JoeSixPat

I'm amazed that so many fans as well as the media can't see the forest through the trees and were scratching their heads as to why the Patriots didn't tag Moss.

As Karen Guregian notes, there was little for the Patriots to gain by angering Moss by tagging him - even if both sides were intent on reaching a long term deal.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/f...ts#articleFull

The bottom line would be that by tagging Moss the Patriots would hold all the cards - and that would put Moss in a position of weakness - knowing that if indeed a long-term deal couldn't be reached his show of good faith by playing last year on an affordable one year contract would have been thrown back in his face like an insult.

It would also be a big red flag for ALL OTHER free agents who might now, or in the future, be in Moss's situation - ensuring that the Patriots never again see such win win situation.

While the Pats lost the ability to FORCE a disgruntled Moss to play here if a long-term contract can't be reached they gained some valuable assets in their long term football strategy to attract future players of Moss's caliber.

So by not tagging Moss the Patriots send a LOUD message to Moss and all other free agents (or guys vying for a trade) that they can be trusted and that they respect players who play hard as team players on a one year contract.

Amazing to me that everyone didn't see this shaping up long before the Thursday deadline, but indeed, even some Pats fans here are incredulous that the Patriots didn't say FU to Moss by locking him into the franchise tag salary as a fall back if negotiations for a long term deal failed.

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CrazyDave

You said it Brother.
testify

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Hey Favre, YOU SUCK!!!

The Boston Herald - It ain't toilet paper, but it'll do the job.

Vince Wilfork: A Force Of Nature

Krugman

Good post.Moss made some adjustments last year to play with the Pats,what indication is there that he is now willing to go the other way?Certainly nothing he's said.

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In Belichick we trust....
"Crush your enemies,see them driven before you,hear the lamentation of the women." Arnold Schwartzenegger doing his BB impression.

marcus

...and we should pay attention to anything the Herald says because of why?

jbb9s

This "franchise tag" rule in the league should be reviewed and possibly replaced. I don't think the players like it and if teams are forced to use it, they are usually stuck with a holdout come camp.

ctpatsfan77

That's an interesting point, especially in the case of Nnamdi Asomugha, who was hit with the exclusive franchise tag, which pays him almost $10M, but means that teams cannot make him an offer at all. . . .

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dhamz

It is certainly as likely a theory as any of the others that have been tossed around.

That said, if Moss signs elsewhere next weekend, that goodwill they may have earned with future players won't help them replace the best WR in the game in 2008.

vyrago

So you would want RM if he wanted to play elsewhere? And how good would he be if he were forced to play for the Pats? It's not as if this guy doesn't have a history.

ctpatsfan77

On the flip side, it'd be one of the few times I'd agree with PFT about the Pats--if Moss did sign elsewhere, after everything he's said, it'd mean that he really never bought into the system.

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"Momentum was quickly snatched away by New England, who once again proved that any Patriot, at any moment, can make a play." —Inside the NFL, Packers v. Patriots

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GPR11788

Moss was not tagged because they did not want to keep him unhappy. If you remember what happened with Asante, I think it makes sense that the Pats want to show a show of good faith to Moss.