vikings

Wearing his familiar purple No. 84 jersey, wide receiver Randy Moss practiced with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, a day after he was acquired from the New England Patriots in a trade his new team hopes will get it right back in the Super Bowl conversation.

“To all the Vikings fans that are coming to the Metrodome, pull your 84 jerseys out, man,” Moss said. “I think this is going to be a fun ride.”

With owners Zygi and Mark Wilf watching from the sideline, Moss caught passes from Brett Favre and talked to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as he prepared for Monday night’s game at the New York Jets.

“Who would’ve ever thunk it?” Favre said.

Moss spent his first seven seasons in Minnesota, emerging as one of the top deep threats in the league. He was traded to Oakland in 2005 and spent the last three seasons with the Patriots before being dealt back to the Vikings on Wednesday.

“I thought about this time and time again,” Moss said. “How is this thing going to play out? Is the love for me still here in Minnesota? All I’ve been seeing is nothing but positives.”

No matter where he has played — in college, with the Vikings after he slid down the draft board in 1998 or in New England after many thought he was washed up — Moss has always played his best with a chip on his shoulder.

That’s what the Vikings are hoping to see again.

“I think there’s always that,” Coach Brad Childress said. “The great thing about this business is you have to do it every week. For anybody that is saying anything bad about Randy Moss, he gets a chance to show them wrong. That’s never a bad motivator.”

Patriots move on

The Patriots practiced for the first time since Moss was traded.

“Randy was really a pleasure to coach. I enjoyed having him on our team,” Coach Bill Belichick said. “It was a difficult decision but one that I feel was in the best interests of the football team. … I wish Randy the absolute best.”

Several factors contributed to Wednesday’s trade, Belichick said, but didn’t specify them.

“I would say there was never any incident or discipline problem with Randy,” he said. “There never has been one with me in four years and it certainly wasn’t about contract and money.”

Brady 911 transcript released

Boston police received four emergency calls in the minutes after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was involved in a car crash, including one that reported someone “screaming and crying,” according to a transcript released by Boston police.

Brady did not call 911 and none of the callers identified Brady as a victim of the Sept. 9 crash, according to the transcript, first reported by the Boston Globe.

Brady was unhurt when his car collided with a minivan after the driver allegedly ran a red light near Brady’s Boston home. A passenger in the minivan was seriously injured.

Cutler won’t play Sunday

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will sit out Sunday’s game at Carolina because of a concussion.

Bears spokesman Scott Hagel said Cutler was examined by team and independent doctors after practicing on a limited basis the previous day.

Simms pleads not guilty

Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms pleaded not guilty to charges he drove his car while high on marijuana, and an officer testified that Simms told him at a checkpoint that he had been smoking.

The quarterback, the son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, pleaded not guilty in New York to charges of driving while impaired and driving while impaired by drugs. Simms, 29, could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

Etc.

Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden sat out his third straight practice because of a sore hamstring and is almost certain to miss Sunday’s game against San Diego…. Browns running back Peyton Hillis has been added to Cleveland’s injury report with an unspecified thigh injury. Hillis has rushed for more than 100 yards the last two weeks…. The Houston Texans signed defensive end Mark Anderson and waived defensive end Ryan Denney…. The Patriots have re-signed offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka and added quarterback Brett Ratliff to their practice squad…. The Indianapolis Colts signed running back Javarris James to the active roster and released linebacker Tyjuan Hagler…. Free agent punter Hunter Smith has signed with the Washington Redskins, returning to the team to replace Josh Bidwell, who has been put on injured reserve.