Contract negotiations with Moss stalled

By Robbie Becker

On the day Randy Moss made his basketball debut with the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs, Minnesota Vikings Owner Red McCombs stated that he was no longer optimistic that a deal could get done for Moss before the season begins. Moss went on to score 7 points in his debut game on 3 of 8 shooting from the field and 1 of 5 shooting free throws.

Ten days ago, Fanstop.com reported that Moss would be seeking an 8-year deal worth $110 million. Moss is entering the final year of a contract that he signed immediately after being drafted by the Vikings in 1998. McCombs stated on Thursday that talks between himself and Moss' agent Dane DiTrapano have "died down."

"I doubt a deal will get done before the season starts," McCombs said. "If it doesn't get done before then, we're going to wait until the end of the season to get a deal done."

DiTrapano recently said that Moss would like to become the highest paid player in the National Football League. The current king of riches in the NFL is New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe, with a 10-year, $103 million contract. DiTrapano did not state on Thursday whether Moss has purchased insurance in case of injury in the basketball league.

Sources close to DiTrapano state that the contract battle now looks like it will be long and drawn out. This is the complete opposite of the position he took two weeks ago when negotiations began.

"Randy transcends his position, and the Vikings recognize that," DiTrapano stated on May 16. "We don't have any reason to believe Red McCombs and Dennis Green won't be fair to Randy. They always have been."

Fanstop.com reported on Wednesday that several players and team officials in Minnesota were very upset that their best offensive weapon has decided to risk his season in the NFL by stepping on the court in the USBL. One Vikings' official we spoke with said that this is not the type of thing a team leader should be doing.

"This is ridiculous for him to be doing something like this," said the official, who spoke with Fanstop.com on condition that he not be identified. "If he is a committed team leader and a great player, he doesn't do something this foolish. Great players take care of themselves in the offseason; they don't do things like this that could jeopardize a team's ability to win. This is ridiculous."

"Coming from Randy this doesn't surprise me," said a Vikings' player, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. "This can't do anything but feed his ego and hurt the team. He is in a contract year and we are coming off a bad offseason and bad final game. He should be committed to helping us win a Super Bowl. Not doing something like this."

The Vikings and Moss always knew the day would come. However, Moss' foray into the basketball world and his request to be the highest paid player in the NFL have complicated things. With two retirements being announced in the last five months, a young quarterback, and a reconstructed defense, the Vikings obviously need to keep the talented wide receiver. The question on everyone's mind now is can they?

Article courtesy of Fanstop.com