Randy Moss gets traded to the Minnesota Vikings for a third round pick in 2011.

Goodbye Randy, I hope this makes you happy...

Some have argued that the Patriots were getting nothing for giving up their top wide receiver, I was one of those people I won’t deny it. I thought initially that a single fourth rounder was not enough. Then I got lectured by some of my more level-headed and logical sports fans and it all became clear to me. This move is true to the Patriots and how they’ve handled business. In fact, the press conference that Bill Belichick held sounded as if it were a combination of every presser that he has ever been a part of.

Bill Belichick closed the presser with this statement:

It was a combination of factors. There was no one thing. It was a combination of things, and in the end, we felt like what we did what was best for the football team. And again, another part of it was just the personal relationship with Randy. And in talking to him, some of the feelings and things that he expressed that he and I talked openly about, when all was said and done and it all was put together, I felt like that was the best thing.

Belichick should trademark the phrase, “We felt like we did what’s best for the football team.” Not only does he say it in every presser I’ve ever seen, but he lives by these words and that’s what helped me understand this trade. The obvious points have been covered so much in the last week that I’m not going to sit here and regurgitate them to you all. Fact is, Randy Moss was no longer happy to be playing in the New England. Moss’s ability to perform has been questioned lately, but not in a sense that he is unable but rather, if the desire is still present. As it turns out, his desire to play was more evident in Minnesota than in the last three games with New England.

Moss managed nine catches for 139 yards and three touchdowns, nothing spectacular.

The biggest thing that came to mind with this trade is its effect on the rest of the offense for the Patriots. It’s well known that Wes Welker attributes most of his success in the slot position to Randy Moss and his ability to draw coverage away.  When teams, except for the Jets, often place two defenders on a receiver like Moss, the likes of Welker, Brandon Tate, Aaron Hernandez, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski and even the running game all benefit immensely. This move does say something: Patriots have faith in this budding offense.  This week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens is a hell of a time to test the waters on this new offense. Should be a telling a game.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Find a way or make a way. – Mike Ditka

With my crazy work schedule, I’ve come to realize that Monday Night Football is the only game that I can really sit, watch and focus on. As I was busy with an engagement party this weekend and the Patriots were enjoying an eventful bye week, I made sure I had time to catch the headline-filled Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets game.  Needless to say, I was wicked tired and the slow start of this game did not help in keeping my attention. Good thing the twitter world was illuminated with some hilarious chatter about Moss and Favre and his, um, inappropriate proposals via texts.

(Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)

Truthfully, I dislike the Giants more than the Jets.  This did bring up the idea as to how many people became Jets fans because of Hard Knocks? I mean, how could you now fall in love with Rex Ryan and all of his foul-mouthed self?

Thanks for the pic (www.turnonthejets.com)

I doubt there will be anyone out there who will admit this but these people exist, I’ve seen them.  They were the same guy who sported a Sanchez jersey while booing every time the Patriots got a first down (which, let’s be honest, wasn’t that frequent this past Sunday.)

So here comes the break down of the highly-anticipated Patriots-Jets game:

Given the fact that the Patriots never got anything started, it’s hard to see where the positive aspects were for the game.  I gave my thoughts prior to the game via tweet.

@KishaT: Thoughts for the game: Jets running game is biggest threat. Patriots D must stay explosive and force Sanchez errors.Brady, use EVERYONE. 9:59 AM Sep 19th

Yeah, seems like the Patriots saw this and thought, “Let’s do the complete opposite of what Kisha says.”

The Jets outplayed the Patriots in every facet of the game and even quarterback Mark Sanchez looked substantially better than Tom Brady.

BRADY: 20/36 for 248 yards, 2TD, 2 INT

SANCHEZ: 21/30 for 220 yards, 3 TD, 0INT

What’s the most drastic difference in those statistics? The amount of touchdown passes Sanchez had in comparison to his interceptions. Let’s not forget that Mark Sanchez played for a nothing more than a year at USC and barely learned how to slide a few months ago. He also managed to get sacked three times against the Patriots defense. Am I a believer of the Sanchise? Please. I’ll bet more money on Antonio Cromartie discovering he has another child before the season is over than Mark Sanchez being the savior that the Jets were looking for.

The Jets offense needs a solid quarterback at the helm and even with an impressive showing against the Patriots, Sanchez was awful against the Ravens.

The continued success of the New York Jets can only rely so much on the defense, especially when the defensive poster boy that is Darrelle Revis may be out a for a few weeks due to a hamstring injury.  One of the most anticipated match ups for the game was between Revis and wide receiver Randy Moss.  Honestly, Moss is not really the guy I would challenge to anything physical.  From what I saw of him at training camp, the guy is rrrrrrrippped (if you’ve never heard of the “Ripped like Jesus” bit by Greg Behrendt, get on it. It’ll make the previous sentence much more entertaining.)

For all the Moss doubters out there, it seemed like all of Revis-nation went silent when Randy Moss made a glorious one handed catch in the end zone, with Revis trying oh-so-hard to keep up.  It was then at this point that Revis left the field and had his hamstring examined. That catch was mind-blowing. Gorgeous. Immaculate. But according to head coach Bill Belichick?

It was a terrific catch, but we’ve seen that play in practice probably a dozen times. – stated during his 9/20 press conference.

Never to get too excited about mind-blowing plays, Coach Belichick always knows that there’s always plenty to work on.

The Jets defense is something to take into consideration. They made the plays they needed and outplayed the Patriots.  Wow, that sentence sounds like something Bill Belichick would say.

The final score of  the Patriots and Jets game, 28-14,  is depressing. These are just a few of the questions that brewed in my head post-game:

Were the New York Jets really 14 points better than New England?

Is LaDainian Tomlinson still for real? (Apparently.)

When did Braylon Edwards learn how to catch anything?

Speaking of Braylon Edwards, I’m pretty sure that I ran into him about over a year ago at an airport in Cleveland. I was en route to Texas for a family visit and there was a rather statuesque man in a killer suite walking around the concourse. Looked really important and as if he had to be somewhere. I wasn’t sure what to do so I texted my little brother Niko, who is the source of many of daily laughs, to see what I should do.

My younger brother broke it down for me:
“Two things can happen if you walk up to him:
1. You can make a guy’s day by mistaking him for an average wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns.
2. Or IT COULD ACTUALLY BE BRAYLON EDWARDS!”

I ended up just walking right by the quasi-Braylon Edwards and not stopping and asking the questions my brother wanted me to.  It was still a pretty hilarious scenario.

After Edward’s arrest today for a DWI, I feel like this story is not as cool.  Thanks a lot Braylon.

We drafted well for the most part. Picked up an offensive sleeper in the 7th round (Julian Edelman) and a handful of pretty useful defensive weapons as well (Darius Butler, Patrick Chung). We had Tom Brady back, healthy, kinda. Defense seemed hopeful just no Bruschi, Harrison or Seymour.  Hell, who am I kidding. The team suffered a lot without these three players. Call it a rebuilding year or whatever, there was a spirit that was missing with the New England Patriots that newly acquired players just couldn’t put back.

:(

So what does this even leave up for discussion? With an uncapped season coming, there is no doubt that the Patriots are going to do what they’ve done before: keep everyone guessing.  I have a few ideas on who would be a great fit.

Idea #1: Brandon Marshall, WR Denver Broncos
Well this needs very little explaining.  Wes Welker is out for the next year or so and there is no guarantee that when he does return, he’ll be at 100%.  Brandon Marshall is a hell of a receiver, especially when he feels like doing his job.
Marshall finished the season with 1,120 yards and 10 touchdown catches. This is him at like 60%..40% of the time. Read that again, I promise it makes sense.  He’d be a great addition to the Patriots even if just for the fact of giving Randy Moss some breathing room.  I’m pretty sure that BB can get Marshall to play 100% without having to hug during a press conference to prove that they don’t hate each other.

Idea #2: Julius Peppers, DE Carolina Panthers
Before the season began last year, I had many discussions with people about the idea of picking up Julius Peppers.  I even threw some headline ideas with my little brother about it.
- Fresh Peppers? Yes, Please
- Peppers adds Spice to Defense
You know, all that fun stuff. Eventually the Patriots didn’t pick up Peppers and he signed a one-year contract with the Panthers where he was guaranteed $16.7 million in 2009.  Obviously the Patriots were not flirting with the idea of paying the 2nd overall pick of the 2002 Draft that kind of money.  Peppers, I think is the riskiest pick that the Patriots would make as it would be very uncharacteristic of them to invest that much a big name player.  42 tackles and five forced fumbles in 2009-2010.  Not exceptional numbers but his biggest contribution to the Patriots would be much more.  He’ll bring to the team what was left vacant after Rodney Harrison left.  The defensive leader. The one that rookies feared.  The one that made sure that mistakes, if they were EVER made, were addressed and disciplined right on the sidelines.  This wasn’t evident this season and I think Julius Peppers can definitely do the job.  Plus he would give Randy Moss’s burly beard some competition. That would be amazing.

Those are my ideas so far. Not original, I know but I think they would prove to add some moral and competitive depth to the struggling Patriots.  It’s not longer the Tom Brady show anymore and the 2010 season was the harsh proof.