Tuesday New England Patriots Links 11/2

It was a wild news day on Monday, between the announcement that Randy Moss was going to be waived in Minnesota, along with the news that Logan Mankins is coming back to Foxboro, there's plenty to talk about this morning. So here are today's headlines.

Michael Silver has some terrific behind-the-scenes notes of what happened with Moss back in Minnesota, including what Brad Childress told his players when he announced Moss would be waived. Silver also reports on an incident that happened recently at a Friday night team dinner that upset a lot of people.

Michael Rand of the Minnesota Star Tribune tries to make sense of why Childress opted to part ways with Moss, and feels that it wasn't just his post game love-fest for New England that prompted it.

Tim Rohan of the Star Tribune feels that Moss was part of the solution - not part of the problem and isn't happy about the move.

USAToday.com has an article on where Moss may land, giving a breakdown team-by-team about how he would impact their respective offense.

According to this article in Seattle Weekly, Pete Carroll is hopeful that Moss ends up a Seahawk.

This article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer speculates on Moss landing there - which one would have to believe Browns coach Eric Mangini would ponder it, since they're about to play New England Sunday.

For those hoping Moss will somehow return to the Patriots, the Miami Dolphins seem poised to make sure that doesn't happen. According to this article in the Miami Herald, the Dolphins appear to have every intention of blocking him from coming back to Foxboro should he pass through the fingers of all the other teams before the Dolphins can make a claim for him.

Eric Ortiz writes that Moss learned in less than a month what Manny Ramirez found out - that the grass is not always greener away from Boston.

Monique Walker of the Boston Globe has some reactions from some of Moss' ex-teammates, who were surprised when they heard the news yesterday.

Dan Shaughnessy writes that it would be hard to imagine Moss coming back to New England, although grabbing a 3rd round pick and then getting him back at a discounted rate seems brilliant - but unlikely.

Gerry Callahan of the Herald has his comments on Moss, and says he has the answers if you just want to hear them.

Meanwhile Kirk Minihan of WEEI.com has this week's report card, and highlight's BenJarvus Green-Ellis' 112-yard rushing performance.

Ron Borges of the Boston Herald has his report card for this week, and has some interesting comments as he breaks down Sunday's win.

The other news is the fact that Logan Mankins will sign his tender and report to Foxboro today. Mark Farinella of the Attleboro Sun Chronicle has more on Mankins return, and wonders what effect he'll have on the football team.

Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald looks at Mankins return, and is surprised that the veteran offensive lineman is showing up a couple weeks before he's required to.

WEEI's Christopher Price takes a terrific in-depth look at what Mankins return will mean for the Patriots, although Price feels we may not see him on the field until toward the end of the month.

Juliet Pennington of the Sun Chronicle reports that several Patriots were on hand yesterday for a fund raiser with former Patriot Joe Andruzzi. It's a great story, so be sure and check it out.

The Globe's Walker has an article on the fact that the Patriots have been much better in the second half, although Belichick wishes they could do it for all four quarters.

Glen Farley of the Patriot Ledger feels that Sunday's game against Cleveland could potentially be a "trap game", because New England has a critical match-up coming up the following weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald writes that despite having the best record in the NFL, the players in the Patriots locker room know that winning just six games won't help them make the playoffs - because there's still plenty of football left.

Rapoport also takes a look at the Patriots second half performance running the football, with Green-Ellis gaining 108 of the 112 yards he rushed for in the final two quarters of play.

That's it for this morning. Hope everyone has a good day and we'll have more later this afternoon.