Coles for Moss swap almost complete

[InmanRoshi]

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8228173

INDIANAPOLIS -- Laveranues Coles might be returning to the New York Jets.

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NFL sources at this week's scouting combine said the Jets and Washington are close to a deal that would send the unhappy wide receiver back to New York for wide receiver Santana Moss in a straight-player deal.

No announcement is expected before March 2, with one league source cautioning that the two sides are hammering out terms of a trade and that no agreement has been reached.

"But my understanding," he said, "is that this is a real possibility."

The deal would make sense. Though he led the Redskins in receptions in 2004, Coles was unhappy with his role in the Washington offense and recently declined to renegotiate his contract. Moss, who led New York's receivers with five touchdown catches, is entering the last year of his contract and almost surely will command a large salary.

Moss' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, recently expressed an interest in obtaining a luctractive contract extension for the former first-round pick this offseason. But the Jets are more interested in obtaining Coles, an AFC personnel director said, because they believe he's a better receiver.

Moss, who caught a career high 74 passes in 2003 for 1105 yards and 10 touchdowns, is scheduled to earn $448,000 in base pay this year.

Jets' coach Herman Edwards declined to comment Friday morning.

Coles led the Jets in receiving in 2002 but left when Washington offered a five-year, $35 million that included a $13 million signing bonus. The Redskins have been working on a deal that reportedly includes Coles' agreement to waive the final installment of his signing bonus -- $5 million, which is due April 1 -- in return for a trade, with his new team assuming the unpaid portion of the bonus.

It is believed that the NFL Management Council is looking into the unusual plan and that it could pose an obstacle to the deal.

While Coles led the Redskins with 90 catches last season, he had only 950 yards in receptions and only three catches for more than 22 yards. Coles was frustrated with the team's offense, and coach Joe Gibbs was frustrated with Coles' attitude.

In addition, the club wished he had undergone surgery on a right big toe that he fractured three weeks into the 2003 season. Since the injury he averaged only 11.8 yards a catch, and his only touchdown last year came on a trick play when halfback Clinton Portis threw him a pass.

[silverbear]

I guess I'm gonna be the first to break the news to you, IR-- Moss was traded to Oakland for their first rounder this year (the 7th pick overall, IIRC), LB Napoleon Harris and a conditional late round pick next year...

This happened in the last day or two, pal...

[Avery]

I guess I'm gonna be the first to break the news to you, IR-- Moss was traded to Oakland for their first rounder this year (the 7th pick overall, IIRC), LB Napoleon Harris and a conditional late round pick next year...

This happened in the last day or two, pal...

You might want to read this again: Santana Moss.

And this makes no sense for the Jets either IMO.

[Tricky-22]

I guess I'm gonna be the first to break the news to you, IR-- Moss was traded to Oakland for their first rounder this year (the 7th pick overall, IIRC), LB Napoleon Harris and a conditional late round pick next year...

This happened in the last day or two, pal...

RANDY Moss was traded to the Raiders.

SANTANA Moss is being traded to Washington.

[WittenFan]

I guess I'm gonna be the first to break the news to you, IR-- Moss was traded to Oakland for their first rounder this year (the 7th pick overall, IIRC), LB Napoleon Harris and a conditional late round pick next year...

This happened in the last day or two, pal...

I believe you are referring to Randy Moss and this article is referring to Santana Moss.

[k19]

I guess I'm gonna be the first to break the news to you, IR-- Moss was traded to Oakland for their first rounder this year (the 7th pick overall, IIRC), LB Napoleon Harris and a conditional late round pick next year...

This happened in the last day or two, pal...


Its SANTANA Moss SB.

I hear that alot of the coles talk will hinge on the skins clearing cap room. If they cant get Samuels to restructure it wont happen

Possible Coles trade stuck in salary cap limbo (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=1998972)

[jterrell]

I guess I'm gonna be the first to break the news to you, IR-- Moss was traded to Oakland for their first rounder this year (the 7th pick overall, IIRC), LB Napoleon Harris and a conditional late round pick next year...

This happened in the last day or two, pal...
This is of course Santana Moss of the Jets.
Makes sense if Coles is willing to give up the 5 mil which he may be to return to NY.

[WoodysGirl]

I guess I'm gonna be the first to break the news to you, IR-- Moss was traded to Oakland for their first rounder this year (the 7th pick overall, IIRC), LB Napoleon Harris and a conditional late round pick next year...

This happened in the last day or two, pal...
uhmmm he might've meant SANTANA Moss on the Jets.

Anyway, if the redskins pull this off, then maybe we can accuse them of having the NFL letting them manipulate the salary cap. Seriously, that's some crazy maneuvering they're doing.

[silverbear]

You might want to read this again: Santana Moss.

And this makes no sense for the Jets either IMO.

Yup, I feel stupid... I read the article, but I obviously wasn't paying close enough attention...

My bad, and thanks for setting me straight...

[WoodysGirl]

This is of course Santana Moss of the Jets.
Makes sense if Coles is willing to give up the 5 mil which he may be to return to NY.
Actually the article is making it sound like having Coles waive the 5 mil long enough to have the other team pay it. Cuz he's only willing to waive it if he's released outright.

[Avery]

:D

I feel sorry for Silverbear. He got about five posts all jumping on him for the same thing within two minutes.

I don't know why the Jets would want to have to fork over $5 million to pay Coles salary too. I think Santana is worth keeping unless picks are involved.

[JackMagist]

This trade is no big deal to the Cowboys; Moss is no better than Coles if as good. I think Coles is just unhappy because he doesn't want to face Roy twice a year :D

[InmanRoshi]

:D

I feel sorry for Silverbear. He got about five posts all jumping on him for the same thing within two minutes.

I don't know why the Jets would want to have to fork over $5 million to pay Coles salary too. I think Santana is worth keeping unless picks are involved.

Because Sanatana and his agent are griping that he's not getting a contract extension.


http://www.newsday.com/sports/print...ny-sports-print


At a time when the Jets are facing the difficult task of re-signing prospective free agents LaMont Jordan, Kareem McKenzie and Jason Ferguson, another important piece of the puzzle is on deck: Santana Moss.

Moss' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has been expressing his desire to get Moss a contract extension before the beginning of the 2005 season for more than a year.

"It's important that we get something done this offseason, sooner rather than later," Rosenhaus said yesterday.

Moss, the 2001 first-round pick, is scheduled to make $448,000 in the final year of his contract this season. After a breakout season in 2003 (74 catches, 1,105 yards, 10 TDs), Moss took a step backward with 45 catches for 838 yards and five TDs. He also was ineffective as a punt returner with a career-low 8.3-yard average.

Moss' hope for a lucrative new deal is further hampered because the Jets' receiving corps is in flux. Although the Jets never were really involved in the Randy Moss sweepstakes, team officials are believed to be seeking another elite receiver to play opposite Justin McCareins, which would push Santana Moss into a reserve role.

As for Jordan, the talented running back will test the free-agent market, as expected.

"Talks have progressed well with the Jets," Jordan's agent, Alvin Keels, said yesterday. "The organization's offer indicates that they want to keep him a Jet, and LaMont hasn't ruled out a return ... However, LaMont feels that he is ready to take his career to the next level, and that is to be a feature back in the NFL."

[LA=Pancakemaker]

I cant see the Jets losing there punt return guy, the skins are in cap hell and if Samuels doesnt re-structure asap. this deal is joke just like Danny's team.

[Rack Bauer]

2004 numbers:

Santana Moss: (14 games started) 45 catches, 838 yards, 18.6 per catch, 5 TDs

Lav Coles: (16 games started) 90 catches, 950 yards, 10.6 per catch, 1 TD


And Moss is younger by about 2 years.

Why again would the Jets trade for a player that wasn't as productive, has a bad toe, and is more expensive? I don't get it. I'd rather have Santanna Moss then Laverneous Coles.

[dstew60105]

You might want to read this again: Santana Moss.

And this makes no sense for the Jets either IMO.

Agreed. Moss is one of the games best punt returners and is just as good as Coles as a reciever.

Don

[InmanRoshi]

Coles wasn't as productive as Moss?

He had 90 catches. The only reason Coles didn't have more yards is because Gibbs was giving him tight end routes. Which is exactly why he's demanding out.

Meanwhile, Moss' numbers decreased significantly last year, and the Jets have been looking for a #1 WR to play opposite McCreans so they can drop Moss down to a slot Wr.

The Jets are basically swapping a slot WR for a #1 Wr.

[Kittymama]

If this deal pans out, we may be able to make an early prediction for the Super Bowl. We skins haters here in DC have delighted in pointing out the past several years that whatever high-profile player the skins cut inevitably ends up on a team that goes to the Super Bowl (Brad Johnson to the Bucs, Stephen Davis to the Panthers). The only exception was last year, when the Broncos got Bailey but didn't get into the Super Bowl. But if Coles does go to the Jets, I'm willing to go back to my which-player-are-the-idiots-giving-up-now prediction for a Super Bowl berth! ;)

[wileedog]

The Redskins have been working on a deal that reportedly includes Coles' agreement to waive the final installment of his signing bonus -- $5 million, which is due April 1 -- in return for a trade, with his new team assuming the unpaid portion of the bonus.

If I'm reading this right (Coles waives bonues, gets traded to Jets, Jets pay bonus), isn't this a blatant end-around the salary cap rules regarding a trade?

Why would anyone ever take a cap hit again if this goes through?

Am I missing something?

[InmanRoshi]

Its the Barry Sanders rule that if a player agrees to repay his signing bonus, it doesn't count against the cap.

But the rumor is that the Redskins can afford to take the cap hit, whether he gives back the bonus or not, if they restructure with Samuels.

[Yakuza Rich]

You might want to read this again: Santana Moss.

And this makes no sense for the Jets either IMO.

From what I've been hearing from Skins fans, this actually makes no sense for the Skins. They've been saying that the Skins will actually have to eat up Coles' cap and Moss will become a free agent after next season. Luckily for the Skins, Moss' cap hit is below $500,000. But still, you're basically taking a $9 million + cap hit to get Santana Moss.


Rich............

[wileedog]

Its the Barry Sanders rule that if a player agrees to repay his signing bonus, it doesn't count against the cap.

Yeah, but Barry Sanders wasn't being traded to another team who simply was going to give that bonus back to him.

If I'm reading it right, they are directly skirting the rule that a traded player's bonus money hits the cap immediately when he gets traded.

Coles isn't losing any money here, however the Redskins are effectively discounting it off their cap space.

[kmd24]

From what I've been hearing from Skins fans, this actually makes no sense for the Skins. They've been saying that the Skins will actually have to eat up Coles' cap and Moss will become a free agent after next season. Luckily for the Skins, Moss' cap hit is below $500,000. But still, you're basically taking a $9 million + cap hit to get Santana Moss.


Rich............

The cap hit would only be an additional $5.6 million or so since Coles already counts 3.4 towards the 2005 cap number, but in reality it would eat up more space since they would have to assume Moss's contract.

If this deal goes down, it will make Washington's 2003 RFA signings rank as some of the worst FA busts in recent history, IMO.

[Falcon]

You would think that the Jets would not want to do anything that might help the Skin's after tey were raided a couple years ago. :skins: