I wonder at the assumptions going into the Moss steamroller... it seemed to always be out there in the minds of fans and in the media, with BB saying nice things about Moss often. I usually filtered it out and considered it some kind of mind-**** on the Pats' part... but there never seemed to be actual negotiating happening.
Then all of a sudden, on draft weekend, WHAM! Here he is!
This makes me think it's possible that there never was a real expectation of getting Moss in the Pats' FO, until the dominos started falling.
If this is the case, then we know:
1) the Welker and Stallworth deals were already in place. In other words, we had already established that:
1a. Welker gets a little over a long time, with much of it up-front: that is, a vote of confidence, a low-risk, medium reward pickup (and we paid big in draft choices for the priviledge.)
1b. A deal with the assumed "#1/deep threat" this year, i.e., Stallworth, which included a "prove-it" year.
2) The FO structured Moss to be a true 1-year deal. This leaves a lot of options open. But I don't think it's lost on anybody, that if Stallworth excels, Moss will be left with the option of signing a non-blockbuster deal, or looking elsewhere. If Moss excels, on the other hand, the Pats have their perfect wiggle room to get out of the Stallworth deal, which is going to cost upwards of 11M next year. I.e., what if Moss decides he's rich enough, and can stick around for 6M/year over 3 years (which may in fact be in line with his skills/abilities by then?)
Of course, I am the kind of guy that doesn't like to deal w/bad surprises. If a good surprise happens -- for instance, being able to keep both these guys -- its got to mean the team has dealt with another hole (such as DB or LB) in an inexpensive way.
At any rate... the rush of people signing w/the Pats and taking a hit vs. their market value, makes me think the Samuel negotiations are being handled just fine, as far as the team is concerned. Now Samuel has to make the case that he's as valuable as clement; more valuable than Vasher (by about 40%); and more valuable than the likes of Randy Moss and Adalius THomas. I know these are comparisons across positions -- but it makes you think for a minute. One would hope it makes Samuel do likewise.
As I always say, I support the player's right to do what he has to do. But I don't think Samuel will win this one in the end.
Similarly, Moss and Stallworth end up in a sort of unstated competition this year. And it's got to be a challenge, that part of the competition is "competing to display the best maturity and teamwork." Ouch.
There is no way both can play through that successfully, without both being changed for the better.
Whether that ends up meaning the Pats get to keep both, might be the difference between maturity and (financial) self-destructive tendencies. (I don't think 20% of the cap budget should be going into the receivers... which they'll end up eating of everybody gets what they *could* demand, if all goes well.)
PFnV
)....I enjoy your posts Miguel.....
