Randy Moss Trade: Weighing The Good and Bad For The New England Patriots
The Randy Moss trade from the New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings for a third-round draft pick is shocking on several counts, to say the least.
Foxsports.com's Jay Glazer cited unnamed sources in his article posted on Tuesday night, and the rumors proved to be true on Wednesday morning, when it was made official by several media outlets.
We saw similar talks between Vincent Jackson and the Seattle Seahawks fizzle over the inability of the two sides to get a deal done, but it was as easy as 1-2-3 (or maybe $5 million-$6 million-$7 million) for Moss to return to his old team.
Questions will certainly fly at the Patriots for awhile, even though the passes haven't been flying Moss' way over the past four weeks of the season.
The trade could mean several good and bad things for the Patriots, so here are my takes.
Good: New England Patriots At Least Got Something For Departing Moss
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One of the worst situations a team can be in is to watch a star player walk away in free agency.
Just ask the Carolina Panthers, who didn't get anything for Julius Peppers when he went to Chicago as a free agent this March.
Randy Moss didn't seem too confident in the team's willingness to re-sign him, so this way, the Patriots received something for his services...
Bad: They Weren't Fairly Compensated
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...but really? A third round pick? For a future Hall of Fame receiver?
With what the Vikings seemed willing to go through to land Vincent Jackson just two weeks ago, you'd think they'd be willing to open a vein for Moss.
This is the second example this season of the Patriots giving up too much for not enough. The first came when the team dealt Laurence Maroney to Denver for a fourth-round draft pick.
Good: Patriots Young Receivers Have Opportunity To Step Up
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Names like Julian Edelman, Brandon Tate, and Taylor Price have been quiet this year as receivers. The Patriots have a wealth of depth at the position, but not many of them see much action on the field.
The Patriots don't have a legitimate, typical No. 1 option at receiver besides Moss, so a combination of receivers could be utilized in his absence to make up for the lost production (though Moss has only nine receptions for 139 yards and three touchdowns this season).
The Patriots have also shown a new wrinkle in their offense with the two young tight ends, so an increase in their production will also be critical.
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Bad: Patriots Young Receivers May Not Be Ready
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What's to say the Patriots can even get close to similar production out of any combination of their young receivers? The names have potential, but plenty of players with potential have failed to live up to the hype.
Taylor Price has yet to log a reception as a rookie, and Brandon Tate and Julian Edelman have combined for 15 receptions for 149 yards against Moss' nine receptions for 139 yards.
The big difference? Moss has three touchdowns, those two have none.
Good: The Trade Potentially Opens Cap Space To Go After a Free Agent WR in 2011
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History would tell you that the Patriots aren't big spenders in free agency on guys not named Adalius Thomas. They do most of their work through trades and the draft.
Trading away Randy Moss could be seen as a move to free up space under the salary cap to go after a free agent receiver in 2011.
This list looks pretty bleak, especially considering many of those players have already signed long-term deals with their respective teams. Maybe Vincent Jackson?
Bad: New England Patriots Play Host To Minnesota Vikings Later This Season
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Randy Moss had five receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders in his first game back to the Black Hole since leaving the team via trade in 2007.
Can you imagine what the headlines will look like if Moss tears apart the Patriots in his return to Gillette Stadium as a member of the Minnesota Vikings?
The scary part is, I can imagine similar production to that game against the Raiders. Especially with Brett Favre throwing him the ball.
Good: Patriots May Be a Better "Team" Without Randy Moss
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Remember that long week one tirade about a lack of respect and not feeling wanted in New England?
Remember the talk between he and Bill Belichick after that press conference?
Perhaps Bill Belichick grew tired of the Randy Moss show. We really don't know yet whether or not he was a bigger problem behind the scenes than he was on the field.
But maybe, without Moss on the field, the Patriots can get back to being the team that made them effective in their Super Bowl seasons.
Bad: Randy Moss Has Become a Better Team Player With The Patriots
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Besides his week one lecture about disrespect, not being wanted, and his contract, Randy Moss has eaten the "Humble Pie" for three years.
Whether he has good games or bad games, we never hear a word out of the receiver who made his presence felt both on and off the field in each of his previous destinations.
Take the Monday Night Football game against the Dolphins, for example. He was held without a reception for the first time in his Patriots career, and simply attributed it to the game plan.
Good: Brady Can Get Back To Being Brady
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One of Tom Brady's best attributes when the Patriots won three Super Bowls in four years was his ability to spread the ball around. Since Randy Moss and Wes Welker arrived in New England, it's as if they're the only two receivers on the field.
This isn't to say that Brady fears the repercussions of not "feeding the Moss Man" as it were, but perhaps Brady has had a bit too much confidence in Randy Moss sometimes on deep balls.
This was never more evident than in the Jets game in Week 2, when Brady threw to Moss, who was clearly covered on a deep route by Antonio Cromartie, and was subsequently intercepted.
Bad: Patriots Aren't Built To Win This Year Without Randy Moss
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It's hard to imagine New England's offense without Randy Moss. Even though he's been quiet this year in terms of his production, his three touchdown receptions have been nothing short of pertinent to their 3-1 record. Were it not for the two touchdown catches against the Bills, they wouldn't have won that game.
It's been no secret that the Patriots defense has holes bigger than Swiss cheese, and opposing teams not named the Miami Dolphins have had their way with them.
Without an explosive red-zone threat like Randy Moss, the Patriots offense could slow down in scoring output, which would put their defense in a bigger hole.
The best defense can be a good offense, but the Patriots may not have either without Moss.
Conclusion
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In case you couldn't tell, I had a pretty hard time coming up with the "good" outcomes for the Patriots trading Randy Moss.
Yeah, the defense had a nice showing against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football, but that's one week. Are we to expect that the defense has suddenly just "clicked" and the problems are magically solved?
I've said it since the preseason, and I stand by it. Any chance of a New England run at the postseason and subsequently the Super Bowl rests on the shoulders of their offense. They need all the explosive playmaking ability they can get.
Defense may win championships, but probably not in New England. And even less likely without Randy Moss.
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