Apparently the Patriots are pulling the trigger on the Randy Moss to Minnesota deal and are getting just a third round pick in return. While part of me will miss Randy, the reality is that the Patriots don't seem like a complete enough team to make a legit run at the title this year so it makes sense to move Randy for a piece that helps the future. Now Ben Tate can get some run at the deep threat position and, should the Patriots want to add a veteran receiver to the roster, Antonio Bryant is still unemployed and wouldn't be a bad one year plug and play.

But the real steal of this and most Patriots deals is the fact that all indications point to a rookie salary cap in 2011 and that's when the Patriots have a boat load of picks: the Raiders' first rounder, the Panthers' second rounder, the Broncos' 4th rounder. The Patriots are famous for their wheeling and dealing on draft day but if the rookie scale kicks in this year, they could find themselves sitting pretty and able to add some quality players for cheap. That would leave them more cap space to possibly go out and sign an impact free agent as well as adding young talent, that could include a stud like Mark Ingram via the Raiders' pick.

It's tough to lose a guy like Moss and everybody on the offense is going to have to step up now that defenses won't be keying on Randy but I think the Patriots can survive without him (as has been noted, he hasn't topped 75 yards in his last 12 games, so maybe there's something to the whispers of a lost step). Lost step or not, the Vikings will benefit from his presence, especially Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin. Harvin doesn't have to bear the brunt of being the #1 guy anymore and can slide into a Welker-esque role while Peterson probably won't be seeing as many loaded defenses that only have to stop him. He'll still be the focus of the defenses, of course, but having a legit deep threat should make things easier on him.

At the very least, this just made the Patriots season a lot more interesting.

And while I'm on sports, it's nice to see that the Los Angeles Clippers are already in mid-season form. And the debate between DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall for Rookie of the Year should be good (although I'm sure there will be a third name if only because both players will have their detractors.)