Cards sign Heap, trade Hightower to 'Skins for Holliday, pick

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The off-field frenzy has not let up for the Arizona Cardinals.

The team, revamping its roster in a bid to return to the top in the NFC West after a 5-11 season a year ago, started Sunday by signing two-time All-Pro tight end Todd Heap and wrapped up the afternoon by trading running back Tim Hightower to the Washington Redskins for 14-year NFL defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday and an undisclosed draft pick.

The team also re-signed free agent guard Deuce Lutui after he failed a physical with the Cincinnati Bengals for being overweight.

At sunset, the Cardinals welcomed first-round draft pick Patrick Peterson at a training camp news conference. The LSU cornerback, who reached a contract deal on Saturday, is set to practice on Monday.

It will be a homecoming for Heap, who grew up in Mesa, Ariz., and starred at Arizona State. Heap was released by the Baltimore Ravens last Thursday after 10 seasons with the Ravens.

The question will be how much Heap has left in him, but if the end of last season is any indication, the answer would be quite a bit.

Heap is the Ravens' career leader in receiving touchdowns and is second in receptions and receiving yards. Last season, Heap had 40 catches for 599 yards and five touchdowns. He caught a franchise postseason record 10 passes for 108 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Heap's 467 career receptions rank fifth among tight ends and his 41 touchdown catches are fourth among those to play the position.

"I'm just really excited about how he fits in and what we're going to be able to do with him," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "You know a large part of this next couple of weeks is seeing what his strengths are in our offense, but when you just think about some of our receivers and combining Todd Heap with them and trying to create some mismatch, you get pretty excited about that."

The hard-running Hightower had played all three of his seasons with Arizona after making the team as a fifth-round pick out of Richmond.

"We had an opportunity arise. After a lot of consideration, we thought it was probably in the best interest of both -- the club and Tim -- that we go in that direction," Whisenhunt said.

The 6-foot-4, 338-pound Lutui signed a one-year deal with Arizona after his free agent contract with Cincinnati fell apart. Weight is not an uncommon problem for Lutui, who had to earn his job back after coming in out of a shape after an ill-advised holdout a year ago.

Since the Cardinals already had signed his potential replacement in free agent Floyd Womack, who played all 16 games for the Cleveland Browns last season, Whisenhunt made it clear there is not much room for error for Lutui.

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

"We love Deuce. He's a good football player. He's a guy we tried to get obviously when the free agency period started but he comes back to us now in a position when he's got some things to prove," the coach said. "Sometimes it's meant to be. Deuce has got an opportunity to come here, but he's going to have to earn what he gets on the football field. When he does it right and his weight's not an issue, he's a good football player. Hopefully Deuce understands that now."

There was so much activity that Peterson's return failed to get the usual top billing that a first-round pick, a man some believe was the best player in the draft, usually would receive.

With the Cardinals willing to trade cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as part of the deal to bring in quarterback Kevin Kolb, there is even more pressure on Peterson to make an impact from the get-go.

Asked what he was looking forward to most, Peterson smiled and said, "making interceptions."

"Making plays and hopefully getting the offense back in good field position," he said, "getting Kolb and Larry Fitzgerald and those guys in good field position so we can put points on the board."

The personnel moves overshadowed the team's second practice, a ragged affair.

"We've got a long ways to go," Whisenhunt said. "A lot of the little things you're seeing -- guys lining up offsides, missing the count, being in the wrong place -- a lot of the things you see early in the offseason that you get your players more comfortable with, now you're going to have to fight through. But the energy is good, the enthusiasm's good. We'll see as we proceed what kind of players we've got."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Kolb trade to Cardinals could be consummated by Friday

A trade that would send quarterback Kevin Kolb from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Arizona Cardinals isn't done yet, but multiple league sources told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Wednesday that they believe it would occur within the next 48 hours.

The Cardinals appear to be the leading suitor for Kolb, with the Miami Dolphins the most likely destination for Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, who was placed on the trading block Tuesday.

The Kolb trade talks haven't advanced to the stage where his representatives are talking contract with the Cardinals, sources told La Canfora, but the sides were in contact before the NFL lockout started in March, and Arizona understands what the parameters of a new contract likely will entail. So completing a deal wouldn't be difficult.

Sources continue to say cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could head to Philadelphia in a swap for Kolb. The Eagles had interest in free-agent cornerback Ike Taylor, but he agreed to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday.

A possible hitch could be a long-term deal that Kolb wants with a new team. He has a one-year contract with the Eagles. If Kolb signs a new contract as part of a trade with the Cardinals, he wouldn't be allowed to practice with the team until Aug. 4, the same day any incoming veteran free agents would first be allowed to work out.

NFL Network insider Albert Breer reported Tuesday that, according to team sources, the Eagles' plan all along was to be patient in exploring the Kolb trade market. That said, the four-year veteran passer didn't report to Eagles camp Wednesday. Technically, he wasn't required to arrive because of a one-day grace period, the result of the collective bargaining agreement being completed Monday.

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

That said, under the new CBA, a lengthy holdout by Kolb, or any player, could be costly. Breer reported Wednesday that the fine allowable by teams has almost doubled, going up to $30,000 per day, and if a player doesn't report 30 days before the regular season, he doesn't accrue the year toward free agency.

Kolb has openly talked about his desire to play for Arizona, saying it would be a good fit. The quarterback, who turns 27 next month, has appeared in 19 games, with seven starts in the last two seasons. He has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,082 yards and 11 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.

Poor play at quarterback was a major component in Arizona's dropoff from two-time NFC West champion to a 5-11 season last year. The team is set to release quarterback Derek Anderson on Thursday, and coach Ken Whisenhunt has emphasized that the Cardinals are aggressively seeking a veteran at the position.

Kolb began last season as the heir apparent to Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia, but he went down with a concussion in the opener, losing his job to Vick in the process. Kolb did have a couple of strong performances after that when Vick was hurt. Against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6, Kolb completed 23 of 29 passes for 326 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Vikings, McNabb work out contract to seal trade with 'Skins

Donovan McNabb's arrival in Minnesota has been a rumored scenario for at least five years, ever since Brad Childress left the Philadelphia Eagles to take over the Vikings in 2006.

Childress is long gone now, but another former Eagles assistant -- new Vikings coach Leslie Frazier -- helped make those rumors a reality Wednesday, just in time for McNabb to help bridge the gap from Brett Favre to rookie Christian Ponder.

The Vikings acquired McNabb from the Redskins for a sixth-round draft pick in 2012 and a conditional sixth-rounder in 2013, two people with knowledge of the transaction told The Associated Press.

In order to make the trade happen, McNabb had to agree to re-work the five-year, $78 million contract he signed with the Redskins because the Vikings didn't have enough salary-cap room for him with the way the deal is structured. NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi confirmed that a restructured deal was in place, but the terms weren't immediately available.

McNabb gives the Vikings a veteran quarterback while they groom Ponder, who was drafted 12th overall out of Florida State in April, to be the team's long-term answer at the position. The original preference for Frazier and the Vikings was to have Ponder start Week 1 in San Diego, with a capable veteran backup there just in case.

But that was before the NFL lockout prevented players from working out with coaches all summer and put Ponder behind schedule in his development. That made it more important for the Vikings to add an accomplished, experienced quarterback they believe can win games with a roster full of veterans while Ponder gets up to speed.

From the sounds of it, Ponder isn't conceding anything just yet.

"Excited to have McNabb join," Ponder wrote Wednesday morning on Twitter. "Will learn a lot from a Pro Bowler. But that doesn't mean I'm not still fighting to start week 1!"

The trade ends a tumultuous one-year run in Washington for McNabb. The 12-year veteran was benched twice last season and threw 14 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions in 13 games. He completed 58 percent of his passes for 3,377 yards, and his agent, Fletcher Smith, publicly sparred with coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

Even before the deal was completed, some Redskins players already were treating McNabb's departure as a foregone conclusion. The writing has been on the wall for some time in Washington, and news of the discussions with the Vikings only served to validate that feeling.

"You see a guy that's been a Pro Bowler six times," Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said. "He was going to come in and really help us win more games, but it didn't work out. Relationships broke down, and now he's not here, but you can't really focus on that. You've got to continue to move forward."

Childress coached McNabb in Philadelphia from 1999 to 2005 before leaving to become the coach in Minnesota. From the minute Childress arrived in the Twin Cities, it was assumed that McNabb would one day join him in purple.

But McNabb stayed put with the Eagles, and the Vikings coaxed Favre out of retirement -- twice. Favre led the Vikings to the NFC title game after the 2009 season, but he had a disastrous, injury- and scandal-plagued campaign in 2010 as Minnesota sunk to the bottom of the NFC North.

When Frazier took over as the full-time head coach in January, he said it was time for the team to end its penchant for bringing in retreads and past-their-prime veterans and develop a young quarterback from the start.

The Vikings surprised many when they drafted Ponder so early in the first round and immediately said he would compete for the starting job right away.

Ponder was billed as the most NFL-ready quarterback in the 2011 class, but not being able to work with new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and most of his teammates at various minicamps and organized team activities throughout the summer makes it a bigger challenge for him to be ready to start Sept. 11 in San Diego.

Ponder said last week during a workout at the University of Minnesota that he still was aiming to be the starter from Day 1.

"That's what I'm pushing for," he said. "That's what I'm hoping for. So we'll see what happens."

Bringing in McNabb does show veterans such as Adrian Peterson, Antoine Winfield, Jared Allen and Kevin Williams that the team is still in a "win now" mode, and it was unclear Wednesday night just how the pecking order at quarterback will play out.

"I would have loved to have him back here," Alexander said. "But things just didn't turn out the right way, and he'll go on and eventually be a Hall of Famer."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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No trade for Eagles' Kolb imminent as window for deals opens

The Philadelphia Eagles hope to receive a first-round draft pick in exchange for backup quarterback Kevin Kolb, according to sources, but they might not be able to do so. As of Tuesday morning, there was no trade on the table, and this situation could take more time than most expected.

Any Kolb trade would have to include contract negotiations with his new team, and the market remains now as it was expected, with the Arizona Cardinals interested in the fifth-year pro.

Will Brett Favre come out of retirement for the third time? Is Ahmad Bradshaw bound for Miami? Find out where players might end up in NFL.com's free agency tracker. More...

The Seattle Seahawks were said to be interested in Kolb at one point, but they opted to go in a different direction because of reservations about how steep the Eagles' price would be in trade compensation and financial compensation paid to the quarterback.

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who played under offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell in Minnesota. Seattle also is expected to sign Matt Leinart, coach Pete Carroll's former quarterback at USC, to join Charlie Whitehurst as signal-callers on the roster.

Kolb also could end up remaining in Philadelphia if the team can't receive what it deems to be fair value. Furthermore, the Eagles could retain Kolb into the future with a franchise tag if need be, so it's not a foregone conclusion that he would become an unrestricted free agent in 2012, a possible leverage chip for the team.

Kolb was anointed the Eagles' starting quarterback entering the 2010 season, only to sustain a concussion and then watch Michael Vick take over the job.

Kolb recently stated that although he respects Eagles coach Andy Reid a great deal, he would like to move on to a team for which he could start.

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Owner: Bengals won't trade Palmer, consider QB to be retired

CINCINNATI -- Bengals owner Mike Brown insisted on Tuesday that he won't trade quarterback Carson Palmer, who wants to leave one of the NFL's least-successful franchises.

Palmer, who has four years left on his contract, told the team in January that he would retire if he's not traded. The Bengals have only two winning seasons in the last 20 years, one of the worst stretches of futility in league history.

Brown said the club will move on without its franchise quarterback. The Bengals plan to hold their first training camp workout Saturday in Georgetown, Ky.

"I honestly like Carson Palmer," Brown said. "He was a splendid player for us. He's a good person. I wish him well. And he is retired. That is his choice. ... I'm not expecting him to be back."

Asked why he wouldn't trade Palmer and get some draft picks in return, Brown said it was a matter of principle.

"Carson signed a contract. He made a commitment. He gave his word," Brown said. "We relied on his word. We relied on his commitment. We expected him to perform here. He's going to walk away from his commitment. We aren't going to reward him for doing it."

Brown has traditionally taken a hard line on players trying to leave. Receiver Chad Ochocinco unsuccessfully lobbied for a trade three years ago, but Brown refused. Ochocinco has one year left on his deal, but is hoping to be released during the next few weeks.

Brown and coach Marvin Lewis declined to say anything about Ochocinco on Tuesday other than that he's under contract. The Bengals picked receiver A.J. Green in the first round of the draft, giving themselves his eventual replacement.

The Bengals drafted Andy Dalton in the second round of April's draft. Brown indicated on Tuesday that he will be the starter heading into camp, even though he hasn't been able to work with coaches because of the NFL's lockout. Jordan Palmer -- Carson's younger brother -- is the only experienced quarterback on the roster.

Brown said the team will look for another veteran, but it will give Dalton a chance to win the job.

"We think he is promising for our future," Brown said. "Yes, he'll have teething problems. It won't be altogether easy for him all the time. But we're going to put him in there. If he can do it, we're going to go with him. And I hope he can manage it."

The Bengals are coming off a 4-12 season that included 10 consecutive losses. Carson Palmer told the team he wouldn't be back after Lewis decided to return even though Brown promised no significant changes in how the organization is run.

The Bengals originally planned to have players report at Georgetown College -- a 90-mile drive south of Cincinnati -- on Wednesday and have their first practice a day later. They pushed the schedule back by two days.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Broncos want to trade QB Orton to clear way for Tebow

The Denver Broncos are willing to deal starting quarterback Kyle Orton, league and team sources said, and spent Tuesday assessing that market. Minnesota, Arizona and Miami are among the teams expected to engage in trade talks with them.

The Broncos value Orton and are unlikely to deal him for less than a third-round pick, sources said, with the possibility that the compensation escalates based on Orton's performance and/or his new team signing him to an extended contract.

Orton is in the final year of his deal and put up solid numbers in Denver after being a part of the Jay Cutler trade with the Bears in 2009, but apparently new coach John Fox has decided to go with Tim Tebow, a first-round pick in 2010, as the Broncos' starter.

Orton, who participated in Broncos player-led workouts during the lockout, has made it clear he does not want to back up Tebow. Orton has started 28 games for the Broncos the past two seasons, passing for 41 touchdowns and almost 7,500 yards.

The Denver Post, which first reported that Orton was on the trading block, listed the Tennessee Titans as another possible trade destination for Orton. Trades were able to be announced as of 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

The Post also reported that the Broncos plan to release 11-year veteran running back Correll Buckhalter, 32, who is scheduled to make almost $2 million this season.

After starting seven games and rushing for 642 yards in 2009, Buckhalter gained just 147 rushing yards and 240 receiving yards this past season.

The Broncos spent the day negotiating with their draft picks, including No. 2 overall selection Von Miller, who said he planned to be ready to practice when training camp starts.

"I want to come in and just learn. I don't want to put myself anymore behind than I already am," Miller said.

Miller stands to make much less money in the new labor accord, with a four-year deal likely worth about $25 million or so, some $45 million less than he could have gotten under the old setup.

"I've been playing football all my life for free. So, whatever it is, whatever my contract may be, I'm good with whatever," Miller said. "You really can't be possessive over something you didn't have."

On top of that, Miller figures he will simply make it up during his career.

"I plan on getting three, four, five contracts," Miller said, smiling. "I don't plan on just getting this one. I just want to play football. I'm not really worried about all that other stuff."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Eagles QB Kolb tries to stay positive while trade rumors swirl

Kevin Kolb showed up to Philadelphia Eagles players' workouts Thursday. Whether or not he'll play with them next season is another question.

The quarterback, whose name has been batted around in trade speculation all offseason, can't be dealt to a new team until the NFL lockout, now in its third month, is over. When that happens is anyone's guess, so for now, Kolb is trying to make the best of it.

Carucci: Don't believe the hype The NFL lockout has left the media little about which to write and talk, so trade rumors about Kevin Kolb have taken on a life of their own, Vic Carucci writes.
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"It's pretty tough," Kolb told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "But, you all have known me for a long time, and the way I handle things is I keep my mind and keep the things out of my life. So I don't pay too much attention to it.

"It's hard when it has to do with my life. But I keep a positive attitude and keep moving forward and whatever happens I'll be ready to roll."

The Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns are among the teams mentioned are possibly being interested in acquiring Kolb, who lost his starting job last year after he was injured and Michael Vick stepped in to play at a Pro Bowl level. With his future uncertain, Kolb had stayed at his Texas home almost all offseason, but he said he feels good being back with his Eagles teammates.

"I've been working hard," Kolb said. "Obviously, these dudes have been working hard, too. It was good to get back out here, more than just the throwing, to be around the guys again."

Eagles third-string quarterback Mike Kafka, who said Wednesday that he's ready to be the No. 2 guy if needed, also attended Thursday's workout in Evesham, N.J. Vick, who organized the week's sessions, wasn't there, but the Inquirer noted the quarterback had a speaking engagement in Philadelphia in the afternoon.

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Report: Patriots talk to Chargers about Mankins-Jackson trade

The New England Patriots have two issues: They need a big-play wide receiver after trading Randy Moss, and Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins hasn't budged in his contract holdout.

The team has tried to resolve both problems by holding preliminary talks with the Chargers about a deal that would send Mankins to San Diego and bring wide receiver Vincent Jackson to Foxborough, Comcast SportsNet New England reported Thursday, citing a source.

La Canfora: Week 10 returns likely Logan Mankins and Vincent Jackson vow to sit out until they receive new contracts. However, a labor issue could change that stance, Jason La Canfora writes. More ...

Jackson was a Pro Bowl alternate last season and, like Mankins, is holding out because he wants a long-term deal, not the restricted free-agent tender he was offered. Unlike Mankins, Jackson was placed on the roster-exempt list by the Chargers, meaning he must sit out three games if he signs or is traded.

Mankins' agent rejected the idea of the Patriots and Chargers making the deal for a simple reason: Neither player has signed a contract.

Frank Bauer told the Boston Herald: "Somebody can call me tomorrow and say, 'You've been traded to Cincinnati,' and I can say, 'No, no, no, no. You got to have a contract.'"

Bauer called the speculation "totally insane,” then added: "But who knows? The Patriots do strange things. … Until it all (shakes out), you don’t know. But ... that’s totally ludicrous.”

The San Diego Union-Tribune confirmed that trade talks have been held, but it termed the chances of a deal happening as "highly unlikely." The newspaper reported that the Chargers' asking price for Jackson is a first- and a second-round pick, but the Patriots might not be willing to meet that price.

Comcast SportsNet New England reported that, according to a media source in San Diego, the Chargers are not interested in dealing for Mankins.

Mankins hadn't missed a game in his NFL career before the holdout and is considered a premium guard. However, the Chargers are set at the position with veteran Kris Dielman and second-year pro Louis Vasquez.

If the Patriots were to land Jackson, he would be a younger replacement for 33-year-old Moss, who was dealt to the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday. Jackson, 27, has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and, at 6-foot-5, provides quarterbacks with a big target.

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Moss' return in trade boosts Vikings' Super Bowl hopes

Brett Favre finally received his wish. He will play with Randy Moss, and the Minnesota Vikings couldn't be happier about it.

The Super-Bowl-or-bust Vikings acquired Moss from the New England Patriots on Wednesday for two draft picks, another eye-opening acquisition that comes just in time to rejuvenate a stagnant offense for a challenging stretch of games.

The Patriots gave Moss, a six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, the exit he expected and sent him back to the team that turned him into a superstar after drafting him in the first round in 1998.

In Minnesota, there still are plenty of fond memories of Moss's electrifying performances, along with his colorful comments and contrarian behavior.

"He can still go downtown and get the football, which is a stand-alone factor," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "He could sprain his toe here sometime coming up, and you could say that he's 33 -- it's old age. But there's always risk-reward. I don't necessarily see this as boom or bust. I think he's got some more football in him. ... I'm always excited, as they say, to add a good piece to the puzzle."

A league source told NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi that the Patriots received a 2011 third-round pick in exchange for Moss. Lombardi also confirmed that the Patriots will give the Vikings a 2012 seventh-round selection in the deal.

The Vikings play Monday night at New York, and Childress said without hesitation that Moss would be in uniform against the Jets -- in his old purple No. 84.

"Man, we wish this would have happened a week later," Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson said.

The drama will be high around the Twin Cities all month. Check out Minnesota's last two games in October: at rival Green Bay and at New England.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said his dealings with Moss have been "honest, thoughtful and with great mutual respect."

"While I will keep private the details of internal conversations with players and staff, suffice it to say that many things were taken into consideration before making the trade,” Belichick said in a statement released by the team. "In this business, there are complex and often difficult decisions, but it is my responsibility to make them based on what I feel is best for our football team, in both the short term and long term.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached Randy Moss, and, aside from facing him as an opponent, I wish him the very best for the remainder of his Hall of Fame career."

The Vikings didn't practice Wednesday. Moss is expected to join the team Thursday and talk with reporters afterward.

Rather than catching passes from Tom Brady, Moss will be a target for Favre, who desperately needed a downfield threat after Pro Bowl wide receiver Sidney Rice underwent hip surgery in August. Struggling Bernard Berrian hasn't been a factor, and Percy Harvin -- when healthy -- is better suited for the slot position. The Vikings traded for Greg Camarillo from the Miami Dolphins in late August and signed Philadelphia Eagles cast-off Hank Baskett in Week 3, but neither move made the kind of impact that acquiring Moss is expected to make.

"This is an exciting move. I think everybody feels that in the locker room," Favre told the team's official website. "It's rare you get to play with a future Hall of Famer and get to appreciate their talents up close. Randy Moss is a great player, and his career speaks for itself. I've admired him from a distance for a long time, and you can't help but be impressed by the guy."

Moss spent his first seven seasons in Minnesota, where he set all kinds of records and evolved into one of the NFL's most exciting playmakers. He often burned Favre's Packers, racking up 9,142 yards and 90 touchdowns during his time with the Vikings and fueling runs to NFC title-game appearances following the 1998 and 2000 seasons.

Tired of Moss' attitude and wary of a hamstring injury that hampered him in the 2004 season, the Vikings traded the receiver to the Oakland Raiders in 2005. Moss wore out his welcome there, so the Raiders sent him to New England in 2007. Favre was frustrated at the time that Green Bay didn't land Moss; they discussed a trade with Oakland.

Childress denied Wednesday that Favre lobbied for this move. The coach said Vikings owner Zygi Wilf gave his blessing Monday.

"I don't think any of us thought this guy was going to be available ...," Childress said. "It just was a rare opportunity for us to take advantage of a guy that's a potential Hall of Fame player and still has some pretty good tread on the tire.

"He's not a rookie. He's been to handling school. He's played in this league. He gets coverage, he's an extremely smart guy when you watch what he does, and by all accounts, a pretty good student of the game."

The entertaining style of football that Moss brought with him started a string of sellouts at the Metrodome that is still going 13 years later. His jersey still can be seen regularly on the backs of Vikings fans six years after his departure.

His first stint in Minnesota was, however, anything but smooth.

There was the time Moss bumped a traffic cop with his car in downtown Minneapolis, another when he left the field early from a game in Washington. He repeatedly was fined or admonished for his antics or behavior.

Childress said Moss has a clean slate in Minnesota.

"I'm just satisfied to judge him, not backward, but judge him going forward and what he does with us here," the coach said.

Childress insisted Moss' acquisition isn't a sign that Rice's recovery has slowed. Rice recently said he hopes to be off his crutches next week.

The Vikings began the year with championship aspirations after reaching the NFC title game in January, but they have lost two of their first three games, and Favre's passing game has struggled to get off the ground. The Vikings talked last month about acquiring another disgruntled, talented wide receiver, Vincent Jackson, but the San Diego Chargers chose to keep his rights.

"The problem," Favre said after a Sept. 26 victory over the Detroit Lions, "is it's been a new guy every week, and you say, 'OK, I'm going to play this guy at slot and this guy at flanker,' and then the next week you take the flanker and you move him to slot."

"We've just been missing something, and I think he (Moss) can give us another threat down the field," running back Adrian Peterson said on the team's website.

Moss is in the final season of a three-year, $27 million contract and has said several times that he expected 2010 to be his last season with the Patriots. He didn't have a catch Monday night in the Patriots' 41-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins, the first time since 2006 that he went without a reception.

"When you have done so much and put so much work in, it kind of feels like I am not wanted," Moss, frustrated he hadn't been offered a contract extension, said in September. "I am taking that in stride and playing my final year out and whatever the future holds is what it holds, but it is kind of a bad feeling -- feeling not wanted."

Moss later backtracked from those statements, telling The Associated Press that he hoped to finish his career with the Patriots.

"For me to be 33 years old, it's like I'm held at bay," he said. "If this is my last year here, I want to leave as good as I came in here in '07. I know that's really hard to duplicate, but I don't want the fans, the organization, coaches or my teammates to have a sour taste in their mouths about Randy Moss."

Moss' agent, Joel Segal, said the Vikings haven't contacted him about a long-term deal, so the receiver joins a long list of prominent Vikings in the final year of their contracts, including Rice, Favre, linebackers Ben Leber and Chad Greenway and defensive end Ray Edwards.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Reaction mixed as Patriots fans take stock of Moss trade

Janna Robinson doesn't need another Randy Moss jersey, even at its new bargain price.

The New England Patriots fan can pull her old purple No. 84 out of the closet now that one of her favorite players is back with the Minnesota Vikings.

She'll watch Moss catch passes from Brett Favre instead of Tom Brady, who moves on without his only proven deep threat.

"He's played really well with Brady, but if he's not happy, he won't play well," said Robinson, 41, of Alexandria, N.H., as she browsed the shelves of the Patriots Pro Shop in plain view of the end zone where Moss caught some of his 50 touchdowns in three-plus seasons with New England.

The shop didn't waste any time in marking down Moss' jerseys Wednesday, just hours after he was traded for two draft picks. The Patriots received a 2011 third-round selection and a 2012 seventh-round choice in the deal, NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi confirmed, citing a league source.

The price dropped from $249.95 to $75 for an authentic Moss jersey and from $79.95 to $25 for a replica version.

Moss, who's in the last year of a three-year, $27 million contract, had said several times that he didn't believe the Patriots would re-sign him. Less than an hour after a season-opening 38-24 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals last month, Moss spoke for 16 minutes, almost entirely about his contract and his feeling that he wouldn't be with the team after this season. He said he was hurt but wasn't mad.

Two days later, Moss told The Associated Press he "would love to" retire as a Patriot, but "if I do leave here, I want everything to be positive -- that I was a good guy, I was well-coached, well-mannered, a good man in the locker room, a good teammate to be around."

Patriots coach Bill Belichick indicated that a trade had been under consideration for some time.

"Over the course of the past several months, I have spoken with Randy and his representative about Randy's place on our team and his future in football," Belichick said in a statement released by the team. "Consistent with my dealings with Randy from the day we acquired him through our conversation this morning, it has been honest, thoughtful and with great mutual respect."

Moss set an NFL record with 23 touchdown catches for the Patriots in 2007 after he was traded during that year's draft by the Oakland Raiders for a fourth-round pick. He had spent two years with the Raiders after seven with the Vikings, who took the two-time first-team All-American from Marshall in the first round in 1998.

The Patriots are tied for first with the New York Jets in the AFC East at 3-1 after Monday night's 41-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins. For the first time in his Patriots career, Moss didn't have a reception. He has nine catches, three for touchdowns, this season.

Now Belichick must do his game-planning without Moss, but the timing of the trade in the Patriots' bye week should help.

Brandon Tate, a third-round pick last year, likely will take Moss' starting spot. The Patriots have two other youngsters at the position: Julian Edelman, a seventh-round pick last year, and Taylor Price, a third-round pick this year who was inactive the first four games.

Rookie tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez provide Brady other options.

Wes Welker has thrived since he and Moss joined the Patriots in 2007. The slot receiver's 346 catches were the most in the NFL over the past three years. Without Moss, defenders likely will pay more attention to Welker.

"(Welker) can't play to an elite level outside the numbers. He can only play to an elite level inside the numbers and the hashes, because that's the style of player he is," said Cris Carter, a Vikings receiver in Moss' first four seasons with the team and now an ESPN analyst. "(Brady) will be a great quarterback until he retires, but he will have to work extra hard. Wes Welker's job just became a little bit harder."

Last year, the Patriots' defense received a youthful makeover when linebacker Tedy Bruschi and safety Rodney Harrison retired and defensive end Richard Seymour and linebacker Mike Vrabel were traded, all before the season started.

This year, the Patriots are without four major pieces of their offense. Running back Laurence Maroney was traded to the Denver Broncos after the first game -- and his jerseys were going for the same prices as Moss' on Wednesday. Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins hasn't reported in a contract dispute, and running back Kevin Faulk is out for the year with a knee injury.

Now Moss is gone.

A third-round pick in the Moss deal gives the Patriots two choices in each of the first four rounds of next year's draft -- plenty of chances to stockpile young players.

But what about this year?

"I feel really bad," said Geri Braun, 66, of West Bath, Maine, another visitor to the Pro Shop. "They should have extended his contract. They'll lose something on offense. They don't have the experience. It makes a difference."

Another shopper was more upbeat.

"I don't feel too bad about it," said Tony Chicoine, 27, a native of Worcester, Mass., who was wearing Moss' No. 81 Patriots jersey. "They got a third-round pick. ... We won Super Bowls with (wide receivers) Troy Brown and Deion Branch. Belichick will find ways to win. He's won without him."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Seahawks land veteran RB Lynch in trade with Bills

A fresh start for Marshawn Lynch. A rugged runner for the Seattle Seahawks' lagging ground game.

Marshawn Lynch should become the No. 1 running back in Seattle, meaning he should be added to your team if he's still available in your fantasy league. More ...

And a clear sign that the rebuilding continues in Buffalo.

The Bills gave up on Lynch as their featured ball carrier Tuesday, trading him to the Seahawks for two undisclosed draft picks.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported via a league source that one of the picks will be a fourth-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

The deal clears the way for Buffalo to give more playing time to Fred Jackson and first-round draft pick C.J. Spiller in the backfield. And Seattle hopes Lynch can provide a spark that was missing from its run game through the first four weeks of the season.

"We bring a guy into the program that we think is going to give us a little boost," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after practice Tuesday. "You know that we've emphasized trying to get this running game in order. We hope that he'll help in that regard. We're pleased to get that done. We'll move forward this week. It's good we're on a break. It doesn't disrupt a game-week preparation, and we'll get him in here as soon as possible and we'll get to work."

The Seahawks (2-2) have a bye week following their 20-3 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. That gives Lynch time to become acclimated to Seattle's offense and potentially be on the field Oct. 17 when the team visits the Chicago Bears.

"We're going to bring him in to play a lot," Carroll said. "We'll wait and see when we get him here, but we're bringing him in here to play a bunch."

NFL Network analyst
Brian Baldinger believes Marshawn Lynch is the best option for the Seahawks and could be a difference-maker in a wide-open NFC West. More ...

The Seahawks released running back Julius Jones, their leading rusher the past two seasons, to clear a roster spot for Lynch. Jones restructured his contract and took a hefty pay cut right before the start of the season, then carried the ball just 12 times for 30 yards and was inactive Sunday against the Rams.

Seattle's run game has struggled through four games, ranking 27th in the NFL with 79.5 yards per game. The Seahawks were held below 80 rushing yards three times, putting more pressure on veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

Without a clear No. 1 running back, the Seahawks ran by committee before settling on speedy Justin Forsett the past two weeks. Forsett had a season-high 19 carries Sunday against the Rams, but he managed just 65 yards. Seattle hasn't seen a back approach 1,000 yards since Shaun Alexander was the league MVP in 2005 after running for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns in the team's NFC championship season.

Now Forsett and Lynch -- teammates at the University of California -- are reunited in Seattle. Lynch was a groomsman at Forsett's wedding earlier this year.

"We're different backs, but I think they complement it well," Forsett said. "If you go back at Cal, we had a nice little one-two punch there, and it's always exciting. Any given moment, any one of us could break, and it was pretty fun. We just have fun together."

Also on Tuesday, the Seahawks re-signed offensive lineman Chester Pitts -- who was cut last week -- and released lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith.

On the other side, the Lynch trade only highlights the much larger rebuilding job in front of the Bills (0-4), who lost to the New York Jets 38-14 last weekend and play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Last week, first-year Bills coach Chan Gailey released former starting quarterback Trent Edwards, who is now with the Jaguars.

"Marshawn has worked hard and played hard for us this season and we certainly appreciate his efforts," first-year Bills general manager Buddy Nix said in a statement released by the team. "We are constantly evaluating our personnel and feel that this is a good move for our team's future."

Spiller shared warm thoughts about Lynch on Tuesday.

“He was a great teammate and I wish him all the best,” Spiller told buffalobills.com. “Our friendship was more like a brotherhood and I’m definitely going to stay in contact with him.”

The Bills filled Lynch's roster spot by signing rookie running back Andre Anderson off their practice squad, a league source told La Canfora.

After losing his starting job to Jackson last season, Lynch reclaimed the job in Week 2 this year and led the Bills with 37 carries for 164 yards. In 45 career games, he has 2,765 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, along with 670 receiving yards and one score.

The deal, made two weeks before the NFL trade deadline, marks a turnaround in philosophy for the Bills, who said last spring that they didn't intend to trade Lynch. He had been seeking a fresh start after his reputation in Buffalo took a hit following off-the-field troubles.

In June 2008, Lynch pleaded guilty to a traffic violation and admitted to driving off after striking a female pedestrian with his car near Buffalo's downtown bar district. In March 2009, Lynch pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge in Los Angeles, after police discovered a semiautomatic handgun in a backpack of the trunk of a parked car in which Lynch was sitting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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