Moss' accuser defends herself as battery victim, says he offered her money first

The Florida woman who took out a restraining order on New England Patriots star wide receiver Randy Moss is speaking out -- through her attorney -- and is not backing down.

In a statement released to Orlando radio station WDBO on Thursday, attorney David McGill says that Rachelle Washington is a "battery victim" who wants the former Minnesota Viking to "take responsibility for what he has done."

The incident came to light this week after the radio station first reported that Washington filed court papers in Broward County, Fla., contending that Moss committed battery at her Fort Lauderdale home Jan. 6 and refused to allow her to seek medical treatment for an injured finger.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday in Boston, Moss denied any wrongdoing, saying that Washington's injury was "an accident ... she hurt herself."

Moss' Minneapolis attorney, Joe Friedberg, said that Moss and Washington were engaged in "consensual horseplay" when she suffered a "minor injury to a finger" and that she demanded $500,000 from Moss to keep her from going public with the incident.

The statement from Washington's attorney said: "Ms. Washington has been unfairly characterized as someone simply seeking financial gain. In fact, it was Mr. Moss' representatives who first contacted our office to offer a 'six figure' settlement with hopes of not having this incident become public record."

However, the Boston Globe reported today that Moss' agent, Tim DiPiero, stated in an e-mail that he contacted the FBI and U.S. attorney's office in Moss' home state of West Virginia last week alleging that the woman's attorney was trying to "shake down" Moss.

DiPiero's e-mail also said that McGill threatened that Washington had "lots of dirt" on Moss and might reveal it unless Moss paid her an amount with "six figures."

The court papers that Washington filed say that she and Moss have had an "intimate relationship since 1997." Moss described her as a friend.

The undefeated Patriots play the San Diego Chargers on Sunday in the AFC championship game. The winner goes to the Super Bowl.

A hearing in this latest case is scheduled on Jan. 28, days before the Super Bowl. No charges have been filed.

Moss has had several run-ins with the law starting in high school. He served time for kicking a high school classmate. He was booted from Florida State University for using marijuana and arrested for bumping a Minneapolis traffic control agent with his car. He's also been fined many times for misdeeds on the football field.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482