Redskins and Jets taking Coles-Moss deal?
 

Yeah, it's Peter King, but it's an interesting idea, and would make pretty good sense (that may doom it thought)

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...les/index.html

Receiver exchange

Jets and 'Skins might swap Moss for Coles

Posted: Friday February 25, 2005 12:01PM; Updated: Friday February 25, 2005 12:10PM

Santana Moss has been considered a disappointment in New York. Brian Bahr/Getty Images

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INDIANAPOLIS -- One of the strangest trades in recent NFL history could be brewing here at the annual Scouting Combine. The Jets and Redskins have had talks about a straight-up swap of wide receivers: New York's Santana Moss for Washington's Laveranues Coles, the former Jet.

The trade would make enormous sense for both teams. Moss, a Jets' first-round pick in 2001, has been a disappointment for New York. He hasn't provided the explosiveness the Jets thought they would get in the 5-foot-10, 185-pound receiver/returner from the University of Miami. Moss has one year left on his contract, and the Jets aren't expected to try aggressively to re-sign him.

Though Coles caught 90 balls in Washington last fall, he basically became a possession receiver in Joe Gibbs' offense. Coles is unhappy with that role and, in an effort to get out of Washington, he has offered to pay back $5 million of the $13 million signing bonus he received as part of his original seven-year, $35 million-contract with the 'Skins in 2003.

Jets coach Herman Edwards said this morning at the Combine he would have no problem with Coles returning to the Jets. Coles expressed bitterness after the 2002 season that the Jets didn't re-sign him.

Edwards said he had no comment about a possible Coles-Moss swap.

Both receivers have the prime of their careers in front of them. Moss will be 26 opening day, while Coles will be 24. Moss could fit with the Redskins in the Ricky Sanders mold -- a speed receiver who could stretch defenses the way the smurfy Sanders did in Gibbs' first run with the team. Coles, the Jets' third-round pick in 2000, was Chad Pennington's favorite target when they both had top seasons in 2002, and Pennington would welcome Coles back.

Coles is only 24?

WTF is Washington thinking? There's no way they resign Santana Moss next year either then.

He had an "early departure" from FSU.

I knew that just didn't realize the scope of the young man's youth.

I would have thought Joe Gibbs would be the father figure Coles has always yearned for.

Yeah, I was shocked to see that Coles is younger than Moss as well... which means if this deal is done, it's a coup for the Jets.

I wonder if the Redskins realize that there are other teams in the league besides the Jets that they can make deals with?

hehe..nah, it's Jets South :)

And they didn't make any deals with them, they just stole a bunch of Jets players a few years back. Didn't do them any good though.

Those boys can only play in the Jersey swamp.

Coles is 27, not 24.

Maybe a Jets fan can tell me why they're down on Santana Moss. His last two years have been pretty decent by his stats, but I don't see him play that often.

The Skins would desperately have to get a possession receiver if they got Moss though.

Apparently ESPN is also reporting a potential deal with Coles and Moss, so it is just Peter King getting all excited over nothing.

Though the 'Skins have to make cap room because they'll be absorbing a BIG salary cap hit because of the deal.

Aren't the 'Skins big on Williams in the draft?

They are going to attempt to field the slowest team possible.

I read that they are.

Williams won't be there... the Vikings need a WR.

I think the Redskins need to get Coles to make some concession on his signing bonus money before they make a trade... the cap hit is just too severe, and if he wants to be a little bitch and cry his way outta town, he ought to pay up.

I read on a couple sites they were looking to move up to get Williams.

Depends how he runs and weighs in at. I wouldn't touch him if he doesn't approach 4.5 and isn't lighter.

He agreed to give up the money when the Redskins said they would release him - and let him go where he wants. Now, they are dealing him - why the hell should he give up money without the freedom ?

I don't think the team is necessarily down on Santana. He has been a bit of a disappointment though. He was injured again this year with the hamstring, and his punt returning was a huge disappointment. He also seemed to have some really inopportune drops at times, though that could also have been attributed to Chad's inability to get anything on his throws after he was injured. Plus, his contract is up next year and he's already chirping about a new deal. With the money needed to sign Abe and Ferguson, I doubt there will be enough to sign Santana to the deal he's going to be looking for. I like the guy, but I think Coles is a better fit for Pennington if healthy.

Why the hell doesn't he just shut the fuck up and play the damned game he's been paid millions of dollars to play?

He got a multi-million dollar signing bonus and an expectation of several years worth of service to the team that gave it to him. Now he wants out. The Redskins should not be expected to get nothing for their trouble, and he shouldn't expect to cash in on a deal that he wants to reneg on.

Well yeah- and what Im saying is that he agreed to give the money back, as per the deal. You read the news a couple of days ago- they were going to release him, and he was going to give back $5 million. Now, they are going to trade him- why the fuck should he give the money back now ?

Because when he signed the contract in 2003, he agreed to work for the Redskins for 7 years, and he got a $13 million signing bonus for that.

He's only worked for two years. He wants to work somewhere else for the next five. He's not happy, and he wants out of the deal. Fine. But the team has already invested two years and millions of dollars in him. He ought to be giving back something like $9 million. Asking for $5 million is more than fair.

This isn't the case of the team wanting to cut ties. It's Coles not being happy with his job. If he wants to move, he shouldn't expect to keep $8 million in bonus money, become a UFA, and get another $10+ million in bonus money somewhere else. He needs to let the Redskins get something in return for that $8 million... and the rights to another player is not asking a whole lot.

I like Coles, but his signing has got to be one of the worst FA acquisitions in memory. Not only did the 'Skins have to cough up a first rounder, they went completely above market price to sign a guy that was not top five at his position.

Not a big suprise that they are in this position now.

I wish Gibbs and Snyder would go out and get a real personnel guy...

The thing is that the $5 million figure is what the Redskins asked for - and Coles agreed to - its the deferred portion of his signing bonus. Now he asked out, they asked for $5 million back, he agreed - now they want to trade him, why should he give back the $5 million ?

I actually expect the compromise to be reached in which the bonus will be deferred so that the Redskins pay half, and the jets pay half - or something like that.

Agreed.

Like I said, my feeling is that Washington HAS to try to get something for him, since they gave up so much for him. This is as bad as when Deion Sanders retired and took his fat bonus money with him. :(

Anyone have Bobby Beathard's number?

The moment that Freon came back with the Ravens he should have been forced to write a big fat check to the 'Skins...