Yesterday wasn't quite Black Friday for the Patriots, but it also wasn't an ideal start to free agency. First, the team lost cornerback Asante Samuel to the Eagles, and now it could be poised to lose record-setting wide receiver Randy Moss.
The Patriots and Moss still don't have a new deal. According to ESPN, the sides aren't close and Moss is starting to listen to offers from other teams. New England elected not to place the franchise tag on Moss, who in his first season with the Patriots caught 98 passes for a franchise-record 1,493 yards and broke Jerry Rice's NFL record for touchdown receptions in a season with 23.
The $7.84 million wide receiver franchise tag would have kept Moss from becoming a free agent while the sides tried to work out a long-term deal, but also may have alienated Moss, who made $5 million last season, which included $2 million in incentives, after agreeing to reduce his $9.75 million salary as part of the trade that brought him from Oakland.
The 31-year-old Moss said after the Patriots' loss in Super Bowl XLII Feb. 3 he hoped to remain with the team, but was prepared to move on.
"If I am in a New England Patriot uniform next year I would love to be in one. If I am not, you know, the show must go on," he said.
Yesterday, Moss's agent, Tim DiPiero, responded to an e-mail, writing, "I have no comments on or off the record until whatever happens happens."
Cornering the market
The departure of Samuel leaves a sizable hole at left cornerback. The team is scheduled to host free agent Jason Webster Monday, according to Webster's agent, Vann McElroy.The 30-year-old Webster signed with the Bills last year as a free agent, but broke his forearm in the opener against Denver Sept. 9 and was lost for the season. In eight NFL seasons, Webster has started 74 of 87 games and has 11 interceptions.
The Patriots may also investigate a trade for Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard, who has been supplanted by Samuel. Sheppard has durability issues - he has played a full season once in his six-year career and missed five games last season with a sprained medial collateral ligament - but has 17 career interceptions and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Sheppard, who signed a five-year, $25 million extension in 2004, is unhappy with his contract, which calls for him to make $2 million in base salary. Sheppard also has a $500,000 escalator for making the Pro Bowl. Sheppard, whose cap charge for the upcoming season is $2.73 million, is the cousin of Patriots wide receiver Jabar Gaffney.
Kyle Brady released
The Patriots released tight end Kyle Brady. The 36-year-old, who signed a two-year, $5.2 million contract with New England last offseason, is a 13-year veteran.Brady's release is likely tied to a shoulder injury that might have affected his availability for training camp.
Last season, he caught nine passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns while playing in 14 games with nine starts. But his best work came while blocking. His contributions in the running game helped the Patriots finish the season averaging 4.1 yards per rush, their best average since 1985.
Visiting hours
Free agent cornerback Randall Gay is set to make the rounds after being unable to reach an agreement to remain with the Patriots. Gay, who hails from Louisiana and attended Louisiana State, is scheduled to visit the Saints today and then meet with the Buccaneers Monday.Gay had a career-high three interceptions last season and has to be considered among the top two free agent corners on the market now that Samuel has signed.
The Jets, who considered making an offer to Gay last offseason, are among the interested teams, which also include Detroit, Atlanta, and Seattle.
Paxton re-signed
The Patriots inked free agent long-snapper Lonie Paxton to a one-year deal. Paxton, who turns 30 March 13, has spent his entire eight-year career in New England. Paxton's agent, Paul Sheehy, said two other teams pursued Paxton very hard in free agency, but his client wants to be one of the rare players who plays his entire career for one team. "He is so emotionally entrenched in the Boston community and the Patriots organization that it would have taken a contract of epic proportions from a team that has a chance to compete in the postseason every year for Lonie to leave at this time," said Sheehy. "Ultimately, Lonie is exactly where he wanted to be when this process started." . . . The Patriots tendered contracts to exclusive-rights free agents Eric Alexander, an inside linebacker, offensive lineman Wesley Britt, safety Ray Ventrone, and outside linebacker Pierre Woods . . . Donte' Stallworth visited the Browns, according to the Canton Repository, and also has planned a visit with the Raiders.
