Pioneer Press reports Moss is traded

[fishyguy]

Not enough in my opinion if this holds true.

Posted on Wed, Feb. 23, 2005

Agent: Vikings trade Moss to Raiders

BY SEAN JENSEN

Pioneer Press

Randy Moss' days with the Vikings are numbered.

Although NFL trades cannot become official until next month, the Vikings have agreed to trade Moss to the Oakland Raiders for the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft and a defensive starter, believed to be linebacker Napoleon Harris.

"Nothing is official until March 2," agent Dante DiTrapano told the Pioneer Press Wednesday. "But don't be surprised if Randy Moss is wearing the Silver and Black this upcoming season."

Despite repeated denials, the Vikings have been shopping Moss for months, and they found a willing suitor in Al Davis, a maverick owner who embraces controversial players.

"In speaking with Moss, although he has a lot of ties to Minnesota and did not particularly want to be traded, he’s very excited with the possibility of playing for Al Davis and being a part of the Raider tradition," DiTrapano said. "The Raiders have vowed to use Randy’s talents the way they should be used, and that’s to throw the ball vertically down the field.

"Randy's desire to win a Super Bowl is enhanced with a move to a team like the Raiders, because the Minnesota Vikings seem to be in a constant rebuilding mode."

The Vikings will wind up with the seventh overall pick for the third time in the last four years. In 2002, they drafted left tackle Bryant McKinnie, a starter. Two years ago, they had the seventh pick but a botched trade with Baltimore resulted in them picking two spots later. Still, they landed the player they coveted, defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who has emerged into a Pro Bowl player.

The Vikings have the 18th pick in this year’s draft.

With the departure of Moss, the Vikings' top receiver is third-year receiver Nate Burleson. But the Vikings are expected to bolster that group via the draft or free agency. With a weak free agent class headlined by Pittsburgh's Plaxico Burress, the Vikings’ options could increase with potential salary cap casualties such as Isaac Bruce, Muhsin Muhammad and Derrick Mason.

The NFL Draft in April also offers two promising players, Michigan's Braylon Edwards and Southern Cal's Mike Williams.

Harris was selected by the Raiders with the 23rd pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, and he has recorded 249 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and five passes defended over the past three seasons. He is 6-foot-2, 255 pounds, and he can play inside and outside.

The Raiders will assume Moss' $7.25 million base salary for next season while the Vikings realize a cap savings of nearly $2 million. Four seasons remain on Moss’ eight-year $75 million contract.

Sean Jensen covers the Vikings and the NFL. He can be reached at [email protected].

[Stratosman]

That's too bad if indeed true, we didn't need to trade him with how far we are under the cap, it might haunt us, we still need another reciever though too.

[Willy]

Yah, they're talking about it on the fan right now. I can't believe that we would trade him for a no-name and an unproven draft pick and not even a real high draft pick at that. All I can say is they better max out their salary cap then to give us a chance next year!! Napolean Harris Yipee

[mudman]

First Fowler is lying on his resume, then promises not to trade Moss,

Folks this is looking an awful lot like a Norm Green operation.

I wouldn't be surprised if he cleans house and spends nothing and saves his pennies to move out of here in 5 yrs

[Down to Earth]

Reported on ESPN as well. DOn't think you can really blame Fowler though on this one. Still I think its Red's call.

[lawdog]

I just saw this in the paper and I'm severely torqued off if its true! Who in the world is Napolean Harris?!?!?! I've never even heard of this dork...

Good Grief they just traded our best player (one of the best in the league) for a nobody and a draft pick.

THIS STINKS! Did they not see what happened to our offense when he went out??? It was painfully obvious to the fans that they were not able to run anymore as he wasn't there to double team and take a player out of the box and they had no vertical passing game left either. Our tight end led the team in catches for pete's sake, and he ain't Tony Gonzalaz either... We don't need to dump a GREAT reciever. This is just stupid!

Spend the 20+ million you are under the cap and keep the best player in the league you tightwad moron Red!!!!!!!

[Flash]

Didn't you guys read. It's a 2 million savings. Red is 2 million richer today. Actually, I think this trade will work out. We need a decent linebacker. Harris is better than what we have now. Also, this will give us a chance to sign a Burress, Muhammed, Bruce, etc. Look at the Patriots, they don't have the big time receiver and they are Champs. I think a lot has to do with Moss in the Club house. He's not a leader. He will look good in black and silver. Just my opinion though.

Flash

"Set the Hook"

[Willy]

Yah, they just traded the best receiver that will probably ever play the game. All for another Dontarius Thomas. Christ I don't what they are thinking. Let the curse begin!!!

[mudman]

Here is the sinerio that I am seeing now. Fowler isn't going to get the team. Red is going to end up keeping them for another year and sell the farm off! milk it and sell it off for less next year to Talyor. IF he (Fowler) is buying the team he lied about Moss and plenty of other things. OR Red is making a fast move and making a quick buck under Folwers nose ( if I was Folwer and that happened I would back out of the deal) either way NOT GOOD!

[nofishfisherman]

Where the heck is Glen Taylor when you really need him. He would have kept Moss and spent all of the cap money to get us a Championship. Makes me so mad if this works out. This has to be the worst run team in professional sports, somedays I wish I were a packer fan. (I can't believe I just said that.)

[pikehunter]

I don't necessarily agree with the trade - you never get enough in return when you trade a guy with baggage. That said, the one thing we don't know is what Randy was like in the locker room. May have been a case where nobody wanted to play with him anymore. After all, his QB wasn't exactly begging to keep him.

Also, this Napolean is a signifigant upgrade defensively. He's an unknown to most people in midwest, but most West coast defensive players are. We just don't get to see them play at all during the season.

More importantly, I'm pretty sure this means that Fowler will never own this squad. If Red believed Fowler had the money, he wouldn't tinker with a potential sale. That said, maybe this deal will only made after Red knows if he'll own the team?

[iland99]

In a related story: http://www.startribune.com/stories/389/5255912.html

"Wisconsin has the highest adult binge-drinking rate and the second-highest binge-drinking rate among college students, according to a new study."

No more Moss next year will give Packer fans PLENTY more to celebrate, so don't expect this trend to reverse itself!!

[muskybuck]

No way the Vikings can lose getting rid of that loser.

[T-Dog Jenkins]

Loser? 13 TD's last year and missed 5 games? Is that cheap beer getting to your head? Are you still feeling the burn from that Packer loss?? You Packer (Contact US Regarding This Word) would be all over it if he was traded to Green Bay. We lost the greatest player in the NFL. But, look on the bright side. Soon as Bart Fart is gone, the people of Wisconsin have nothing to look foward too except more cheap beer I guess.

[cyberamish]

If you look at the quotes coming out of the Vike's camp (Culpepper, Birk, etc) and how tight lipped the team was regarding his injury, I think it was pretty much a forgone conclusion that he was going to get delt. Yes he is an incredibly gifted receiver and it had been a joy watching him torch opponents (especially those in green and mold) but he had alienated himself from the team and really from the fans with his behavior and comments. He clearly wanted out. If you are going to deal him you send him to a team that isn't going to hurt you. Harris may not be the next Studwell but you are getting a def starter, a #7 1st round pick, another late round pick, keeping all of your existing picks, and saving 2 mil in cap room. Still better than San Fran got for Owens.

[Down to Earth]

Lets not all forget just who Red was. Not to sound stereotypical, but he did make it as a used car sales man. Will be interesting to hear what comes out of Vikings camp now especially since they just said they had no intention of trading Moss.

I think it is still a mistake though to trade Moss, especially with how much cap room they had to spend on defensive free agents. Maybe he really was a cancer in the locker room. It will be interesting to hear what Culpepper has to say as well as other PLAYERS.

Though now that they traded Moss, I don't think they will be as bad off as people think. I really believe Culpepper is the man who makes this offense go. I think they lost 3 games while Moss was out. If they had any kind of a defense I think they could have beaten Indy and GB. The Giants was the only game that they totally flopped. I think it is too early to really evaluate the impact of this trade. If they go out and spend money to upgrade the defense then it might be a decent move. If not, then I don't really understand it, unless he was really that much of a cancer in the clubhouse. Harris is a pretty good young LB and definately an upgrade of what they have. The #7 pick will be interesting to see what they do with that. One of the top 2 WR should be available if they choose to go that route, but I have to think they need to go D and D with their first two picks. What an interesting off season so far and we've only begun.

[Captain B.R.K]

This might be a bad trade- with what we got in return. BUT on the other hand, there could be so quality free agents- Derek Mason, Isaac Bruce, Mushud Muhoomad could be available to pick up.

But the VIKES are looking to pick up another good WR in the draft- who is out there this year?

[Guest]

WE all agree the Queens needed some change. Maybe if Moss would have been more of a team player ha would still be here. I would rather have a solid team,than a few stars and nothing else,as we can see how far that has taken us.

[FI Guide]

Even though Moss is unbelievable we still have Robinson, Burlson, Wiggins, and Cambell to throw the ball to we will be ok. BUT we didnt get enough back for Moss. Harris is a good player but not good enough. Plus drafting a reciver is foolish when you could select Derrick Johnson, the best player in the draft.

[BackHerUp]

Ha-Ha!!

The road to the NFC cellar has been paved!!

From top to bottom, from the office to the field, let the re-building process begin (again).

The following Vikings have been released:

(and more to come)

#25 Terrance Shaw (CB) 10th Year -Stephen F. Austin

#28 Larry Ned (RB) 1st Year -San Diego State

#38 Rhett Nelson (CB) 2nd Year -Colorado State

#60 Cory Withrow © 5th Year -Washington State

#89 Kenny Clark (WR) 2nd Year -Central Florida

next to go: Mike Tice

...followed by Onterrio Smith? Mewelde Moore, maybe? Michael Bennett? Can't keep 3 backs, their ego's and salaries all in check...poor Daunte, what did he do to deserve this?

Well...here's to looking up at the Lions for the next few years...

[mnvikingsfreak]

I was a little depressed about the moss trade but then I throught thank god im not a lions fan year after year after year of losing oh well at least the vikes will be improving there defense they will still have a top 5 offense in the nfl

[mnvikingsfreak]

also when the vikings "rebuild" they actually make the playoffs and win,detroit have been rebuilding for years and they have done very well getting a top 10 draft pick every year.

[mnwild]

As being a Packers Fan here I am happy to see him leave and I am sure the whole state of Wisconsin is saying the same thing because now he can't torture the Packers 2 times a year. And I know the Viking fans are saying the same thing because their def is just as pathetic. Just be thankfull he is in the AFC and we only have to see him every 4 years now.

To bad they couldn't throw Spreewell in the deal too..

[otto_man]

i don't care if moss scored 100 td's, he's still a fricking loser. viking fans are classic on how they try and turn their problems into a packer fans issue. next year at this time you'll be spewing from the lips on what a great trade it was. wake up clowns and be glad he's gone...

[fishyguy]

Quote:

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i don't care if moss scored 100 td's, he's still a fricking loser. viking fans are classic on how they try and turn their problems into a packer fans issue. next year at this time you'll be spewing from the lips on what a great trade it was. wake up clowns and be glad he's gone...

---

I hope we are saying what a great trade it was. Wouldn't that be nice? After listening to Birk on the radio this morning I have a different view point. I still think we could/should have received more but I don't doubt the need to move him.

What are you referring to when you say we are making this a Pack issue? So now even are trades are somehow attached to that 1961 theory of yours?