Raiders to make a major announcement later today
- Thread starter R8R
- Start date
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Randy Moss officially joined the Raiders on Wednesday,
when Oakland completed a trade with the Minnesota Vikings for the star
receiver.
Randy Moss [NL]Wide Receiver[NL]Minnesota Vikings
Profile
2004 SEASON STATISTICS
Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC
49 767 13 15.7 82 187
Moss was scheduled to be formally introduced by his new team in an afternoon
news conference, Raiders senior administrator Artie Gigantino said. The
Raiders were working to restructure his base salary of $7.5 million for next
season into a more cap-friendly signing bonus to be prorated over future
years.
The Vikings receive linebacker Napoleon Harris, the No. 7 pick in April's
NFL draft and a late-round pick in the swap, which was completed a week ago
but couldn't be made official until Wednesday.
Oakland also was in serious talks with free-agent running back LaMont
Jordan, whose addition also could be announced. Jordan spent his first four
season with the New York Jets.
The 28-year-old Moss will provide a huge upgrade to an offense determined to
return to the high-powered vertical passing game of years past so preferred
by owner Al Davis. It was their proficient passing attack that led the
Raiders to the 2002 Super Bowl, won 48-21 by Tampa Bay.
Quarterback Kerry Collins couldn't be happier with the acquisition.
"If he's not the best, he's certainly one of the best," Collins said. "You
can make a strong argument. Everybody has their own opinions. But ask any
quarterback around the league which receiver they'd want, and I think most
would say Randy Moss."
Moss spent much of last season limited by a hamstring injury and didn't
reach 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his seven-year career. He
finished with 49 catches for 767 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He joins Jerry Porter in a talented young receiving corps. Porter led the
Raiders with 64 catches for 998 yards and nine touchdowns, falling just
short of his first 1,000-yard season. His receptions were a career high, and
he scored three touchdowns in a game twice.
"We've got to check our egos, and the ball has to be distributed in a way to
make everybody happy," said Porter, who re-signed with the team for five
years and close to $20 million last week.
Several of Moss' new teammates have said they aren't worried about his
sometimes controversial antics over the years.
Moss was fined $10,000 for pretending to pull down his pants and moon the
Green Bay crowd during Minnesota's playoff win and also drew criticism for
leaving the field with 2 seconds left in a regular-season loss against
Washington.
Other transgressions included bumping a traffic control officer with his car
in 2002, verbally abusing corporate sponsors on a team bus in 2001 and
squirting an official with a water bottle in 1999, in addition to his
infamous "I play when I want to play" comments.
when Oakland completed a trade with the Minnesota Vikings for the star
receiver.
Randy Moss [NL]Wide Receiver[NL]Minnesota Vikings
Profile
2004 SEASON STATISTICS
Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC
49 767 13 15.7 82 187
Moss was scheduled to be formally introduced by his new team in an afternoon
news conference, Raiders senior administrator Artie Gigantino said. The
Raiders were working to restructure his base salary of $7.5 million for next
season into a more cap-friendly signing bonus to be prorated over future
years.
The Vikings receive linebacker Napoleon Harris, the No. 7 pick in April's
NFL draft and a late-round pick in the swap, which was completed a week ago
but couldn't be made official until Wednesday.
Oakland also was in serious talks with free-agent running back LaMont
Jordan, whose addition also could be announced. Jordan spent his first four
season with the New York Jets.
The 28-year-old Moss will provide a huge upgrade to an offense determined to
return to the high-powered vertical passing game of years past so preferred
by owner Al Davis. It was their proficient passing attack that led the
Raiders to the 2002 Super Bowl, won 48-21 by Tampa Bay.
Quarterback Kerry Collins couldn't be happier with the acquisition.
"If he's not the best, he's certainly one of the best," Collins said. "You
can make a strong argument. Everybody has their own opinions. But ask any
quarterback around the league which receiver they'd want, and I think most
would say Randy Moss."
Moss spent much of last season limited by a hamstring injury and didn't
reach 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his seven-year career. He
finished with 49 catches for 767 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He joins Jerry Porter in a talented young receiving corps. Porter led the
Raiders with 64 catches for 998 yards and nine touchdowns, falling just
short of his first 1,000-yard season. His receptions were a career high, and
he scored three touchdowns in a game twice.
"We've got to check our egos, and the ball has to be distributed in a way to
make everybody happy," said Porter, who re-signed with the team for five
years and close to $20 million last week.
Several of Moss' new teammates have said they aren't worried about his
sometimes controversial antics over the years.
Moss was fined $10,000 for pretending to pull down his pants and moon the
Green Bay crowd during Minnesota's playoff win and also drew criticism for
leaving the field with 2 seconds left in a regular-season loss against
Washington.
Other transgressions included bumping a traffic control officer with his car
in 2002, verbally abusing corporate sponsors on a team bus in 2001 and
squirting an official with a water bottle in 1999, in addition to his
infamous "I play when I want to play" comments.
Well, Jordan was at the press conference and the Raiders cut Wheatley and Parella today. So I say that's a good sign that Jordan will be hauling the rock for us this season. I also listened to George Atkinson on the radio today and he said the Raiders are nowhere near done with signing free agents. Get ready Raider Nation, we goin on a ride this year.
