DO NOT POKE THE DAMN BEAR.
It’s February 29th. This day comes once every 4 years. And if Randy Moss isn’t wearing Patriot colors next year, it will be remembered as the worst mistake in franchise history.
Today marked the beginning of NFL unrestricted free agency, and the biggest name in need of a contract has the possibility of leaving Foxborough. The Patriots decided against placing the franchise tag on Moss when they had the opportunity to last week. He could be guaranteed to be back for next season already. Instead, Pats brass decided to gamble with house money by allowing Randy Moss, without a doubt the best receiver on the Pats and possibly in the league, to become an unrestricted free agent at 12:01 AM on February 29th, 2008.
And if he leaves, prepare to see the Patriots dynasty collapse.
Before the angry mob starts to form after that last statement, consider how important Moss is to this team. The usually reserved Tom Brady went so far as to say that he and Moss “are a package deal.” If there is any argument about Moss’ importance, there is none about Tom Terrific. He is the greatest in franchise history. He could set records for Super Bowl Championships when it’s all said and done. And oh yeah, he is coming off a 16-0 season in which he threw an NFL record 50 touchdown passes (23 of which landed in the hands of one Randy Moss) while led the Pats to within 35 seconds of the greatest season ever.
If Tom wants Randy, give him Randy. The last time Brady publicly voiced support for a receiver, the Pats sent Deion Branch to the Pacific Northwest for a first-round pick in the 2006 season. Brady, upset by the trade, struggled with a mediocre receiving core and failed in the playoffs for just the second time. Moss is more important to Tom than Branch ever was. The Pats have two options: repeat the mistakes of the past and watch an MVP fume, or resign the best receiver in the game and aim for a fourth title.
I’d take option two, but maybe that’s just me.
Conor
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February 29th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I agree. Tom Brady and Moss set a new precedent for a QB and WR relationship on the field this season. Since the very first game of the Patriot’s season the two stars had immediate success. Unlike in previous situations where it could take a wide receiver a year to learn the playbook of a new team, Moss came into the Patriot’s organization and helped lead them to one of the best seasons ever. It would be the worst decision the Pats could make to not resign Moss. I believe the reason they didn’t apply the franchise tag was because Moss had clearly stated he would love to remain in New England, and even wondered what his career could have been had he played with Tom Brady instead of being traded to Oakland after leaving the Vikings.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
The Patriots just signed Randy Moss to a 3-year deal. I think that this was the smartest move that the Patriots could do. They had to get this done fast because there was more money on the open market than what the Patriots offered. If they let the contract drag on I think that Moss would have taken the money. He is a great player and by resigning with the Patriots shows how far he has come throughout his years. Earlier in his stubborn career he would have taken the money in a second. Now he is sticking with a team that likes to be around.