From Pro Football Talk:
MOSS TO PATS RUMORS GATHERING STEAM
Our network of NFL sources is buzzing with talk that the New England Patriots are trying to work a trade with the Raiders for receiver Randy Moss. "It's getting strong," a league source told us a little while ago.
The trading deadline is 4:00 p.m. EDT today.
A week ago our sleuthing could turn up no proof that such a move was possible. But the same gut feeling that had us convinced Neil Rackers would miss that late-game field goal last night for the Cardinals has us thinking that Moss could be making the trip to Massachusetts soon.
Then again, it was that same gut feeling that told us the Raiders would advance to the Super Bowl in Randy's first year with the team.
On Monday, Patriots receiver Doug Gabriel, who was traded from Oakland to New England several weeks back, talked openly about reuniting with Moss. "He can be a fit in this offense because he's a guy who loves to work," Gabriel said. "If Randy was here, he'd make every other receiver want to pick up their game. He made me step my game up. He came and gave us a big push -- not just a small push, a big push -- and made us step up our game."
The obvious argument against such a trade is that the turd-averse Patriots wouldn't want a guy like Moss around. But that same claim could be made about running back Corey Dillon, who was a turd extraordinaire in Cincinnati before being traded to the Pats.
The possible difference is that Randy's turdishness comes from a desire to win games, and a guy like Terrell Owens is more of a me-first, me-only problem child. If our thinking is accurate, then Moss and Dillon have a lot in common.
Besides, we think the Pats realize that the receiver position attracts and/or creates prima donnas. Hell, they drafted Chad Jackson, whom one team took back to the airport early after a horrendous visit in which his cell phone went off twice during a meeting with the head coach. At one point during the visit with said team, Jackson muttered, "I don't want to play here anyway."
The thinking (we think) is that Moss can be influenced by the leadership structure already in place, including quarterback Tom Brady, defensive lineman Richard Seymour, and coach Bill Belichick.
Other considerations are compensation to the Raiders. The Pats already have an extra first-round pick, courtesy of the Deion Branch trade. And if Moss still has his magic, the notion of essentially trading Moss for Branch is a major upgrade, in our view.
Finally, Moss would have to be willing to restructure his contract, which includes salaries of $9.75 million in 2007 and $11.25 million in 2008. The Pats likely would want to move a lot that money into a signing bonus (or a 2006 roster bonus), reducing the cap hits in coming years -- and possibly extending the contract into 2009 and beyond.
It's a gutsy move for all concerned, but it might be the best thing for everyone involved. The Pats can reload for another Super Bowl run. The Raiders can start to build for the future by getting value for a guy they might have had to cut in the offseason. And Moss can take the stick out of his butt and chase a championship again.
