Moss Moves

Randy Moss, the record-setting New England Patriots All-Pro receiver, has purchased a home and is living at 97 Wilbur Road.

Purchase price of the single-family home with a cabana, shed and in-ground pool that sits on 4.04 acres was $1.25 million, and the deal was closed on Aug. 1, according to town records.

He purchased the gated property from Joel P. and Denise Trojan, owners of the Century Drywall Company of Lincoln.

Word of Moss's arrival has spread quickly, particularly among younger football fans.

"Seems like the kids knew about this before everyone else," said Doug Allen, a town attorney and a manager in the Lincoln Little League who's team members began chatting about Moss moving in weeks ago. "We had heard that he was looking to move into town and that he was looking at available properties near the airport, which is where he ended up buying."

The property is a short distance from North Central State Airport on the Lincoln-Smithfield line.

While the Patriots provide transportation around the country for its players for National Football League games, Moss has several other interests which require extensive travel.

On April 29, of this year, Moss announced the formation of Randy Moss Motorsports, an auto racing team intended to begin participation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and in July, he announced that he had bought a 50 percent share in Morgan-Dollar Motorsports. He also has initiated Rollin With Randy, a charitable foundation that assists underprivileged children in West Virginia.

There has been a slight increase in traffic along Wilbur Road since Moss moved in, according to Robert Fratus, who lives across the street from Moss.

"We've seen a few cars sort of slow down to try to get a look at the house, but they just drive by," said Fratus, who said the property was gated when it was owned by the Trojan family. "The house is set far off the road, so you really can't see much from the road anyway."

Fratus said his son has observed Moss driving out of the property, and an excited wave by the youngster was returned by the football star, but like most neighbors in the area near St. Thomas Council, K. of C., Fratus doesn't want to impinge on Moss.

"He obviously bought that house, which sits well off the road, because he wants privacy, and we respect that, like we would for anyone else," said Fratus. "We've only seen him once. I haven't had an opportunity to speak to him yet because we don't want to be too forward. If he wants to talk to his neighbors, he will when he's ready."

Fratus' son, Matthew, 12, is understandably anxious for a chance to meet the football star. Matthew is a football fan and is a member of the Lincoln Lions Pre-teen football program.

Town Clerk Karen Allen, Doug Allen's wife, said she learned that Moss was moving into town when her son Ben, 12, told her. A short while after, a title examiner went to Town Hall to file paperwork.

"It was sort of funny because the examiner wanted to keep it a big secret and asked everyone not to talk about it," said Karen Allen.

The Allens live nearby, on Cynthia Drive, and Doug said he has seen Moss driving from the newly acquired property.

"It was just a modest car, not what I would have expected from a sports superstar," said Allen.

Moss isn't the first New England Patriot to settle in Lincoln. Starting center Dan Koppen, who played at Boston College, is also a town resident, and has been active coaching youth basketball locally during the football off-season.

Another sports celebrity, Frank Carpano, sports anchor for WJAR-TV 10, is also a Lincoln resident. Carpano's daughter attended school with the Allen's son.

"There are a number of celebrities in Lincoln and once you see them away from their professions and out in the community, you find out that they're just like all the rest of us," said Doug Allen. "I remember when Linc Almond was governor and we'd see him at a Front Street coffee shop and think nothing of it. I imagine once Randy Moss is spotted buying apples at the local supermarket that everyone will say it's kind of cool because he's just like the rest of us."

Born Feb. 13, 1977, in Rand, Va., Moss played football at Marshall University and was drafted into the NFL with the 21st overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings. He was traded to the Oakland Raiders, where he played for two years before being traded to the New England Patriots on April 29, 2007 for a fourth-round draft pick.

In his first season with the Patriots, Moss set the NFL single season touchdown record with 23, teaming with quarterback Tom Brady on all of those receptions. Moss also holds the single season touchdown receptions for a rookie with 17, set with the Minnesota Vikings.