Well now there is no more reason to debate how Moss and TO would have gotten along.

Moss re-signs with the Patriots for 3 years $27 million. There's some thought that the Patriots were trying to low ball him, to convince him to take some "Patriots Discount" and were willing to let him go if he didn't take it. What finally got them to give him a legitimate offer was Tom Brady essentially telling Scott Pioli and Bob Kraft that if they did not get the Moss deal done then he would give them a major contractual headache.

The deal for Moss is still less than I would have expected, but you figure that with only a 3 year deal that almost all of the $27 million is guaranteed and as we all know, in the NFL the total value of the contract doesn't matter nearly as much as the guaranteed money.

Considering the losses they have taken this off-season, keeping Moss was as good for morale as it was for production. Though I never count the Patriots out when it comes to letting players go and finding other ones to replace them. Though I do hope it comes back to bite them in the rump each and every year they do it.

Other notes:

The Jets are really going cash crazy. I've liked most of their moves but giving Calvin Pace (6 years $42 mil - $22 in signing bonus) a hybrid DE/LB from the Cardinals who has had one good season and veteran OL Damian Woody (5 years $25 mil) big contracts today strike me as a little much. Woody was terrible after signing with the Lions until they moved him out to Right Tackle (where he will play with the Jets) but he's getting a little long in the tooth. As for Pace - he had a nice season this past year but the up front money that the Jets gave him make Pace one of the highest paid linebackers in the league. Factor in the huge contract that they gave to Kris Jenkins before knowing if his balky back can handle the rigors of playing the nose in a 3-4, and this has been a very high risk season for the Jets front office.

I liked the Crumpler signing by the Titans. He gives Vince Young a sure handed target in the 5-8 yard passing range. I would like to see them lock up one more WR - perhaps Jevon Walker recently released by the Broncos.

Speaking of the recently released; it would not shock me in the least if Warrick Dunn, dispatched today by the Falcons in the wake of the Michael Turner signing, winds up back in Tampa Bay where they're not sure what Cadillac Williams will give them next season.

Speaking of the Bucs, they swung a deal for Brian Greise of the Bears - you know you're QB situation is dire when you're making trades with the Bears. And I know that Buc fans will tell me that Jeff Garcia made the Pro Bowl and thus I don't know what I'm talking about - but Garcia is not a long term answer down in Tampa, not that Greise is either.

The Rothlisberger signing was a smart move by the Steelers, but now the question is, how much to the Giants have to give Eli Manning?

As for the Giants, they made their first splash in Free Agency signing Sammy Knight to a 3 year $5.15 million contract that includes $1.25 million to sign. Knight and Gibril Wilson, the safety the Giants lost to the Raiders, had identical stat lines of 93 tackles and 4 picks. The big difference, of course, is that Wilson was 26 and Knight will be 33 when the '08 season rolls around. It is a similar low risk low reward deal to the one they signed Kawika Mitchell to last season. There is also word that the team will be signing Trent Green as Eli's back-up. Those could be the only signings the Giants make this winter. They are expected to replace the departed Kawika Mitchell either with Gerris Wilkerson or through the draft with Penn State's Dan Conner (provided they don't trade that pick in a DeAngelo Hall move)

Quick draft note: There's a school of thought that says the Jets do not want to take McFadden at 6 (if he's there, which he likely will be given the look of the teams ahead of them) and that the player they are really looking at is the WR Manningham who is not expected to go until the late teens early twenties according to the mock drafts. The Cowboys covet McFadden and are sitting at 20 with Cleveland's first round pick. Would a trade between the two be all that shocking?

The first day of the NFL Free Agency period has been filled with "interesting" moves. Here are a couple that have caught my eye.

Asante Samuel signs with the Eagles - I loathe the Iggles, but if the rumor I'm hearing is true, that with Samuel in the fold they are now going to deal Lito Sheppard and a pick or two to Arizona for Larry Fitzgerald, then I will be the first to admit that they will not be the lone NFC East team to not make the playoffs in 2008. That is of course provided they get anything out of Donovan McNabb.

The Bengals trade a 3 and 5 to the Lions for Shaun Rogers - So it turns out Matt Millen is not the worst GM in football - the GM who just did this deal for Cincy is obviously much dumber. Rogers is a lazy player, if you're going to trade for him, you have to make sure that you have a team with good veteran leadership and a strong coach who will not allow Rogers to eat his way out of the league. Does that sound like the Bengals to you?

The Browns sign Derek Anderson for 3 years $21 million - Sorry to burst the bubble of Browns fans but you're about to get a very rude awakening. Ask the Jets or Saints what happens when an average team gets the benefit of a friendly schedule and a few breaks. The result is a tougher schedule the next year that inevitably leads to a bad season. Normally this isn't too terrible, but now the Browns have gone and saddled themselves with an "average" QB who had a very strong season - until he proves otherwise the Browns just signed Scott Mitchell and the question is - what does that mean for Brady Quinn? Additionally, Cleveland sent its second round pick to Green Bay for Corey Williams. Coupled with the Quinn trade that means the Browns have given up both of their first two draft picks.

And one move that hasn't happened, and really shouldn't for any reason happen, would be the rumored one that would have Randy Moss going to Dallas. I don't think any of us really believe this is possible, but then again we also didn't believe it was possible for intelligent people to blame Dallas' playoff loss on Jessica Simpson - and yet here we are. Anyway, if you're wondering why this shouldn't happen let me put it as plainly as possible. Unless you are planning to create a reality tv show based around the season, there is no way having Randy Moss and TO on a team with only one football is a good idea. And while it might be fun for non Dallas fans to watch, as well as fun for people to cover, the inevitable implosion that would result between Owens and Moss would absolutely destroy Tony Romo in a way Jessica Simpson never could. And if he's not getting the ball on a regular basis you can bet that just like Owens was brought to tears defending Romo after the Giants beat them, he will not hesitate to throw him under the bus like his name was McNabb or Garcia.

For the record, I'm betting Moss goes back to New England, but I would be amused if Hoodie's stubborn attitude towards free agents costs the Pats Samuel and Moss (and probably Welker too if he decides that he wants a fatter paycheck coming off of last season)

From a Giants standpoint, losing Kawika Mitchell isn't a terrible loss. The team was split on whether to keep him or plug Gerris Wilkerson in to that spot for next season anyway. Also the Giants will not match the rumored deal that Gibril Wilson is looking at from the Raiders, one that will pay him around $7 mil per year for 5 years. Instead the Giants are focused on internal signing issues:
1. They want to lock up Chris Snee to a long term deal before he makes a pro-bowl
2. David Dhiel was paid as a starting Guard. Now that he is the team's starting Left Tackle there is sentiment that he is going to want a new deal sooner rather than later and the Giants would be smart to get it done now.
3. There are rumblings, though ever so soft, that Plaxico is going to want a new deal before the 2009 season

The Rangers and Islanders (and Devils too) made trades on deadline day.

The Devils sent Cam Janssen to St. Louis for Bryce Salvador

The Rangers in a pair of deals sent Al Montoya and Marcel Hossa to the Don Maloney's Coyotes for Fred Sjostrom, a former first-rounder. Josh Gratton and a goaltender, David Leneveu, and also sent a 4th round pick to JD in St. Louis for D Christian Backman

The Islanders have sent Chris Simon to the Wild for a pick. Marc-Andre Bergeron goes to the Ducks for a third round pick and replacing him is Rob Davison from the Sharks.

All in all not the big deals that New York fans were hoping for from their teams.

Just to take a quick look at the Rangers deal specifically: Chris Backman is likely the only one of the players that Glen Sather brought in who is going to play at the NHL level with the Rangers this season. The 6'4" 27-year old missed time with a cracked bone in his foot, but he's the rugged blueliner that the team needed. 

Montoya (as I noted in an earlier post) was a sure bet to be moved with the contract of Lundqvist being finalized and Marcel Hossa is not a loss. Gratton is a tough winger who was playing in the AHL for the Coyotes, he's a former Flyer and in 38 games he has 5 goals 9 assists and 124 PIM, Sjostrom is young (24) but has not yet lived up to his former first round draft status. I expect both of them to be assigned to Hartford along with David Leneveu who has worked with Rangers' goaltending coach Benoit Allaire.

For the Islanders, Bergeron and Ted Nolan had butted heads a few times over the season, but Rob Davison is not nearly the player Bergeron is and getting rid of Chris Simon is one of those moves that shouldn't need to happen...mostly because at some point with all the nonsense he has pulled you would think the league would just kick Simon out.

The Devils, well they get another defensive player - I know I'm shocked (sarcasm).

TSN in Canada is reporting that Marian Hossa has been traded to the Penguins. I don't know for what, but consider a team with now Hossa, Crosby, and Malkin...oy. And they just got back MA Fluery

UPDATE

Marian Hossa has been traded to the Penguins for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and Angelo Esposito and a pick.

Now if Ray Shero can sign him that is the team to beat for the next couple of years in the East.

Normally in hockey the red light is something you want to see, at least when your team sets it off. Today however the red light means something very different for the Rangers. It means STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!! As in do not make moves for the sake of making moves. With Dan Boyle and Barrett Jackman off the market that removes the two most attractive options to help the Rangers on the blue line. Sure they could still make a play for Brian Campbell but his price tag is going to be obscene. Other options, such as Edmonton's Joni Pitkanen or Toronto's Bryan McCabe will be less expensive in terms of talent, but there's a reason for that.

Pitkanen has played well in Edmonton, and is still quite young, but early indications are that he is far better suited to play in the relative unknown of Edmonton than the big city (as evidenced by his play in Philadelphia - where he was considered a mostly frustrating/soft player). As for McCabe, a year or two ago I would have salivated at the chance for him and his powerful shot, but recently he has become a poor man's Sheldon Souray - all offense, very little defense.

The team I would like to see the Rangers make a deal with, if they are going to make one, is Columbus. The Rangers had their eye on Michael Peca before the season and he would be a tremendous addition, giving the Rangers a little more toughness and his presence could move Chris Drury to the wing. If the Rangers could also get Adam Foote to add grit to the blue line all the better.

Up to the minute trades:

The Blackhawks have acquired forward Andrew Ladd from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Tuomo Ruutu.

Brian Campbell has been traded to San Jose for Steve Bernier and a first-round pick in 2008.

Adam Foote has been traded to Colorado (leading to speculation that John-Michael Liles is headed to the New York Rangers)

Sergei Federov is headed to Washington, as is Montreal goaltender Christobal Huet

Brad Richards was sent to Dallas along with goalie Johan Holmqvist for goalie Mike Smith, Jeff Halpern and Jussi Jokinen.

Wade Belak to Florida for a pick in 2008.

more to come....

Colorado has also just added Ruslan Selei from Florida as they continue to reshape their defensive corps.

Federov has been traded to Washington (look for him to line up with Alexander the Great) as has Vancouver agitator Matt Cooke - he and Brashear together should be entertaining.

--------------------------------

With a half hour to go until the trade deadline the team that has had the best day in my opinion is the Washington Capitals. In exchange for Matt Pettinger (to Vancouver) a minor league center (to Columbus) and a 2nd round draft pick (to Montreal) the Capitals have gotten a starting goaltender to take some pressure off Kolzig, Federov, who may not be what he was, but is still a very useful player and should help fellow Russians Ovechkin and Semin, and a rugged role player in Matt Cooke.

As for who has had the worst day - it's a three way tie between Montreal, Toronto, and Buffalo. Buffalo didn't get nearly what they wanted for Brian Campbell (or nearly what they should have gotten). Toronto hasn't been able to move ANYONE and are stuck in a bad situation that is not getting any better - by the way - you think no trade clauses might be given out a little less freely in Toronto after this? And I don't have a clue what Montreal is thinking giving up their starting netminder for a pick that is going to be in the lower half of the 2nd Round.

There is a rumor here in NY that the Rangers are close to a deal that would get them Hossa and Holik from the Thrashers...we'll find out soon.