Vikings' Moss would be another team's gain: addition by substraction? That's fuzzy math in Minnesota

Here's a rewrite of the Randy Ratio: If the number of games Randy Moss plays in a Vikings uniform next season equals zero, that will be roughly proportional to the team's chances of making the playoffs.

Owner Red McCombs has the team up for sale. Moss and coach Mike Tice see more jaw to jaw than eye to eye. Moss still has four years left on his eight-year, $72 million deal, which has an $11.25 million payoff awaiting him in 2008. Despite all that, Minnesota needs Moss to be a winning team.

Football is a team game, but at this point, no one will confuse the inconsistent Vikings with the Patriots. Moss, however, gives Minnesota one of the rare individuals who changes games because of his unmatched athletic talents.

That means putting up with rants and antics on the sideline and beyond the end zone is a small price to pay for what he can do on the rest of the field. He consistently takes away two defenders, and all it takes is one coverage lapse for him to snag a fade near the goal line or make a backbreaking big play off a deep ball.

The best example of that was in the Vikings' playoff victory over the NFC North rival Packers, a team that swept them during the regular season and has been perpetually looking for a cornerback to stop Moss. On a bad ankle, Moss set the tone early with his first touchdown catch and provided the fourth quarter exclamation point with his second.

If the Vikings unwisely trade Moss, here is how he would help the most promising suitors for his services.

Jets. Moss once had a good on-field rapport with Chad Pennington, his quarterback for two years at Marshall. With Randy teaming up with another speedy Moss, Santana, offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, who made good use of the downfield passing game with Tennessee, would have the options to take the team light years ahead of where it got using predecessor Paul Hackett's run-heavy playbook.

Redskins. Moss would be a major upgrade over Rod Gardner, whom coach Joe Gibbs is ready to trade. The matchup problems Moss creates with his big-play ability and explosiveness would also allow running back Clinton Portis to make more big plays and allow Laveranues Coles, who works better as a No. 2 receiver, to become more productive.

Ravens. Moss and coach Brian Billick were part of the Vikings offense that scored the most points in NFL history in 1998. Although they wouldn't come close to scoring 556 points again, Moss would be a big help to offensive coordinator Jim Fassel and third-year quarterback Kyle Boller. Opponents could no longer stack the box against running back Jamal Lewis, and covering the combination of Moss and tight end Todd Heap would be a major dilemma for every safety duo in the league.

Raiders. They're the frontrunners. There are rumors that they are offering cornerback Philip Buchanon and a 2005 first-round pick for Moss. If Moss dons Silver and Black, Oakland's transformation to Norv Turner's throw-it-long, pound-it-short attack would be almost complete. Think of it as a flashback to the Raiders of the '80s, with Moss flying down the field like a track star and Kerry Collins unleashing his good deep arm. Acquiring Moss would allow the team to pass on re-signing the current No. 84, Jerry Porter, and spend that money on a solid free-agent running back.

Of these teams, the Jets are the best fit because they have the steadiest quarterback in Pennington and a coach in Herman Edwards who could handle Moss. But no matter who throws to Moss, he still can make any offense in the league significantly better, and that makes him worth the risk.

Four more on the block

These players won't have the same impact in new duds as Randy Moss would, but they aren't exactly duds for teams that are looking to trade:

Rod Gardner, WR, Redskins. A big, tall receiver with good hands and explosive potential.

Travis Henry, RB, Bills. A tough, gritty runner who always gives as much as he can on the field.

L.J. Shelton, OT/G, Cardinals. His 6-6, 335 frame would immediately boost a team's run blocking.

Patrick Surtain, CB, Dolphins. In a league short on top corners, he has savvy and terrific coverage skills.

The Moss effect Because of a hamstring injury, Randy Moss missed
three games and wasn't a factor in two others during the 2004 season.
Quarterback Daunte Culpepper's performance showed some differences
(includes playoffs):

                                                    Intercep-   Passer
                         Record   TD passes         tions       rating

Without a healthy Moss   2-3      9                 3           98.9
With a healthy Moss      7.6      35 (15 to Moss)   10          112.6

speed reads

The 2003 NFC season champion Panthers figure to be one of the teams that has a big rebound. John Fox and Jake Delhomme did a great job of keeping Carolina's injury-depleted roster in contention in '04, and the team will be formidable because those injured players will return.

The Bills have a great chance to make the AFC playoffs in '05, but they won't get there with J.P. Losman--he's too raw and too erratic to lead them that far. If they release Drew Bledsoe, they need to find a cheaper veteran alternative to avoid a one-year decline.