Would you trade for Randy Moss?

[miami_fan]

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/football/10664419.htm?1c

Randy Moss didn't make believe he was dropping his drawers Sunday. The only thing he dropped was the ball.

There was no Moss sideshow this time. Unfortunately for the Vikings, Moss didn't put on any kind of a show.

For a guy who made such a ruckus in the days leading up to Sunday's game, Moss was quieter than a church mouse caught in the digestive tract of a hungry cat.

He had as many drops as catches — three — and none of those catches went for a touchdown in the Vikings' 27-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He might have had a touchdown if he hadn't walked off the field during a fake field-goal attempt in the second quarter.

Yep, Moss actually did what he told ESPN's Andrea Kremer he might do when she interviewed him about exiting the Washington game with two seconds to play. He left a game in the second quarter. Not out of frustration, but out of confusion.

Moss was supposed to make believe he was walking off the field, then race into the end zone to catch a pass from holder and backup quarterback Gus Frerotte. But there already were 11 Vikings on the field, so Moss kept walking. He was on the sideline when Frerotte looked to his left and saw — yikes! — nobody.

On that play, more than just Moss was caught with his pants down.

"We had some confusion,'' Frerotte said.

Backup center Cory Withrow wasn't supposed to be on the field, but he goofed. So did Moss. He should have been sprinting toward the middle of the field screaming for a timeout, which was what his coach, Mike Tice, was doing from the sideline. Officials never heard Tice's plea.

All in all, it wasn't a great way to end the season for Moss or the Vikings.

That last sentence could apply to every season since Moss started wearing purple. The Vikings are 4-4 in the playoffs with him.

Tice said he would spend this week evaluating himself, his coaches and his players. He should put aside some time to evaluate whether the Vikings would be better off without Moss, and not just because of his attitudinal flaws.

Moss is no longer the centerpiece of this franchise; it's Daunte Culpepper's team now. He will be racking up statistics for years to come, but he isn't likely to be collecting Super Bowl rings if the Vikings don't improve their defense.

It's time to put out feelers and see what Moss could bring in a trade. Every team still in the playoffs has a defense capable of shutting down offenses; when was the last time you could say that about a Vikings defense?

The Vikings could continue to chip away, trying to improve the defense through the draft and shallow dips into free agency. They could go for the quick fix by dumping Moss and his salary for several defensive players. Several very good defensive players.

First on the phone list should be Arizona Cardinals coach Denny Green. The former Vikings coach has three players who could give the Vikings the kind of defense that would help them navigate deep into the postseason — end Bert Berry, who led the NFC with 14.5 sacks, strong safety Adrian Wilson and tackle Darnell Dockett.

Green drafted Moss and always has believed you can outscore teams if you load up with offensive talent. Green also drafted running Michael Bennett, who is entering the final year of his contract with the Vikings. Green desperately needs a running back to replace Emmitt Smith's ancient legs.

Tice should call Green and ask if he'd like Moss and Bennett. The Vikings would be fine without Bennett as long as Onterrio Smith stays out of trouble and Mewelde Moore stays healthy.

Once he's got Denny tantalized, Tice then tells him it will take Berry, Wilson, Dockett and wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Oh, and a decent draft pick, too. There's always room for negotiation, but Berry and Wilson are musts — and so is Boldin, one of the league's best young receivers.

In case Green passes, Tice also should be talking to Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick, Moss' first offensive coordinator with the Vikings. Billick is loaded on defense but has a lousy offense and, with Jamal Lewis as his back, he wouldn't need Bennett.

If nothing works out with Green or Billick, Tice should dig into his Rolodex and check with other teams to see what he can get for Moss. It would have to be a team with veteran leadership that can handle Moss' antics. Either that or a team so desperate to improve it'll take Moss, flaws and all.

Maybe Tice will find out nobody is willing to offer enough, but he really ought to find out.

This is one of several articles I have read throughout the day concerning trading Randy Moss. I used to be a guy who thought you alwasy trade for great talent and take your chances with the attitude (i.e. Corey Dillon). But Randy Moss is a completely different animal. Attention Nick Saban------DON'T EVEN TRY IT!

[BigJohn&TheLions]

Imagine the Eagles with Moss & T.O.

[GrantDawg]

I don't think the size of the cap hit would allow him to be traded.

[sovereignstar]

I don't think the size of the cap hit would allow him to be traded.
Not true. His contract is very trade-friendly.

[stevew]

Not true. His contract is very trade-friendly.
Are there a lot of guaranteed "roster" bonus's then? Cause i thought he signed a helluva signing bonus.

[sovereignstar]

Are there a lot of guaranteed "roster" bonus's then? Cause i thought he signed a helluva signing bonus.
Here's how an article that was run in the Star Tribune on Saturday put it.


Most important, the salary cap implications are more favorable for a trade now. Here is the upshot: Moss would count nearly the same amount on the Vikings' 2005 salary cap whether he is on the team or not.

If he remains with the Vikings, Moss' cap number will be $9.5 million. If he is traded, he will count $9 million on the 2005 cap and then be wiped off the Vikings' salary cap books for the final three seasons of the eight-year, $75 million extension he signed in July 2001.

Just as important to a financially strapped franchise, the Vikings would be off the hook for paying the remaining cash on Moss' contract -- $36.5 million, including his 2005 base salary of $7.25 million. Under NFL rules, Moss' new team would be responsible for paying the cash even though he would count on the Vikings' salary cap in 2005.


http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/5187059.html

[NevStar]

The Bears would trade Terrell & R-Dub for him. :rolleyes:

[Ragone]

Chiefs would give you johnnie morton just to talk about a trade for moss :)

[tucker342]

I would never want a player like Moss on my team, I don't care how talented he is.

[Maple Leafs]

I know we're all supposed to hate Randy Moss, but are we really going to try to say that the fake field goal debacle was his fault?

[Glengoyne]

Imagine the Eagles with Moss & T.O.
Moss would never accept his rightful spot as the number two receiver in that scenario.

[MizzouRah]

Moss, Holt, and Bruce. Yeah, baby!


Todd

[KWhit]

No way would I want Moss on the Falcons.

[rjolley]

Moss would never accept his rightful spot as the number two receiver in that scenario.
Yeah, but could you imagine the touchdown celebrations? All they'd need is Horn and they'd put on a show 3 times a game minimum...well, until the egos took over and ruined the team.

[DaddyTorgo]

I know we're all supposed to hate Randy Moss, but are we really going to try to say that the fake field goal debacle was his fault?
i don't think anyone is trying to say that. from what i've seen written, the backup center was the extra man on the field and mike tice then called Randy off in order to avoid the penalty (why not just take the penalty and kick the FG instead? Or go for it with a more traditional play?) Wasn't Moss' fault at all. That said...I wouldn't want him on the Pats...not in a million years. I'm sure there's a team that'll take a chance on him though. 49ers maybe??

[miami_fan]

i don't think anyone is trying to say that. from what i've seen written, the backup center was the extra man on the field and mike tice then called Randy off in order to avoid the penalty (why not just take the penalty and kick the FG instead? Or go for it with a more traditional play?) Wasn't Moss' fault at all. That said...I wouldn't want him on the Pats...not in a million years. I'm sure there's a team that'll take a chance on him though. 49ers maybe??

Would (Did?) you have said the same thing about Corey Dillon. Not that I want him on the Dolphins but anyone who trade for him basically would have to believe that their organization, coaching staff, and team leaders would be able to control Randy just as the Pats have done with Dillon

[DaddyTorgo]

maybe I'm wrong, but I never got the sense that Corey was as much of a headcase as Randy is. For the record I didn't say the same thing about Corey...who wouldn't be angry after being on all those bad Bengals teams. But Randy has been on some more-than-decent Vikings teams and has had opportunities to take them over the top and would rather pantomime mooning the opposing crowd.

not really a class act.

only class acts allowed on my team. corey dillon=class act. see him after his game-sealing run down to the one-yard line yesterday hop up and run back and hug the offensive linemen that sprung him for the run? that's class.

[Fonzie]

I think my Packers would rather see the entire state of Wisconsin burn to the ground before trading for Randy Moss.

And the entire state of Wisconsin probably feels the same way.

[bhlloy]

Tice should call Green and ask if he'd like Moss and Bennett. The Vikings would be fine without Bennett as long as Onterrio Smith stays out of trouble and Mewelde Moore stays healthy.

Once he's got Denny tantalized, Tice then tells him it will take Berry, Wilson, Dockett and wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Oh, and a decent draft pick, too. There's always room for negotiation, but Berry and Wilson are musts — and so is Boldin, one of the league's best young receivers.

Are you kidding me... does anybody else think this writer is smoking crack? I'd rather have Boldin without his issues than Moss on my team (just my opinion but can you imagine Moss being happy in Arizona? I doubt he would even report) and give me a promising young DT (Dockett) over a middle of the road, middle of the career RB like Bennett especially looking at the RB's you could pick up in the draft. Hell they could pick up Travis Henry for cheaper. Let alone throwing in arguably the best DE in the league this past year, a good safety and a draft pick. Ridiculous deal even with Arizona's questionable track record of evaluating talent.

I can see Moss being traded, but somewhere with a big market and for a first round pick. Does anybody else see the Giants making that trade? Other team with a glaring need at WR and a new coach is the 49ers...

[Bomber]

I'll take Randy Moss and all his "issues" in a heartbeat. Its not everyday you get the best wide reciever, well 2nd best at least, in the game.

[stevew]

Tice should call Green and ask if he'd like Moss and Bennett. The Vikings would be fine without Bennett as long as Onterrio Smith stays out of trouble and Mewelde Moore stays healthy.

Once he's got Denny tantalized, Tice then tells him it will take Berry, Wilson, Dockett and wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Oh, and a decent draft pick, too. There's always room for negotiation, but Berry and Wilson are musts — and so is Boldin, one of the league's best young receivers.

Are you kidding me... does anybody else think this writer is smoking crack? I'd rather have Boldin without his issues than Moss on my team (just my opinion but can you imagine Moss being happy in Arizona? I doubt he would even report) and give me a promising young DT (Dockett) over a middle of the road, middle of the career RB like Bennett especially looking at the RB's you could pick up in the draft. Hell they could pick up Travis Henry for cheaper. Let alone throwing in arguably the best DE in the league this past year, a good safety and a draft pick. Ridiculous deal even with Arizona's questionable track record of evaluating talent.

I can see Moss being traded, but somewhere with a big market and for a first round pick. Does anybody else see the Giants making that trade? Other team with a glaring need at WR and a new coach is the 49ers...

I also thought that sounded a bit rediculous. The Cards are already solid in the receiving department, i cant see them giving up a 1200 yard receiver for this headcase. They could draft a back in thier number 1 or 2 pick this year and pick up a free agent QB and be 8-8 or better next year. But I cant see giving up that much stuff for Moss.

[Franklinnoble]

I wouldn't mind having Moss on my team.

[Suicane75]

I would gladly trade for Moss. And i'd gladly trade him away if he was an asshole on my team.

[Kodos]

I would never want Moss on my team under any circumstance. I hate having to root for jerks.

[QuikSand]

I think the on-field differdne between Moss and a pretty good receiver (like, say, Anquan Boldin) is being generally underestimated. So, in talent terms, I'd definitely lean toward making a big move to add Moss to my team, given the right circumstances.

However, I don't think I have a fair perspective about the off-field issues. Assuming that you don't harbor much hope that he's really going to change, I don't have any way to judge how much of a clubhouse problem or team-focus-problem having Moss would become. That's where I come down as undecided about this.


But I certainly disagree with those who are suggesting that he's not much better in game than any number of other decent players. Moss is a definite game-changing talent, one of very, very few from the WR position. (Actually, until this year's showing from TO, I think I'd have left Moss alone in that category among active receivers)

[rkmsuf]

It's easy to forget this year because since his initial injury, Moss has essentially been playing at half speed.

The way he played Sunday and leading up to it suggests he was more hurt than was being let on.

Moss is a dork no doubt but he's competitve, talented and less of an issue than people make him out to be.

[bhlloy]

Quik - I didn't mean to assume that Boldin is anywhere close to Moss on talent alone. He's a good step or two down from dominant, which right now includes TO, Randy and maybe in a year Andre Johnson could make it there.

But... if I'm Arizona no way I consider Moss an upgrade over Boldin. If he causes problems in Minnesota, imagine what he does with a franchise considered one of the leagues "joke" franchises. I don't trade a young, promising reciever who by all accounts is a model citizen and plays hard for me, for a veteran reciever who as far as I know won't even report, no matter how much of a talent upgrade it is.

That's my thinking, and then the rest of the trade is so ridiculously unbalanced I won't go into it.

I expect a lot of people might disagree, but if I'm Arizona I don't trade Moss for Bolquin straight up. Maybe if I'm the Giants, or the Ravens, or the 49ers I might consider it, hoping I can keep him happy. But there is just no way Moss doesn't tear a losing franchise apart.

[Fonzie]

I would never want Moss on my team under any circumstance. I hate having to root for jerks.

But if you did trade for him you could convert him to a punter and then release him. Wouldn't that be fun? :)

[Kodos]

But if you did trade for him you could convert him to a punter and then release him. Wouldn't that be fun? :)

That would make it worthwhile, but I'd rather make him an offensive lineman and start his ass every game.

[mckerney]

I don't think the size of the cap hit would allow him to be traded.

His bonus was 18 million, of which about 9 to 10 million has already been counted agains the cap. If the Vikings have still been giving unreachable incentives, they're going to have room in excess of the salary cap next year. The Vikings had a salary cap of 94 million for this season, compared to the league salary cap of around 80 million. The Vikings were able to give Antoine Winfield a roster bonus of more than 10 million instead of a signing bonus, meaning it was all counted under the cap this season. Add into that the fact that Red McCombs isn't likely to be willing to spend as much as they can up to the cap, and I'd guess the Vikings would have no problem trading Moss capwise.

[cody8200]

We already have 2 of the top 5 WR's in the league (the Colts)...didnt do much in playoff time. BTW, all you people saying TO is the best WR...yeah right. Marvin Harrison 4 Life.

[JAG]

The plot thickens...

hxxp://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1985687

ESPN.com news services
The Minnesota Vikings are willing to trade Randy Moss, but the potential sale of the team could delay any move.

Vikings owner Red McCombs gave permission this week for the personnel office and coach Mike Tice to trade the wide receiver, team sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Sunday.

The Vikings, involved in negotiations to sell the team, denied that Moss was available, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported in Monday's editions.

Owner Red McCombs told the paper he has not given vice president of football operations Red Brzezinski permission to shop Moss.

"I don't know why this thing keeps being brought up," Brzezinski told the Star Tribune. "It hasn't even been discussed at all."

Dante DiTrapano, Moss' agent, told the paper he has spoken to Brzezinski but agreed to postpone trade discussions until later.

The Vikings want a combination of draft picks and players, preferably a defensive starter, the sources told Mortensen.

The Ravens, Jets and Raiders are expected to have serious interest. The Jets made an offer last year, sources said, but it fell far short of serious consideration.

Moss has four seasons remaining on an eight-year, $75 million contract, but economics likely would not preclude a trade.

The Vikings would recoup about $2 million in salary cap space for 2005 if they traded Moss. Because Minnesota has already paid the $18 million signing bonus that was part of Moss' landmark contract, any team acquiring him would be responsible only for the remaining base salaries on the deal.

Those salaries -- $7.25 million for 2005, $8.25 million for '06, $9.75 million for '07 and $11.25 million for '08 -- might be considered exorbitant by most NFL teams. But any team acquiring Moss could restructure the contract, applying much of the base salary due the wide receiver into a signing bonus.

For 2005 alone, a team could reduce Moss' salary cap charge by more than $5 million simply by lowering his scheduled $7.25 million base salary to the league minimum and giving him the difference as a guaranteed bonus.

[flere-imsaho]

The Jets? You have got to be kidding me.

[Thomkal]

I agree with bhlloy, my beloved Cardinals making that kind (or any) of deal for Moss would be ridiculous and I can't even believe that the sports writer would propose such a deal as fair. It would just gut the team and make the team worse than it is now despite Moss's talent at receiver. They have three young talented receivers who could conceivably reach elite status if given a good QB to throw to them. Such a deal for Moss might have made more sense a couple years ago when they basically had no receivers, but certainly not now that they have built up that position to one of strength.

Of course I thought the Cards were ridiculous to draft a WR in the first round last year, so doing such a deal wouldn't surprise me I guess. It's also no surprise that the Ravens and Raiders are interested in Moss. They don't have any problem acquiring players with "issues". I say let them have him, he'll fit right in.

[cthomer5000]

The Jets? You have got to be kidding me.
Makes a lot of sense, since Pennington was his QB at Marshall. I'm a Jets fan, and I'd be in favor of acquiring Moss.

Send them Santana Moss and a franchised John Abraham. Toss in a high draft pick if needed.

[Balldog]

The Moss-Dillon camparisons are just plain stupid.

C. Dillon = Good player on a horrible team, he was sick of losing, is that not understandable?

R. Moss = Good player on a good team, sick of playing hard. Horrible off the field and on the field attitude.

[Bee]

I'd trade for Moss if I had a really strong leader in the locker room who could keep him in check. Also, I think it's possible a trade could deliver a blow to his ego and make him actually put forth a little effort.

[Swaggs]

If I did not have a centerpiece for my offense, I would definitely trade for Moss. He is one of the few receivers, that I have seen, that can be the focal point for an offense.

[BigJohn&TheLions]

It's easy to forget this year because since his initial injury, Moss has essentially been playing at half speed.



You seem to forget that Moss has a lot of experience playing at half-speed, like on any play that isn't designed to make him the 1st option...

As for whether I'd trade for him... Sure! As long as I don't have to give up anybody and get to keep Joey as my QB. Then Moss would get hurt just like EVERY receiver Joey throws the ball behind... I mean to. Just like every receiver Joey throws the ball to.

[Glengoyne]

We already have 2 of the top 5 WR's in the league (the Colts)...didnt do much in playoff time. BTW, all you people saying TO is the best WR...yeah right. Marvin Harrison 4 Life.
I've been saying that Moss wasn't even the best receiver in the NFC for years. I think TO has pretty well established himself in that position.


As for Harrison. I think he is pretty well undervalued. Statistically I think he stacks up with Moss and TO, but both Moss and TO seem to be more explosive. They seem to be players who can turn the tide and dominate a game. I consider Harrison to be a consumate professional, providing the team with a quality performance throughout each game, and all through the season. I just don't think he has the playmaking abillity of Moss or TO, but I do believe he is a great receiver.

[cthomer5000]

The Moss-Dillon camparisons are just plain stupid.

C. Dillon = Good player on a horrible team, he was sick of losing, is that not understandable?
So we're conveniently forgetting Dillon whining like a bitch while his team was in the thick of a playoff hunt? He said he wanted out before the season ended, and all the Bengals needed was a Week 17 win to make the playoffs.

He played well this Sunday, but he's still a jerk in my book.

[Glengoyne]

So we're conveniently forgetting Dillon whining like a bitch while his team was in the thick of a playoff hunt? He said he wanted out before the season ended, and all the Bengals needed was a Week 17 win to make the playoffs.

He played well this Sunday, but he's still a jerk in my book.
I have long considered Dillon to be a jerk. After seeing him and his attitude in New England this year, I'm guessing he is a jerk in recovery. Like an alcoholic, He might fall off the wagon any moment now. Until he does that I'll be rooting for him.