As the NFL lockout drags along it appears that rumors are going to be the new tool to capture headlines. On Monday Rich Cimini of ESPN New York reported that the New York Jets may have an interest in signing free agent wide receiver Randy Moss. Of course the story was prefaced by the fact that the Jets would only explore signing Moss if the team could not re-sign both Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes. While I appreciate the fact that Cimini is trying to do his due diligence, lets keep in mind the current state of the NFL.
As of right now the financial landscape of the NFL is a relative unknown. Whether it is the salary cap limits that will be put in place, or the criteria for free agency, everything is a question mark. Will the Jets be limited by the “Final Four” rule? Will the teams be able to use franchise tags? Transition tags? And what is the free agent criteria? 4 years of service? 5 years of service?
To make any assumptions about the ability to sign or re-sign a player at this point seems to be a waste of time without these parameters in place. While the interest in Randy Moss makes for a good story, the same one could be written for players like Plaxico Burress and Terrell Owens as well. Until a collective bargaining agreement is put into place no one truly knows what is going to happen next in the NFL.
