Randy Moss Heads Back To Minnesota

Added on Oct 06, 2010 by Jason Kearney in

NFL

Last night it was just a rumor but today it’s a done deal. Wide receiver Randy Moss has been traded by the New England Patriots back to his old stomping grounds to help shore up the Minnesota Vikings’ depleted receiver corps. The Pats get a draft pick in return which is at least some value considering that Moss wasn’t expected to re-sign with New England when his contract was up at the end of this year.

From a football standpoint the trade makes perfect sense. Moss will be excited to return to Minnesota as something of a ‘savior’ for the Vikings’ Superbowl chances which have been hurt primarily by injuries and a lack of depth at the wide receiver position. New England gets something in return for a guy who wouldn’t have been back anyway. The timing, however, is a little strange with the Pats at 3-1 and definitely in postseason contention.

Here’s the statement that New England coach Mr. Hoodie…er…Bill Belichick… released on the trade:

“Over the course of the past several months, I have spoken with Randy and his representative about Randy’s place on our team and his future in football. Consistent with my dealings with Randy from the day we acquired him through our conversation this morning, it has been honest, thoughtful and with great mutual respect.”

“While I will keep private the details of internal conversations with players and staff, suffice it to say that many things were taken into consideration before making the trade. In this business, there are complex and often difficult decisions, but it is my responsibility to make them based on what I feel is best for our football team, in both the short term and long term. I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached Randy Moss and aside from facing him as an opponent, I wish him the very best for the remainder of his Hall of Fame career.”

No problems there….Belichick thoughtfully explains it was a ‘business decision’ without throwing Moss under the bus. To the contrary, he gives Moss much respect–to the point of calling him a ‘Hall of Famer’.

On the other hand, the timing of the trade could be explained by a reported locker room argument–characterized by some as an ‘outburst’ by Moss–between him and quarterbacks’ coach Bill O’Brien at the halftime of New England’s Monday Night game against Miami. At the time, New England trailed by a point before the Dolphins special teams unit imploded to give them a blowout win and Moss was upset that he’d only seen one pass in the first half.

Moss is definitely a high strung guy and not always easy to deal with, but you’ll notice that most of his problems occur when he’s not getting the ball. On a certain level, that’s something you want to see from a player of his stature. He should have an obliging quarterback in Brett Favre who definitely has the skills to get him the ball and needs a downfield threat with Sidney Rice out due to injury.

Moss also becomes the answer to a trivia question–if he gets the start in the Vikings’ Monday game against the Jets he’ll become only the second player in NFL history to start back to back Monday Night Football games. Keith Browner, who was traded from San Francisco to Oakland in the 1987 season, is the other. And Moss will have plenty of motivation if his longtime foil Darrelle Revis is able to return from his hamstring injury.