To use a poker term, the Minnesota Vikings appear to be going all in to acquire Randy Moss from the New England Patriots according to reports from FoxSports.com.
The trade is said to be “close” by some but others suggest a deal is nowhere near imminent. Moss is in the final year of a three-year, $27 million deal with the Pats and a new contract will have to be negotiated if the trade has any chance of becoming reality.
The Vikings are struggling offensively because receiver Sidney Rice has been out with an injury and Percy Harvin is a constant concern because of his problems with migraines.
Minnesota’s 40-year-old quarterback doesn’t look like he’s healthy either, perhaps still recovering from offseason ankle surgery. Taking all of those factors into account, trading for Moss would seem to be a good move for the Vikings.
Or is it?
Moss would give the Vikings a much needed deep threat and should most likely force double team coverage that would allow Bernard Berrian and Visanthe Shiancoe to work underneath.
Every team facing the Vikings knows that the first step in slowing down their offense is stopping running back Adrian Peterson. Perhaps Minnesota believes that Moss’ presence would prevent teams from bringing an additional defender into the box for run support.
Despite the matchup advantages Moss’ presence might create, that’s only part of what the Vikings will get from him. The other aspect that they’ll have to deal with is his volatile nature, and that’s the last thing Minnesota wants.
Moss’ antics where what wore out his welcome in Minnesota once before and during his two years in Oakland. By all accounts, it looks as if he’s done so in New England too. If the Patriots are considering a trade that would cost them their best deep threat, what does that tell you?
New England will face Minnesota in Foxboro on October 31, adding to the idea that the Patriots are tired of Moss’ mood swings and the negative impact he brings to the locker room.
Minnesota fans might be happy to hear about the possibility of Moss and Favre playing together, but the fact that the Vikings are willing to mortgage their future for a chance to win the Super Bowl seems irresponsible.
Considering Favre’s age and Moss’ advancing years, trading a draft pick that could be used to acquire a receiver doesn’t make a lot of sense, especially given that Favre more than likely won’t be back next season.
If the trade does go through, Minnesota may very well reap some initial benefits. It may even help them make a serious Super Bowl run, but over the long haul trading for Moss won’t serve the Vikings’ purpose.
