Dolphins reportedly talking to Vikings about trade for Moss http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2430214 MIAMI -- The Minnesota Vikings recently called the Miami Dolphins to gauge the receiver-starved team's interest in trading for Randy Moss, according to several NFL sources. The Vikings deny they have made the overture and strongly deny that Moss is even on the market. Miami general manager Rick Spielman declined to comment on the matter Tuesday. But three sources confirmed the Vikings have been calling teams to test the interest for Moss, who caught 111 passes for 1,632 yards and a career-high 17 touchdowns in 2003. While the Vikings are only gauging the market, the call to Miami was serious enough that actual compensation for Moss was discussed, according to one source. Another league source said the Dolphins didn't make an offer but rather mentioned some possibilities of what they would be willing to give for Moss. Miami cornerback Sam Madison and defensive end Adewale Ogunleye were discussed, according to the league source. The Vikings have been dealing for days with reports that Moss might be on the trading block, and on Tuesday vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, who years ago worked for the Dolphins as the staff counsel and salary cap specialist, said Moss will remain with the Vikings. "Randy Moss is not for sale," Brzezinski said. "No, we're not trying to trade Randy Moss. People have tried to acquire Randy in the past. Everybody knows that the New York Jets called last year." However, in a similar situation, the New Orleans Saints strongly denied they would trade Ricky Williams before they consummated a deal that sent him to the Dolphins in 2002. And Brzezinski stopped short of saying Moss never would be traded. "Nobody is not ever for sale at any price, but the price would be awfully high," he said. "It would take a lot to get the best player in the NFL." Two No. 1 picks? "No, not even that," Brzezinski responded. The Vikings are also believed to have talked with the Arizona Cardinals about Moss. Former Vikings coach Dennis Green was hired this offseason as the Arizona coach. A source close to Moss said Tuesday that Moss would not mind being traded but would prefer to play for the Jets, where he could be reunited with quarterback Chad Pennington, a friend and former teammate when both played at Marshall University. A Minnesota source said if the Vikings decide to trade Moss, they could trade him anywhere they want because he has no trade exclusion clauses in his contract. Moss, 27, signed an eight-year contract worth $75 million in 2000. He has five years remaining on his deal, and trading him would mean a substantial salary cap hit for the Vikings, but they are capable of absorbing that hit. Minnesota is scheduled to be approximately $33 million under the salary cap today when free agency begins thanks to the use of "likely to be earned incentives" by Brzezinski. The Dolphins' need for a star receiver is inarguable. Last week, the team restructured Derrius Thompson's contract, told receiver James McKnight he would be cut and has made no secret that free agent Oronde Gadsden will not be re-signed. That means the Dolphins will enter the start of free agency today with one proven receiver -- Chris Chambers -- on the roster.
