Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

[sarge]

This is cool

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/report_moss_spo.html

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the Eagles offered more than the three-year, $27 million contract that Moss signed with the Patriots, and "felt as if they were close to striking a deal with the star receiver before the news about the Patriots broke early this afternoon."

 

[Watson's IQ]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

Someone forward that on to Asante..

Honestly though, the offer I saw for the Eagles was 4/36, which is the same AAV as the Patriots' offer. I haven't seen all the details, but I assume the difference comes in the bonus and the amount of the contract that is guaranteed.

 

[wiggins!]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

From ESPN's Michael Smith:

Through a league source familiar with the negotiations I've confirmed reports that the Eagles were in fact negotiating with Randy Moss before he re-signed with the Patriots. When the Patriots decided not to use the franchise tag on Moss the Eagles were like a lot people in assuming New England was working on deal with Moss and was a lock to retain him. But when word got around that there wasn't a deal and Moss was open to talking to other teams, the Eagles decided to throw their hat in the ring, though they always believed themselves to be a long shot to lure Moss from New England. As well they were aware that they could simply be being used to leverage a better offer out of the Patriots. Philadelphia first contacted Moss either late Saturday night or early Sunday. I'm told the Eagles offered Moss a $15 million signing bonus as part of a four-year, $36 million package. But they knew the only way they would beat out New England for his services was to blow the Patriots completely out of the water. Again the Eagles knew their chances were slim and that Moss was likely to go back but with him dissatisfied with and feeling somewhat disrespected by New England's initial offer they thought maybe they could swoop in and get him. Ultimately the Patriots stepped up their offer and obviously Moss accepted. But the Eagles never believed they were close enough to consider themselves the losers in the Moss sweepstakes. In so many words my source characterized their pursuit of Moss as a we've-got-nothing-to-lose type endeavor.

Another interesting tidbit I heard tonight was that the Jets made a strong push to land Asante Samuel during his visit with the Eagles Friday. Who knows what's gotten into the Jets? Keep in mind the Jets have paid a reported $44 million in guarantees to free agents Alan Faneca (highest-paid offensive lineman), Calvin Pace (seven sacks last year in first season playing OLB in 3-4), and Damien Woody, and another reported $20 million to Kris Jenkins (I heard it's really 9 million) after he was acquired via trade with Carolina. I'm told New York was willing to make Samuel, whose position head coach Eric Mangini coached when the two were in New England, the highest-paid defensive player in league history with a contract offer bigger than the six-year, $72 million contract and $30 million signing bonus the Colts gave Dwight Freeney last year. But Samuel had targeted Philadelphia as his next team, with Tennessee as his fallback choice. Samuel didn't want to end up like Nate Clements, with a record-setting contract on a losing record. He felt like Philadelphia was closer to being a contender plus there he isn't the face of the defense. Samuel ended up getting a six-year deal with Philly that with escalators could be worth as much as $61.5 million. He got $23.6 million guaranteed ($20 million up front) and will receive $32.1 million over the first three years of the deal. So the Jets likely would have paid in up fronts and guarantees what Samuel is due to make over three years in Philly. The Jets, as they say, are not fooling around this offseason.

 

[Watson's IQ]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

From ESPN's Michael Smith:

So the Jets likely would have paid in up fronts and guarantees what Samuel is due to make over three years in Philly. The Jets, as they say, are not fooling around this offseason.

This last bit gave me a chuckle. Maybe fooling around isn't the word for what the Jets are doing, but I got a mental image of the Jets front office huddled around a bank of phones going out and overpaying for every mediocre free agent on the market while Mangini stalks around behind them and "Taking Care of Business" plays on a constant loop.

Damien Woody! Calvin Pace! Kris Jenkins! The New York Jets are the class of the NFL!

 

[DaedalusX]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

But they knew the only way they would beat out New England for his services was to blow the Patriots completely out of the water. Again the Eagles knew their chances were slim and that Moss was likely to go back but with him dissatisfied with and feeling somewhat disrespected by New England's initial offer they thought maybe they could swoop in and get him. Ultimately the Patriots stepped up their offer and obviously Moss accepted.

Ha, looks like I was right after all.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

At least Samuel didn't go to The Jest for the money, his "want to win" thing would have sounded really silly then. And thank God the Eagles didn't steal Moss; I guess we'd have had to hit the trade market to even be in the same ballpark at WR as last year (Chad Johnson, I guess).

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

Andy Reid was on espn radio today and he was saying that they did have intrest and made an offer but things never really got going and they were given the impression that Randy was not going anywhere and never really got into deep negotiations.

 

[Garbanza]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

This last bit gave me a chuckle. Maybe fooling around isn't the word for what the Jets are doing, but I got a mental image of the Jets front office huddled around a bank of phones going out and overpaying for every mediocre free agent on the market while Mangini stalks around behind them and "Taking Care of Business" plays on a constant loop.

Damien Woody! Calvin Pace! Kris Jenkins! The New York Jets are the class of the NFL!

Ratgini knows he's in the hot seat....so the FO goes into spend mode - OVER-SPEND mode. Eric the Rat is well aware that if he fails in NY - the chances of him getting another HC job are nil to none. Who would hire a rat for a leader? No one. This is his last parade. I hope he goes down in flames.

 

[stinkypete]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

I stand corrected.

I did not expect Moss to get an offer close to the Pats offer, given his history in Minny and Oakland. I'm expecially shocked the the Eagles were our main competition, given T.O. I think Moss in Philly would be a long term disaster.

From ESPN's Michael Smith:

Another interesting tidbit I heard tonight was that the Jets made a strong push to land Asante Samuel during his visit with the Eagles Friday. Who knows what's gotten into the Jets? Keep in mind the Jets have paid a reported $44 million in guarantees to free agents Alan Faneca (highest-paid offensive lineman), Calvin Pace (seven sacks last year in first season playing OLB in 3-4), and Damien Woody, and another reported $20 million to Kris Jenkins (I heard it's really 9 million) after he was acquired via trade with Carolina. I'm told New York was willing to make Samuel, whose position head coach Eric Mangini coached when the two were in New England, the highest-paid defensive player in league history with a contract offer bigger than the six-year, $72 million contract and $30 million signing bonus the Colts gave Dwight Freeney last year. But Samuel had targeted Philadelphia as his next team, with Tennessee as his fallback choice. Samuel didn't want to end up like Nate Clements, with a record-setting contract on a losing record. He felt like Philadelphia was closer to being a contender plus there he isn't the face of the defense. Samuel ended up getting a six-year deal with Philly that with escalators could be worth as much as $61.5 million. He got $23.6 million guaranteed ($20 million up front) and will receive $32.1 million over the first three years of the deal. So the Jets likely would have paid in up fronts and guarantees what Samuel is due to make over three years in Philly. The Jets, as they say, are not fooling around this offseason.

LOL, the Jets have done just enough to hit .500 this year, then spend the next 3 in cap hell. I love it.

 

[PatsFanJess]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

Ratgini knows he's in the hot seat....so the FO goes into spend mode - OVER-SPEND mode. Eric the Rat is well aware that if he fails in NY - the chances of him getting another HC job are nil to none. Who would hire a rat for a leader? No one. This is his last parade. I hope he goes down in flames.

Only a matter of time Can't wait.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

Only a matter of time Can't wait.

Personally, I'm hoping that not only does Ratgini go down in flames, but he drags the whole JEST organization with him. Buffalo is good enough to be a playoff contender, so there's nothing wrong, IMO, if the JEST and 'lphins dwell in the cellar for a decade or two.

 

[sebman2112]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

Ha, looks like I was right after all.

Because Michael Smith speculates that they initially gave him a low offer? Believe what you want, but I don't think they tried to (as you put it) "Low ball" him. Remember, Schefter and others said NE and Randy were always close on a deal, which kind of flies in the face of that opinion. That story he's telling about Asante taking less to sign with the Eagles over the Jets because they are a "contender" sounds like BS to me, too.

 

[bradmahn]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

Because Michael Smith speculates that they initially gave him a low offer? Believe what you want, but I don't think they tried to (as you put it) "Low ball" him. Remember, Schefter and others said NE and Randy were always close on a deal, which kind of flies in the face of that opinion. That story he's telling about Asante taking less to sign with the Eagles over the Jets because they are a "contender" sounds like BS to me, too.

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it reported yesterday that the Patriots "upped" their offer by guaranteeing an extra three million dollars? If that were the case then there is no life to the idea that the Patriots "low balled" him.

 

[DaedalusX]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

Because Michael Smith speculates that they initially gave him a low offer?

It was reported as fact, not speculation. You don't get to cherry pick the news.

Believe what you want, but I don't think they tried to (as you put it) "Low ball" him.

Tried to and did are two separate things. Malice need not be the intention of offering too little. Randy expected more than he was initially offered and after 4 days got more guaranteed than the initial offer. It's pretty cut and dry, no matter how you try to spin it.

Remember, Schefter and others said NE and Randy were always close on a deal, which kind of flies in the face of that opinion.

And it has been reported that Moss was growing increasingly frustrated.

 

[bradmahn]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

And it has been reported that Moss was growing increasingly frustrated.

By "friends close to the player."

Moss went to other teams to get an extra three million dollars guaranteed to him. That means the package was essentially the same.

Why does there have to be someone at fault? Seems to me a deal that was 3 years $27 million is not "low balling" and asking for $3 million guaranteed is not "getting greedy."

 

[DaedalusX]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

Moss went to other teams to get an extra three million dollars guaranteed to him. That means the package was essentially the same.

Well, whether it's essentially the same to be guaranteed an extra $3 million or not is a matter of perspective. For my part, if it was enough for Randy to wait several days and enough that the Patriots considered it as sweetening the deal, I think it by definition can't be considered "essentially the same."

Why does there have to be someone at fault?

It really doesn't and that isn't my implication. The only point I wanted to make was that it seemed likely given the circumstances surrounding the deal that the Patriots FO ended up having to put up more than their initial offer. People piled on me because it was an "assumption without basis in fact or reason" (paraphrasing). Now the facts come out and show it was the Pats who had to up their offer, not Moss who had to lower his expectations. Ergo, I was right.

Whether that makes the paranoid and delusional think I'm blasting the Patriots FO is their prerogative, but it's not rooted in fact.

 

[SVN]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

its hard to really verify all this. Where were these guys before moss and samuel were signed ? Now suddenly they have all these news items to break.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Per Reiss: Eagles offered Moss more

Someone forward that on to Asante..

Honestly though, the offer I saw for the Eagles was 4/36, which is the same AAV as the Patriots' offer. I haven't seen all the details, but I assume the difference comes in the bonus and the amount of the contract that is guaranteed.

Yup, I think the match came in the guaranteed money. The Eagles were offering $15M in signing bonus which is defacto guaranteed. The Pat's were reportedly offering $10-13M in bonus and guarantees. After the Eagles offer they upped their offer to $12M in bonus and $15M guaranteed. Then the Eagles offer became just another $9M year he might never see - especially given who knows who their HC and QB will be in 2011 (or probably a lot sooner).