Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Receiver Randy Moss and New England Patriots quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien were involved in a heated exchange at halftime of the team’s victory Monday over the Miami Dolphins, according to player sources.

The locker-room exchange, described as an “outburst” by one player, came two days before the Patriots traded Moss to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2011 third-round draft choice, and could have contributed to the team’s decision to make the deal.
Video after the jump

The Patriots trailed 7-6 at halftime of the game, and Moss had just one pass thrown in his direction up to that point. He finished without a reception and wasn’t thrown to in the second half.

On Wednesday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement that he has had discussions during the “past several months” with Moss and his representatives about Moss’ “place on our team and his future in football.”

Belichick added that “many things were taken into consideration before making the trade.”

Moss was in the final year of his contract and did not expect to return to New England in 2011.

Player sources said the halftime exchange was not the first time they had felt friction between Moss and O’Brien, who calls the offensive plays.

After Monday’s win, when asked by the Boston Herald about being held without a reception, Moss said, “It’s called a game plan.”
-Mike Reiss