He declined multiple requests to speak with members of the media who were curious to see if he wanted to defend himself or his performance against the Carolina Panthers.
Apparently, Moss preferred to wait until Sunday in Buffalo, where he let his play do the talking and then walked to the podium for a postgame news conference.
Moss said his piece and left the room without taking any questions.
"It's been really a tough couple weeks, but you move on," Moss told reporters after the Patriots' 17-10 victory against the Bills. "That's the nature of the game. I'm happy that we got this victory. I appreciate all of the support from my true fans, the players, the coaches, my family and loved ones. I've been in this league 12 years, man, and I've been through a lot. These shoulders that I have on my body, you can put the Earth on it. Just to let you know, I'll bounce back."
Moss had game highs of five receptions and 70 yards, and he made a great touchdown catch that gave the Patriots (9-5) a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. Two plays before his 13-yard score, Moss drew a 43-yard pass interference penalty on Bills safety Donte Whitner.
Quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots certainly needed a significant game from Moss, who caught five of the seven passes thrown in his direction. Brady was just 6-of-16 for 45 yards, no touchdowns and one interception when targeting his other receivers.
"He's a big player in this offense," Brady said. "There was so much said about him last week, and he came out and showed the kind of character that he has. I love having him out there."
Because Moss didn't talk all week, his teammates were forced to hear the questions and answer in his stead. Each and every one of them publicly backed Moss, who is a captain and, by all accounts, an exceptional teammate behind the scenes.
The Patriots' defense of Moss clearly worked in their favor, as the wide receiver was tuned in and made some great plays against the Bills. Moss fought through traffic, beat double-teams and made several catches while taking big hits.
"He always wants to prove something," Brady said. "He's a very competitive guy. The way he played [Sunday], he made some tough catches in traffic, had some nice catch-and-runs. He did a great job."
Moss has faced criticism on many occasions in his career, but this is the first time since he joined the Patriots in 2007. He responded to his one misstep in the best fashion possible, making hustle plays on the field and playing a major role in a New England victory.
"My father always said tall trees experience high winds," Brady said. "[Moss has] been at the top for a long time, so when it doesn't go right, I think that's just part of the profession. Randy is mature enough to handle that. He's a fighter, and he came out today and really made some great catches for us. I missed him on a couple deep ones that certainly I wish we would have hit, but he was running his butt off today."
