News & Info/Headlines

Trading Day: Moss A Patriot; Jackson Sent To 49ers & More
As is often the case, the 2007 NFL Draft opened with expectations that a number of trades would be consummated throughout. That wasn't the case -- at least for the most part -- on Day 1. The second day, however, was a different story with a pair of high-end players, Randy Moss and Darrell Jackson, landing with new teams.

Here's a quick overview of the deals that have come to pass this weekend, the players involved and the situations they enter and leave behind -- as well as a couple of key trades that never materialized.

We'll start in New England, where as NFL Network insider Adam Schefter first reported it: "On Draft Weekend 2007, the biggest tremors in the football world came from a trade between the Patriots and Oakland Raiders."

No doubt about that.

Moss was traded to New England in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick, the 110th overall, this year.

The deal was officially announced Sunday morning ensuring Tom Brady will be passing Moss the ball next season in what Schefter characterized as "one of the most dynamic and electric quarterback-wide receiver combinations that has ever played in the NFL."

Moss has already restructures his contract, which was scheduled to pay him $9.75 million this coming season and $11.25 million in 2008.

According to Boston Herald staffer John Tomase, Moss accepted a one-year deal worth $3 million, with $2 million in earned incentives.

As Moss explained in an introductory conference call with the media: "Over the course of my career, I've made a lot of money. I still have money in the bank. By me coming to an organization such as the New England Patriots, why would money be a factor?

"I know I have to get paid something. I knew something had to be done with my contract and I didn't have a problem."

In fact, Schefter reports that New England was the one and only place Moss would agree to take a reduced contract, and he did so knowing that he would have the chance to win a Super Bowl. With the off-season that New England has had, no team in football has a better chance.

Oakland's motivation isn't hard to understand.

Moss, 30, has not participated in any of the offseason conditioning sessions conducted by first-year head coach Lane Kiffin and the suspicion is that he would not show up for the start of training camp.

Meanwhile, Schefter advised readers that Moss comes to New England with the warning that, as Bill Parcells used to say, "the light is yellow and ready to turn red."

Asked specifically what head coach Bill Belichick expects from him on and off the field, Moss told reporters: "There is nothing we really seriously talked about. We more talked about the football side of it and what the New England Patriots were about.

"I think he just wants me to be me and go out there and compete and have fun, like he knows I know how to do."

But the Patriots have notified Moss that, under no circumstance, will they tolerate any of the transgressions that have marked his career. The first controversial incident that Moss is involved in will be his last. The Patriots insist they will release him.

That said, now that they have him, they are thrilled. Schefter reports that Brady is said to be very excited upon learning the news that his team had agreed to a trade with Oakland. Belichick feels the same way as Brady.

The coach told reporters a short time ago that Moss is a winner. "I'm glad he's on our team," Belichick added.

And now, after spending previous seasons lacking a big-play target, the Patriots now have a plethora of them -- none any bigger than Moss.

As ESPN.com senior writer Len Pasquarelli suggested this morning, acquiring Moss would perhaps be the defining moment of an offseason in which Belichick and personnel chief Scott Pioli have worked to dramatically upgrade the team's receiving corps.

New England added former Miami wideout Wes Welker in a trade and signed unrestricted free agents Donte' Stallworth (Philadelphia) and Kelley Washington (Cincinnati). The newcomers join veteran holdovers Troy Brown, Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney, who finished last season as the team's top three wideout.

For the record, Brown is a free agent, while Caldwell and Gaffney are signed through the 2008 season.

His struggles as a Raider notwithstanding -- he is coming off a 2006 season in which he played in 11 games and registered 42 catches for 553 yards and three touchdowns, career lows in all those categories -- Moss has to be viewed as the cream of this crop.

In nine seasons, Moss has 676 receptions for 10,700 yards and 101 touchdowns.

There are questions.

First and foremost is whether his less-than-productive campaigns in Oakland were an indication that Moss has lost a step?

According to ESPN insider Chris Mortensen, that's not the case.

Mortensen reported this morning that Moss was timed at 4.29 and 4.3 over 40 yards in workouts for Packer and Patriots officials, including Belichick, in Florida last week.

At the end today's media conference call, Moss, who told reporters he's eager to play with Brady, was asked to verify Mortensen's story.

"The Moss of old is back," he said. "We'll leave it at that."

The other question is, of course, attitude, something -- based on Schefter's reporting -- that's clearly been addressed. Some, including Profootballtalk.com editor Mike Florio, suggest their will be contractual language offering the Patriots some kind of financial remedies for behavior-related issues.

If there are any.

ESPN.com's Michael Smith made a great point this morning when he reminded ESPN viewers that Moss is a "classic frontrunner." If things are going good he plays hard; when they're not he shuts down.

Or as Florio summed up: "If any team can get the most out of him on every snap, it's the Patriots. ... And if the Patriots can't, no one can."

In San Francisco. ... The Seahawks and 49ers finalized paperwork early Sunday on a trade sending Jackson to the 49ers in exchange for a fourth-round pick, the 124th overall, this year. Jackson has been on the trading block all offseason but Seattle apparently could not fetch more than a second-day pick.

Jackson has been Matt Hasselbeck's main target for the past several years but he has been upset for the past three seasons about his contract in Seattle. The 49ers have been looking for a starting receiver since the release of Antonio Bryant.

The deal is unusual in that it sends Jackson to an NFC West rival.

But Jackson was going to lose playing time to Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram and D.J. Hackett in Seattle. Even though he was a favorite of Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren, Jackson seemed to believe his time in Seattle had expired.

Probably with good reason, I might add.

Jackson and Seahawks management have been at odds following negotiation of the six-year, $25 million contract extension Jackson signed in March 2004, his decision to skip voluntary workouts in 2005, and the manner in which the team handled his knee injury last season.

The fact Seattle traded Jackson to a rising divisional foe, and for only a fourth-round pick, shows how much the Seahawks wanted their relationship with their seven-year veteran to end.

Jackson missed 10 regular-season games in 2005 after undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee, underwent a second operation on the knee following Seattle's loss in Super Bowl XL, and missed the final three regular-season games of last season because of turf toe.

Jackson, 28, caught 63 passes in 2006 for 956 yards and 10 touchdowns -- all team-leading totals. At the time of his toe injury, Jackson was leading the league in touchdown catches. He's exceeded 1,000 receiving yards three times in seven seasons.

Jackson's addition represents yet another coup for the Niners, who via free agency added, among others, cornerback Nate Clements, safety Michael Lewis, and Ashley Lelie.

Though the Niners lost offensive coordinator Norv Turner to San Diego, they appear to have -- in quarterback Alex Smith, running back Frank Gore, tight end Vernon Davis, wide receiver Arnaz Battle, Lelie and now Jackson -- the makings of an explosive offense.

As 49er head coach Mike Nolan put it: "Darrell is a productive receiver with experience in our division, which I think is a plus."

That's a bit of an understatement.

Experience and a history of productive play are the two things San Francisco's receiving corps lacked -- until this morning.

In 96 games, including 89 starts, Jackson, a third-round selection in 2000 out of Florida, has 441 receptions for 6,445 yards (14.6-yard average) and 47 touchdowns. ...

One last note on this one. ... According to ESPN.com insider John Clayton, Branch, whom the Seahawks acquired from the Patriots last season, presumably would become Hasselbeck's No. 1 target with Jackson no longer in the mix. ...

In Oakland. ... While all the attention is on the Moss deal, the Raiders did pull off an interesting trade late Saturday afternoon when the Lions sent disappointing wide receiver Mike Williams and quarterback Josh McCown to Oakland for a fourth-round pick (105th overall).

The move reunites Williams, the 10th pick overall in 2005, with Kiffin, who was his wide receivers coach at Southern California.

After a stellar collegiate career in which he caught 176 passes for 2,579 yards and 30 touchdowns in two seasons, Williams never fit in with the Lions.

While he has ideal size at 6-5, Williams is considered too slow for coordinator Mike Martz' offense and doesn't run crisp routes. He caught just 37 passes for 449 yards and two touchdowns in 22 games with the Lions.

In Oakland, Williams joins a receiving corps that -- following Moss' departure -- led by Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry and Doug Gabriel. So there should be ample opportunity.

The question with Williams, however, has been one of desire. And it remains to be seen if Kiffin can rekindle his former charge's fire. ...

McCown joins the Raiders a day after the team selected Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the first overall pick in Saturday's draft. Oakland also has Andrew Walter, who started eight games last season.

But McCown brings something to the table the others don't.

Although he didn't attempt a pass last season, McCown is a five-year veteran with a distinct edge in experience having thrown for 5,431 yards and 25 touchdowns with 29 interceptions in 35 career games.

He started 13 games for Arizona in 2004 and has 19 career starts.

And as San Francisco Chronicle staffer David White recently pointed out, McCown's skills would appear to be a good fit for Kiffin's offense, which features a mobile pocket.

During pre-draft workouts in 2002, McCown ran the short shuttle in under 4 seconds and posted a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. ...

None of which leads me to believe Russell won't be the starter the minute he's ready. I'm just not sure that will be Week 1. Nor was it the case last year with any of three QBs drafted in the first round last season - Vince Young, Matt Leinart or Jay Cutler.

All three, however, finished the season as starters. Russell seems all but certain to do the same. ...

Also of interest today were trades that never happened.

More specifically, I'm referring to running back Michael Turner remaining in San Diego and the Chiefs' failure to get something of value -- modest though it might have been -- for Trent Green.

According to San Diego Union-Tribune staffer Kevin Acee, the Titans were incessant in their pursuit of Turner during Saturday's first round but never rose to offer a first-round pick.

And once the Chargers used picks they already had to trade up in the second round, the Titans moved on, selecting Arizona running back Chris Henry with the 50th overall pick. The other most interested suitor, Buffalo, also moved by drafting Cal's Marshawn Lynch with the 12th overall pick.

The Titans felt they never had a chance.

"It became obvious to us they weren't willing to move (Turner)," Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher told the media in Tennessee. "They wanted the assurance of knowing they had a backup to LaDainian Tomlinson this year. I think that's the bottom line."

Chargers GM A.J. Smith said he was willing to part with Turner -- if the price was right. "If it's to our liking, he's out of here," Smith said Saturday. "If not, he's here and it's wonderful."

Smith would not specifically address the unidentified team that offered a first-round pick on Friday. Smith claimed the Chargers wanted that team to sweeten the deal.

"We were looking for something else -- meaning a package that is advantageous to us," Smith said in explaining why the offer didn't fly.

Bottom line? The most interested and active bidders -- Buffalo and Tennessee -- decided Turner wasn't worth that first rounder. And while the Chargers could still move Turner if the right deal comes up, it doesn't look like anything is imminent. ...

As for Green. ... Chiefs president and GM Carl Peterson apparently decided nothing was better than something.

"We have had discussions with Miami, but we value Trent greatly," Peterson told ESPN during today's draft-day coverage. "He's been a starting quarterback in the NFL, a Pro Bowl quarterback with 25,000 yards passing. He's very valuable to us and this organization.

"We don't have any intention on releasing him or letting him go for something that's not of value."

Peterson was obviously trying to make the best deal possible. Unfortunately, he missed the bus.

The Dolphins offered Kansas City a sixth-round pick for Green this weekend, but Peterson declined the offer, according to Green's agent Jim Steiner.

"We'll address it in the next few days and see if we can get something resolved," said Steiner, who had worked out a new contract with the Dolphins contingent on the trade. "At this point, I don't know what the Chiefs are going to get for him from the Dolphins. I don't know how they get anything."

Steiner is right. The Chiefs have no leverage on Green, who controls his fate because of the $7.2 million salary he is due in 2007. By refusing to restructure, Green can scuttle a trade to any other club but the Dolphins because no interested suitor is willing to pay that much for a 36-year-old player coming off a concussion-marred season.

And Green has no desire to play anywhere but Miami.

All indications are the veteran signal caller has already agreed to terms with the Dolphins and FOXSports.com reported last week Green's football equipment was shipped from Kansas City to South Florida in anticipation of his arrival.

It's safe to assume he'll need it there. It's only a matter of time.

That's all for now. ... Remember to keep an eye on the News & Views section of this site for late-breaking news and other tidbits of interest. Watch the Headline News section for more in-depth reviews of current events.