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| Moss |
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Randy Moss hinted he might have to
look elsewhere for a Super Bowl ring. Maybe now he believes he can
get it with the Minnesota Vikings.
Or it might just be that an eight-year, $75 million contract
offer was more convincing.
The Vikings' star wide receiver, who said he wanted to be the
highest-paid player in the league, agreed Wednesday to a contract
extension that includes an $18 million signing bonus.
Because NFL contracts -- which aren't guaranteed -- usually
contain complicated performance clauses and early retirement can
cut short a player's earning power, it's tough to tell exactly
whose deal is worth the most.
But based on annual averages, Moss is now the highest-paid
non-quarterback in the league and third-richest player overall --
behind Drew Bledsoe and Brett Favre.
It's not hard to figure out that the Vikings had no interest in
leaving open the possibility of Moss playing for another team.
Minnesota opens training camp Sunday, and owner Red McCombs had
said he wanted to have an extension in place before the regular
season opened. Moss had one year left on a four-year deal that
would have paid him a base of $3.5 million in 2001.
"We'll sign everybody who we think we have to have," coach
Dennis Green said. "We think this is Red McCombs' commitment to
having an outstanding team."
Moss wasn't around the team's practice facility Wednesday to
discuss his new deal, but issued a statement through the team.
"I've been planning on this day for a long time," he said.
"Security for me and my family is now here. I would like to give a
big thanks to God for making my talent and my name stand out, and
being able to keep me healthy so that I could be in this
position."
Moss' agent, Dante DiTrapano, confirmed the details of the
contract, first reported by ESPN.com's John Clayton.
"It was important for him to be recognized not only as the best
wide receiver in the game, but as one of the best players in the
league," DiTrapano said.
Moss has proved that in three seasons with 226 catches, 4,163
yards and 43 touchdowns, the best for any wide receiver over that
period in NFL history, including Jerry Rice.
Moss, 24, who slipped to 21st overall in the 1998 draft because
of off-field problems in college, has admitted to taking plays off
and been fined a couple of times for on-field conflicts with
officials.
Green downplayed that.
"That's yesterday," Green said. "The only thing we really
worry about is what we can accomplish on the field."
Early this year, after a 41-0 loss to the New York Giants in the
NFC championship game, Moss suggested his future might be
elsewhere.
"I'm going to have a Super Bowl ring," Moss said. "I can't
really say I'm going to be a Minnesota Viking in a couple of
years."
Moss' deal could further complicate the Vikings' already-tight
salary cap situation, which forced them to let go of three
defensive starters this offseason: John Randle, Tony Williams and
Dwayne Rudd.
But, with typical nonchalance, Green didn't seem worried.
"We can't keep them all," he said. "We like this football
team."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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