New England Patriots re-sign wide receiver Randy Moss
The New England Patriots have re-signed unrestricted free agent wide receiver Randy Moss to three-year, $27 million contract after a couple of days of increasing nervousness among fans. Moss caught 98 passes for 1,493 yards and an NFL-record 23 touchdowns last year, and then he snagged another 16 receptions for 229 yards and four touchdowns in three ply-off games.
The deal ensures that New England’s offense will be at least as talented in 2007 as it was in 2008. The runningback position is solid with Sammy Morris, Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk. The offensive line is set. The only spot that potentially could be weaker than what it was last season is tight end, a part of the offense that has been under performing ever since Ben Coates left after the 1998 season. But that weakness was barely noticeable last year and it probably won’t be this year, either.
Having Moss on the field in 2008 doesn’t just mean quarterback Tom Brady will have his favorite weapon back, it will also give super-productive slot receiver Wes Welker - 112 receptions for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007 - the kind of underneath space to work with that he did last season. Hopefully, the Patriots will sign a new number-two receiver to either replace Donte Stallworth, who has signed with the Cleveland Browns, or serve as back up for Chad Jackson, if the latter is finally ready to shoulder an expanded role in the passing game (or, more to the point, any role in the passing game).
Re-signing Moss could also help the Patriots during the latter stages of this free agency period as prospective free agent won’t have to wonder about whether the Patriots will remain competitive. They will, and any aging veteran’s best chance to win a Super Bowl is signing with New England.
In other Patriots free agency news, cornerback Randall Gay has signed with the worthless New Orleans Saints, where crappy players with crappy attitudes congregate to play crappy football, meaning we’ll only hear from him again if he gets himself arrested.
