Moss’ Injury Ends Some Streaks

Wide receiver Randy Moss extended his consecutive games streak to 102 with a token start for Minnesota on Sunday, but his strained right hamstring limited him to two snaps and no catches in the first half of the Vikings’ 20-3 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Minneapolis.

Moss didn’t return to the field after halftime, and the Vikings announced in the third quarter he aggravated the injury and wouldn’t play the rest of the game. Coach Mike Tice said Moss spent the second half watching on TV while getting treatment.

“It was never un-aggravated,” Tice said.

That ended Moss’ streak of 101 consecutive games with a reception, spanning his entire career.

Moss, who left the locker room without commenting, also had his streak of 10 consecutive games with a touchdown catch stopped.

“He’s in uncharted territory for him, so that’s tough,” Tice said. “You have to feel for a guy. I know he wants to be a part of it.”

Moss, tied for the NFL lead with eight touchdown receptions, didn’t practice all week.

Since the Vikings drafted him in 1998, he hasn’t missed a game.

“Definitely, he’s disappointed,” said teammate and fellow receiver Marcus Robinson, who had a touchdown catch in Moss’ absence. “He’s been playing for 101 straight games, and not to be out there on Sunday -- he doesn’t know what that feels like.... Definitely I know he’ll be out there next week. You better believe me.”

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Barrett Green lost his starting job at weakside linebacker for the New York Giants because he was late for a meeting during the off week.

Nick Greisen got the start and had seven tackles in the Giants’ 28-13 loss to the Detroit Lions at East Rutherford, N.J.

Green, who was signed as a free agent in the off-season, played on special teams and assisted on one tackle.

“For a lack of words, it was sad,” Green said after the game. “I don’t understand it. It’s not my prerogative to. My job is to go out there and to help this team win any way I can. I went out there and tried to do what I could on special teams.”

Coach Tom Coughlin refused to say much about the demotion, saying the matter was between him and Green.

Green reportedly was more than two hours late for a meeting about 10 days ago.

The Giants defeated Dallas on Oct. 10 and then practiced Tuesday through Thursday. Green was late that Wednesday.

“Do I feel like I could have helped the defense today?” Green asked rhetorically. “I feel like I help the defense anytime I am out there on the field. [Sunday], I wasn’t out there.”

Green signed a five-year, $16-million contract with the Giants. He had 25 tackles while starting the first five games.

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This week’s other key injuries:

Steve McNair, the oft-injured Titan quarterback, aggravated the chest bruise that kept him in the hospital for two nights last month.

McNair acknowledged he might have to take some more time off.

“This is not going to heal in one or two weeks if I continue to go out there and play,” McNair said. “I don’t want to sit, but if I have to that’s fine.”

Tampa Bay fullback Mike Alstott was forced out of the Buccaneers’ 19-7 victory over Chicago after hurting his right knee in the third quarter.

Oakland left guard Frank Middleton was carted off the field with a left leg injury midway through the first quarter of a 31-26 home loss to New Orleans.

Middleton was joined by defensive tackle Ted Washington, who suffered bruised ribs, and cornerback Charles Woodson, who was sidelined by a hip pointer in the third quarter.