Speaking of trades, a modification in the collective bargaining agreement this year does makes it easier to deal veteran players with high salaries.
In other words, Oakland could easily oblige wide receiver Randy Moss' desire to play for another team. Moss indicated this week in an interview with FOX that he wouldn't mind leaving the hapless Raiders (0-4).
Allowing that to be possible, the NFL and NFL Players Association changed the way cap money is counted if a player is dealt. Instead of all of the remaining guaranteed money counting this year, the money is spread over the current and following seasons.
Thus, in the case of Moss, his salary cap hit for the Raiders if he were dealt would be $3.79 million for this season then another $4.04 million in 2007. If Moss were traded today, the Raiders would actually save $5.735 million this year because that's the remaining amount of salary Moss is due on his base of $7.5 million.
That said, the team acquiring Moss would have to have $5.735 million in cap room available. There are currently at least six teams with at least $8 million in cap room: New Orleans ($11.5 million), Arizona ($10.8 million) New England ($10 million), Jacksonville ($10 million), Houston ($9.6 million) and Philadelphia ($8 million).
Most important in all of this, the NFL trade deadline is Oct. 17. In other words, "Gentlemen, start your rumors."
