Re: If you had a chance, what would you ask Belichick about the Moss trade ?
I'm a little disappointed that we got a 3, because that'll take until the '12 draft to become a 1.
In all seriousness, he might have been able to get more value out of this, because his desire to be rid of Moss could not be greater than the Vikings' need to get him.
On the plus side: you put Randy on the field against the Jets one more time. You get him to a team he wants to play for. You part on relatively good terms. You aren't on the hook for the long-term deal or for the remainder of this year's salary. Of course (if I've got this right,) there aren't cap implications until/unless the next CBA (I've been out of tracking this side of things for a long time and trust I'll be corrected if this isn't the case.) But then, the next CBA could be signed the day after the season ends, and it might be just as inflexible in terms of the cap.
The first event leading to this directly was The Interview, when Moss said originally that it didn't look like he'd be with the team next year. Then came The Tirade, when he wanted to let us know up front he'd be a dbag later in the year - something like that. Then the blow-up with the coaching staff.
So I understand it's business, and hell, he's got a right to get out there and get paid. The Pats obviously even thought the best solution would be to let him out early to do it, and get a 3 out of it instead of a big goose egg.
I think it's just a matter of getting it out of the way early, getting what you can, putting him on the field against your divisional rival, and trusting the other weapons that so far are panning out quite well (Tate/Hernandez/Gronk... even Woodhouse.) There's downside risk in keeping him, there's downside risk in cutting him loose.
Question: how do you feel about it if the Pats win a division, go deep into the playoffs, then blow the AFCG or the SB in a game when Moss is a non-factor, for whatever reason... given his statements this year?
He was ready to go. The Pats were ready to let him go. Love the guy, and may he score many a touchdown elsewhere... just not against us.