ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown crew have sent an emotional message to Randy Moss after their colleague stepped away from the show while battling a mysterious illness.
Moss, who addressed the issue on last weekend’s episode, is spending some time out to focus on a ‘personal health challenge’, it was announced on Friday.
And at the start of Sunday’s show, host Mike Greenberg began by paying tribute to their ‘friend and teammate’ as he looks to overcome his medical scare behind the scenes.
‘Randy, we are sending all our love to you and your family today and every day, and we cannot wait until you are right back here where you belong,’ Greenberg said.
Fellow pundits Rex Ryan, Alex Smith, Tedy Bruschi and Adam Schefter also paid homage to Moss and expressed their love for the Hall of Fame wide receiver.
The panel also opted to carry out Randy’s famous ‘You Got Mossed’ segment in his absence, which highlights the best one-handed catches in football over the past week.
ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown crew have sent an emotional message to Randy Moss
Moss stepped away from the show this week as he continues to battle a mysterious illness
At the start of the segment, ESPN showed a group of fans of the Minnesota Vikings – Moss’ former team – turning around to show his name on the back of their jerseys.
Moss took to X to show his appreciation for the gestures by writing: ‘I luv my teammates and my fans!! #Skol’.
ESPN announced his decision to temporarily step away from the show on his behalf, while stressing that he will eventually be welcomed back with open arms.
‘Randy has been an invaluable member of the team, consistently elevating Countdown with his insight and passion,’ the network’s statement read. ‘He has ESPN’s full support and we look forward to welcoming him back when he is ready.’
On last week’s episode, Moss began the show by addressing his health issue after his eyes looked more yellow than usual the week prior – which drew concern from some.
‘I just want to share something with you all,’ he said before putting his sunglasses on.
‘I just want to let the viewers know that me and my wife, me and my family, we are battling something internally. I have some great doctors around me.
‘I couldn’t miss the show, I wanted to be here with you guys, I feel great. But if y’all see me with these Michigan turnover glasses that I have on, it’s not being disrespectful.’
Last week, fans were concerned for Moss as they saw his eyes appearing yellow on TV
And in a video posted on Instagram, Moss said: ‘Throughout the week of the holidays, your boy has been battling something internal.
‘I just ask for all the prayer warriors to put their blessings on me and my family in these hard times.
‘People were asking about my eyes last week. If you see these on in Sunday NFL Countdown (puts on glasses) Adam Schefter calls them the Michigan turnover glasses that they sent from Ohio last night.
‘Your boy is going to get through it. I got a great team of doctors, and I got a great family around me.
‘Y’all do your checkups, get your bloodwork done, and we’ll work through it.’
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