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Vikings reach tentative deal to trade Moss to Raiders
Posted: Wednesday February 23, 2005 4:45PM; Updated: Wednesday February 23, 2005 8:11PM
The Minnesota Vikings have reached an agreement in principle to trade Pro Bowl receiver Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders, a source close to the situation told SI.com on Wednesday.
The deal involving Moss cannot be consummated until March 2, the first day of the league's new financial year. But a source of the trade talks between the Raiders and Vikings said a trade is "likely" and that compensation has been agreed to. The Vikings will receive Oakland's first-round pick this year (No. 7) and an unidentified veteran player -- possibly linebacker Napoleon Harris -- and a 2006 draft pick.
"There are still some hurdles," the source said. "It's not a slam dunk. But the deal is in place."
Reached Wednesday afternoon, Moss' agent, Dante DiTrapano, confirmed the trade and said he did not know of any obstacles that would derail the deal at this point. DiTrapano said the Raiders have agreed to assume Moss' current contract in Minnesota, adding he planned to seek an extension of Moss' eight-year, $75 million deal from the Raiders sometime before the 2006 season.
"I don't know why the Vikings are saying that. There are no obstacles," DiTrapano said. "When they told Randy and I about it, there was no hedging at all. I've already been in touch with [Raiders executive] Mike Lombardi out in Oakland. Randy is happy with this and we're going to Oakland early next week.
"Randy is thrilled to be going to Oakland. He's overjoyed. He sees a team with a history of throwing the ball long and a team with a history of going to championship games. He's just ready for a change. He's been frustrated in Minnesota, because of the way he's been used and the mediocrity of the Vikings. He's looking for a championship team."
DiTrapano said Moss' first choice was to be traded to either Atlanta or Baltimore, but neither team gave the Raiders serious competition in trade talks with the Vikings. Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome said Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis that the Ravens did hold negotiations with Minnesota, starting on Feb. 14.
"Oakland has been calling the Vikings since the last day of the season about obtaining Randy," DiTrapano said. "I don't think either the Falcons or Ravens could have come up with what the Vikings needed to make the trade."
Moss leaves Minnesota as the only receiver in NFL history to start his career with six straight 1,000-yard seasons. Last year he had 49 catches for 767 yards and 13 touchdowns while battling a hamstring injury.
If completed, the trade of Moss will give the Raiders one of the deepest receiving corps in the NFL. Oakland reached a contract agreement on Tuesday with potential free agent Jerry Porter for $20 million over five years.
It is not believed potential Minnesota owner Reggie Fowler had much to do with the deal, despite his earlier claims he would not be willing to part with Moss.
"Red McCombs is still running this team," one source within the Vikings organization said. " I would doubt that Fowler had much to do with it at all."
Posted: Wednesday February 23, 2005 4:45PM; Updated: Wednesday February 23, 2005 8:11PM
The Minnesota Vikings have reached an agreement in principle to trade Pro Bowl receiver Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders, a source close to the situation told SI.com on Wednesday.
The deal involving Moss cannot be consummated until March 2, the first day of the league's new financial year. But a source of the trade talks between the Raiders and Vikings said a trade is "likely" and that compensation has been agreed to. The Vikings will receive Oakland's first-round pick this year (No. 7) and an unidentified veteran player -- possibly linebacker Napoleon Harris -- and a 2006 draft pick.
"There are still some hurdles," the source said. "It's not a slam dunk. But the deal is in place."
Reached Wednesday afternoon, Moss' agent, Dante DiTrapano, confirmed the trade and said he did not know of any obstacles that would derail the deal at this point. DiTrapano said the Raiders have agreed to assume Moss' current contract in Minnesota, adding he planned to seek an extension of Moss' eight-year, $75 million deal from the Raiders sometime before the 2006 season.
"I don't know why the Vikings are saying that. There are no obstacles," DiTrapano said. "When they told Randy and I about it, there was no hedging at all. I've already been in touch with [Raiders executive] Mike Lombardi out in Oakland. Randy is happy with this and we're going to Oakland early next week.
"Randy is thrilled to be going to Oakland. He's overjoyed. He sees a team with a history of throwing the ball long and a team with a history of going to championship games. He's just ready for a change. He's been frustrated in Minnesota, because of the way he's been used and the mediocrity of the Vikings. He's looking for a championship team."
DiTrapano said Moss' first choice was to be traded to either Atlanta or Baltimore, but neither team gave the Raiders serious competition in trade talks with the Vikings. Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome said Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis that the Ravens did hold negotiations with Minnesota, starting on Feb. 14.
"Oakland has been calling the Vikings since the last day of the season about obtaining Randy," DiTrapano said. "I don't think either the Falcons or Ravens could have come up with what the Vikings needed to make the trade."
Moss leaves Minnesota as the only receiver in NFL history to start his career with six straight 1,000-yard seasons. Last year he had 49 catches for 767 yards and 13 touchdowns while battling a hamstring injury.
If completed, the trade of Moss will give the Raiders one of the deepest receiving corps in the NFL. Oakland reached a contract agreement on Tuesday with potential free agent Jerry Porter for $20 million over five years.
It is not believed potential Minnesota owner Reggie Fowler had much to do with the deal, despite his earlier claims he would not be willing to part with Moss.
"Red McCombs is still running this team," one source within the Vikings organization said. " I would doubt that Fowler had much to do with it at all."