At a Moss for answers on Randy’s suitors

By Karen Guregian Monday, March 3, 2008 http://www.bostonherald.com N.E. Patriots

Three days have passed since Randy Moss hit the open market, reportedly seeking to find a better deal than what the Pats already have put on the table.
However, the Pats’ offer appears to be the only one of note that has been extended to him.
A report by the NFL Network’s Adam Schefter intimated the Pats were “close” to re-signing the wide receiver, and had a “standing multi-year offer to make him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL.” Schefter essentially made his case based on what he feels about the negotiation, saying, “It’s not that they’re getting close, I think they’ve always been close.”
They’re likely close because Moss hasn’t found a market. He’s found no takers; at least, no one in the media has heard about any.
And how is that possible? Why hasn’t any team made Moss an offer, and if a team has, why hasn’t anyone in the media heard about it?
Is it really possible for the game’s single-season leader in touchdown receptions to secretly visit teams? To go incognito in and out of Dallas? Or Green Bay? Or New York? Or Denver? Or Philadelphia? Or Pittsburgh? Or St. Louis?
One prominent agent has a theory as to why there’s been no buzz about offers or visits involving the high-profile receiver. He suggested “the market is chilled” because the perception is Moss is merely going to use the offer to have the Patriots [team stats] match it.
Why get involved if you know Moss is going to end up with the Pats no matter what?
Teams don’t want to be used in that fashion; that’s why there hasn’t been what’s known as “popcorn bidding,” where Moss gets to work all the teams against each other to push up the bids.
The feeling is, the negotiations are still ongoing with the Patriots. He’s trying to find a better deal so he can get a better one with the Pats. That’s the bottom line.
“If he wants offers, he’s got to convince someone they’re not being used,” the agent said.
The only other Moss news had John Clayton of ESPN reporting the wide receiver placed a call to Daunte Culpepper, his former quarterback in Minnesota, to discuss the possibility of the two of them finishing their careers together somewhere.
Culpepper is also a free agent, although the notion of them going as a package somewhere seems far-fetched.Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1077348