• Can't say that if I were a Patriots fan, I'd find comfort in the relative silence that surrounds Randy Moss's free agency, but here are the three best reasons I keep believing Moss isn't going anywhere but back to Foxboro: Tom Brady, Tom Brady and Tom Brady.
With that season-long love-fest that No. 12 and No. 81 engaged in, there's no way in heck that I see New England risking the wrath of its franchise quarterback by allowing Moss to slip away. Brady made it infinitely clear at the Super Bowl that he considers himself and Moss a package deal at this point, and with the Patriots content to let receiver Donte' Stallworth (who has signed with the Browns) shop his services elsewhere in free agency, losing Moss might just send the signal to Brady that New England's receiving corps will return to those desultory 2006 standards.
Rest assured that's not going to make Tom Terrific too happy, even while he's holed up this winter with Gisele at her compound on some Costa Rican beach. If there's one player that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli take pains to listen to, no matter how soft-spoken the words, it's Brady. And there's no doubt that Brady wants Moss back.
That's why I still think Randy returns to New England. But if you're a Patriots fan, I'm starting to understand the anxiety.
• How much fun could the Boston Globe have had on Sunday if it would have screamed the following from its lead headline atop the sports section: Patriots release Brady....(Kyle Brady, that is).
Tell me someone on the sports desk at least thought of it.
