Moss back in purple
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — As far as birthday presents, this is at the top of Brett Favre's list.
Four days before he turns 41, the quarterback was given a wide receiver he has long coveted. And in the process, the Vikings reacquired a star with whom their fans long have been infatuated.
No. 84 is back. Randy Moss' five-year absence from Winter Park is over.
Moss was obtained from New England Wednesday, along with a seventh-round pick in the 2012 draft, for a third-round selection in 2011. The plan was for Moss to be in uniform for today's practice and play in Monday night's game against the Jets at the New Jersey Meadowlands.
"We're always looking for an opportunity to make this football team better," Vikings coach Brad Childress said in a news conference. "Our organization, our ownership is committed to that. You try and be as resourceful as you can. I'm just happy that they obviously supported this move, and I think we'll be better for it."
Moss, 33, was expected to address the media today. Moss is in the final season of a three-year, $27 million contract.
The trade provides the Vikings another offensive weapon to join a cast that includes Favre, running back Adrian Peterson and play-making wide receiver Percy Harvin. The Vikings are off to a 1-2 start and have lacked a vertical passing game in part because Favre's favorite target from 2009, wide receiver Sidney Rice, is expected to be out the first half of the season after having hip surgery.
"It's a huge, huge pickup for Minnesota," said Fox analyst Brian Billick, who was Moss' first offensive coordinator with the Vikings when he was drafted in 1998. "There are no dominant teams in the league right now. ... I think this could put (the Vikings) into the thick of it. Their mentality clearly is, 'Just get us to the playoffs, we don't care how. Just get us to the playoffs and we'll do some serious damage.' "
Favre should have a very good idea of how to utilize Moss. The two saw plenty of each other when Favre was in Green Bay and Moss was in his first stint with the Vikings.
"I think it always sends a strong message to your locker room, to your team, that you're not cutting corners," Childress said of the trade.
