CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former NFL cornerback and Marshall University star Carl Lee is standing in support of fellow Marshall football legend Randy Moss as he battles cancer.
Moss revealed his cancer diagnoses last Friday on Instagram, just a short time after stepping away from ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown.
Lee, the 12-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowl defensive back for the Minnesota Vikings, says Moss, the Rand native, is in his prayers.
“I think that we just ought to be thankful that he discovered it early, at least at some form, but it seems like he’s going to be well, and I send my prayers up to him every chance I can,” Lee said.
Moss, who is 47 years old, played for Marshall University in 1996 and 1997 after graduating from Dupont High School, where he was honored as a Heisman Trophy finalist in 1997 when he put up 1,820 yards and 26 touchdowns for the Herd as the team’s star wide receiver.
Moss then went on to be selected in the first round of the 1998 draft by Lee’s former team, the Minnesota Vikings. Moss would play the first seven seasons of his 14-year, Hall of Fame career in Minnesota, before returning to the purple and gold for four games in 2010.
Lee says it’s hard to think of a figure as large as Moss being touched by the disease.
“It was challenging to think that he could have that (cancer). You’re thinking, here’s this greatest athlete, how could that happen to him?” Lee said. “It’s truly a blessing too that he was able to get probably the best care.”
Moss announced on Friday that he had spent most of last week in the hospital, getting a needed procedure to remove something cancerous in his body.
Lee says Moss’ success both on the field and in the ESPN studio is just part of an inspirational story of triumph despite many obstacles.
“In spite of all the challenges that he’s gone through, he’s still there and he’s still finding his way to success, and to me, I don’t think that’s by chance. I think that’s a blessing that he is getting and is well deserved,” Lee said.
Moss, in his Instagram video announcing his diagnosis, used his platform to address male followers, telling them to get regular checkups and not delay any bloodwork or any other necessary medical attention.
Lee says Moss is a role model, and his first-hand experience in battling cancer proves that further than just catching footballs.
“If you’re looking for an example in sports, he’s the guy. If you’re looking for an example of life as a male, here’s your guy,” Lee said. “To me, I felt like him saying that, him continuously making that point, that’s him now stepping away from the sports guy and going into life. I think now he’s trying to be that life coach because he’s had that scare. He knows what it’s like. He knows what how to have to hear that.”
Lee also says Moss’ words need to be spread and acted upon.
“We should be talking about him on a positive level because of who he is, and we should talk about him beating cancer,” Lee said. “We should take his words, for men, to go get checkups. We shouldn’t let that fall on deaf ears. We need to hear that.”
On Sunday NFL Countdown, Moss is featured on a segment called “You got Mossed,” where he features athletes from across the NFL, NCAA, and even high school football that make spectacular catches overtop of the defender. The catches, of course, mimicking Moss’ leaping touchdown catch in Morgantown against WVU in 1997 over cornerback Nate Terry.
Lee says the first time Moss says the expression on ESPN again, it will be special.
“I think the very first time he even says that (“You got Mossed”), it’s going to be like a relief and a cheering moment for everybody, and probably even for him,” Lee said. “I think it’ll be exciting to be able to get a chance to say that, and I think people will look forward to hearing it.”