Patriots Trade Rumors

"The Patriots recorded signals of the Dolphins' offensive signals during a game in 2001, a league source confirmed Friday, although it is uncertain whether the taping will result in further sanctions against New England or coach Bill Belichick. ESPN.com reported Friday that one of the tapes submitted by former Patriots video employee Matt Walsh included the offensive signals. Previously, it was believed the Patriots had taped only opposing teams' defensive signals."

"Technically, Matt Cassel has one year left on his rookie contract, but his days with the New England Patriots could be numbered."

"Would it be outlandish to dream of a scenario in which the Pats could pry Jason Taylor away from Miami? Would Bill Parcells even consider handing Taylor over to a rival?"

"There won't be silver briefcases brandished by models and Howie Mandel won't be fielding phony phone calls, but the premise of the Patriots' 2008 draft will essentially be the same as the game show "Deal or No Deal.""

"The Patriots face an interesting situation in the not-too-distant future. Both Seymour and Wilfork have contracts that expire after the 2009 season. Seymour will be 30, and if the Patriots let him reach free agency, he may go the way of Adam Vinatieri, Ty Law and Asante Samuel. Wilfork is the most important player on the defense, and the Pats will do everything in their power to extend him before he becomes a free agent."

"Tomorrow is the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets, and barring a late change, the Patriots are not planning to sign Carolina linebacker Adam Seward, according to a league source."

" As Belichick said, there could be more moves coming. Linebacker Rosevelt Colvin is still on the open market — though it’s rumored Colvin’s injury was a ruptured Achilles, which would explain the lack of interest thus far — as are Takeo Spikes and Victor Hobson, the type of veteran linebackers New England generally takes an interest in. The team also could extend an offer to restricted free-agent linebacker Adam Seward of the Panthers, whom the Pats hosted a couple of weeks ago; Belichick did not dismiss the notion when asked."

"Patriots coach Bill Belichick indicated yesterday there’s no rush to make a decision on Junior Seau. Last year the Pats didn’t reach out to the veteran linebacker until shortly before training camp. With the 39-year-old recovering from postseason surgery on his left rotator cuff and also mulling retirement, the Pats will take the same course."

"Kansas City coach Herm Edwards said the Chiefs have shut the door on free agent cornerback Ty Law returning... Edwards believes the 34-year-old Law still has something left in the tank. “He can still play,” he said. “He can still play. He’ll play somewhere.” Could that somewhere be New England?"

"When Pacman Jones's agent said last week that Jones would be interested in joining the Patriots, the words were construed by some as the team having interest in Jones. That is not the case. According to a league source, the Patriots will not pursue Jones ."

"Yesterday, however, Brown did a 180. He visited with Eric Mangini and the Jets and talked about the possibility of joining Gang Green."

"The Patriots' all-time leading receiver is considering catching on with the team's most despised rival. more stories like this Free agent wide receiver Troy Brown visited with the Jets yesterday and worked out for them, according to a source with knowledge of the situation."

"Start with Ty Law. He has already visited the Jets and recently expressed a willingness to return to Foxboro, where his career started. Whether the sides can work out the money and length of contract remains to be seen, but Law is in play."

"The Patriots are prepared to part ways with wide receiver Troy Brown, as the team is not planning to offer its all-time leader in receptions a contract for the 2008 season. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, out of courtesy to Brown, the Patriots recently informed the 15-year veteran, who is a free agent, that he was not in their immediate plans and that if he was interested in returning for a 16th NFL season he was free to field offers from other teams."

"Carolina could be on the verge of losing another linebacker, restricted free agent Adam Seward, who visited New England on Thursday. He has been a backup and special teams player."

"The New England Patriots are interested in Carolina restricted free-agent linebacker Adam Seward, and another veteran free agent's interest in signing with the Panthers waned Wednesday. Seward is to visit with the Patriots today. They can sign him to an offer sheet, but Carolina has the right to match. If the Panthers don't match, New England would owe Carolina a fifth-round pick as compensation."

"Another of the Bills’ free agents, cornerback Jason Webster, flew into town last night and will meet with the Pats this morning, agent Vann McElroy indicated. Webster also has a visit lined up with the New York Giants, and the Bills are expected to make a run at retaining his services."

"Three days have passed since Randy Moss hit the open market, reportedly seeking to find a better deal than what the Pats already have put on the table. However, the Pats’ offer appears to be the only one of note that has been extended to him."

" As far as Randy Moss is concerned, it seems that no news is good news for Patriots followers. Another day passed with no word from either side on the receiver’s status with New England. However, it was also another day of no information being leaked out from another club that it was making a move to acquire him either."

"Three days into the free-agent signing period, with every other marquee player already off the market — and interior offensive linemen becoming rich for the second year in a row — receiver Randy Moss remained available. Most observers expected Moss to be re-signed by the New England Patriots a few strokes after midnight Friday, when the signing period began."

"A month after the New England Patriots lost the Super Bowl, rumors are swirling that they could lose a superstar. The Patriots have yet to re-sign All-Pro receiver Randy Moss, who broke Jerry Rice's NFL single-season record with 23 touchdown receptions last season."

"It's intriguing that Randy Moss has not reached the expected deal to stay with the Patriots, but the Birds have not been mentioned in Moss speculation... A source close to free-agent wideout Javon Walker disputed an Internet report yesterday that said the Eagles were no longer interested in Walker's services... In case you haven't been near an Internet message board or within hearing range of sports-talk radio lately, many Eagles fans think trading Sheppard to Arizona in a package for Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald would be a neat idea."

"The Green Bay Packers have made initial contact with Detroit Lions free-agent linebacker Boss Bailey but they don't have a visit scheduled and aren't in a big hurry to address their linebacker position.... An NFL source confirmed reports that wide receiver Randy Moss was shopping himself around the league because he's not happy with the contract offer from the New England Patriots."

"The Pats are hosting 30-year-old free agent cornerback Jason Webster today. He has played for the 49ers (2000-2003), Falcons (2004-2006) and Bills (2007). He’s had an injury-plagued career, missing all of last season after breaking his arm in Week 1. There’s also 34-year-old Ty Law, who while technically not yet released from the Chiefs, has expressed a desire to return to the Patriots."

"Safety Eugene Wilson visited the Buccaneers yesterday. Wilson is scheduled to visit the Steelers today and the Jets tomorrow. The Tennessee Titans also were in the process of attempting to arrange a visit with Wilson."

"Continuing their free-agent frenzy, the Jets were deep into negotiations Sunday night with former Lions guard/tackle Damien Woody, according to an NFL source. Barring a snag, a deal could be reached Monday... Also yesterday, the Jets arranged a free-agent visit Wednesday for Dolphins running back Jesse Chatman - a curious move, considering they have Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. "

"Although it still seems to make the most sense for Moss to stay in Foxboro, the money has to work, and right now it doesn’t. The NFL.com story also noted that Moss doesn’t plan to take another discount to stay with the Pats. If Moss leaves, where might he go?"

" According to the NFL Network report, those who know Moss say he is becoming frustrated at the lack of progress being made in talks with New England for a new deal. Further, Moss is now willing to make free-agent visits and listen to offers from other teams."

"Get Randy Moss. The record-setting receiver is an unrestricted free agent and, although he's negotiating with the Patriots, the two sides aren't close to a deal, according to ESPN. Moss is out there, willing to be wooed. The Jets should pick up the phone and start wooing."

"Three days into free agency, everyone is wondering where Randy Moss will end up. Raiders fans know where they want him to go. But we digress..."

"While the free-agent spending spree continued throughout the NFL Saturday, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson was sticking with his don't-get-caught-up-in-it approach. At least if you believe Thompson and not the speculation and rumors floating about regarding Randy Moss and Jason Taylor."

"So now, after two largely unfulfilling seasons in Kansas City, Law is wondering whether Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli will be hitting redial. A reunion would seem to make sense; the Chiefs have told Law he will be released and the Patriots are seeking cornerback help."

"The silence is deafening. Still no word on Randy Moss. No word on if the Patriots have the free agent wide receiver locked up, or if anyone else has already whispered in Moss’ ear and promised dollar signs that will easily trump what Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli had in mind."

"Yesterday wasn't quite Black Friday for the Patriots, but it also wasn't an ideal start to free agency. First, the team lost cornerback Asante Samuel to the Eagles, and now it could be poised to lose record-setting wide receiver Randy Moss."

"Asante Samuel met the media in Philadelphia yesterday, and his presence brought into focus a stark reality - the Patriots have some major work to do rebuilding their secondary... There’s been talk that the Eagles may deal corner Lito Sheppard, who had an outstanding game against the Patriots in November, matched up frequently with Randy Moss... If the Pats go the restricted free agent route, they could be tempted by Tennessee’s Reynaldo Hill..."

"The Patriots will host free agent cornerback Jason Webster next week, according to several reports. Due to injuries, the 30-year-old has played in just nine games over the last two seasons."

"Replacing Wilson, though, could be more difficult. That's why the Giants inquired yesterday about free-agent safeties Sammy Knight (Jaguars) and Eugene Wilson (Patriots)."

"The Bucs also offered a bit of mystery as vague reports surfaced linking the team to Bears free-agent linebacker Lance Briggs... Among them is cornerback, where the team is targeting three of the better free agents on the market: San Diego's Drayton Florence, New England's Randall Gay and Dallas' Jacques Reeves each received early phone calls from the Bucs."

"When the clock struck midnight this morning, Randy Moss technically became a free man. But he’d have been crazy to go anywhere."

"As of the wee hours this morning, Randy Moss was not an ex-Patriot, but he also didn't have a long-term contract to keep him in New England, while cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Randall Gay appeared headed out of Foxborough via free agency, which officially kicked into gear at 12:01 a.m."

"Tedy Bruschi has not only decided not to retire, he is going to be paid to play beyond next season, if he so chooses. According to a league source, Bruschi and the team agreed to terms on a multiyear contract yesterday. The linebacker, who turns 35 in June, started all 16 regular-season games and all three playoff games last season."

" Linebacker Tedy Bruschi will be coming back for his 13th season with the Patriots. According to a source close to Bruschi, the inside linebacker, who will turn 35 on June 9, has reached an agreement with New England to return to the only professional team he’s played for. An announcement by the Patriots is expected today."

"Bruschi, who will turn 35 in June, has decided to keep growing older with the Patriots by agreeing to a multiyear contract, a source said Thursday night. The terms were not available."

"The Giants see Wilson as an important piece to the defensive puzzle, but if Wilson holds fast to his desire to make as much as the top safeties in the league (six years, $30 million) he is going to have to find that financial windfall elsewhere... If the Giants lose Wilson, other options at safety are Madieu Williams (Bengals), Sammy Knight (Jaguars), Eugene Wilson (Patriots) and Erik Coleman (Jets)."

"Those two positions of need stated, however, perhaps the flashiest free-agent possibility of all for the Jets is Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, who's unrestricted and one of the best cover corners in the league, but won't come cheaply... Defensively, the Jets could make a play for Cardinals LB Calvin Pace, a good fit for the 3-4 system."

"That means players such as the Patriots' Samuel and the Giants' Wilson could be signed before the day is over. Team sources have indicated that Samuel and Wilson are on the Eagles' wish list, although it seems unlikely that they will sign both, and they might feel fortunate to get one of them."

"Ty Law, who has been told by the Kansas City Chiefs he’s going to be released, doesn’t sound adverse to returning to the Patriots."

"Among safeties, New England's Eugene Wilson -- who also can play cornerback -- is on Miami's radar. Former Giants and Texans safety Will Demps wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with Miami, an associate said."

"They figure to be suitors for two of the biggest names on the market, Steelers left guard Alan Faneca and Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, but it probably will take the richest contract in Jets history to land either one."

"The NFL's free agent market opens at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow and the availability of Randy Moss, Lance Briggs and Asante Samuel ensures that there will be a few big-money contracts and headline-generating moves in the coming days."