Rumor Central

[MTK]

From ESPN Insider


WHOINTERESTEDTHE SKINNY
Randy Moss
Interested: Ravens? Raiders? Jets? Redskins?

Feb. 21 - The man in line to purchase the Vikings, Reggie Fowler, told The Minneapolis Star Tribune he has no intention of trading Moss.

"I think we all have to have a set of standards," Fowler said. "I think Mr. Moss is, if not the finest, one of the finest receivers in the league today. And I think he's a winner. A lot of times when you want to win, you get excited.

"So I look forward to working with Randy, and I think he'll do all the things we need him to do. I don't know that you take some of the best players in the league and start trading them. We need those people to help us win, and I think Randy's one of those guys." Vikings head coach Mike Tice has also denied the team wants to move Moss, who has been the subject of trade rumors since the end of the season. The Ravens, Jets and Raiders are among the teams that are believed to have serious interest.



WHOINTERESTEDTHE SKINNY
Laveranues Coles
Interested: ?

Feb. 21 - Coles' stay in D.C. appears to be coming to an end. The Washington Post is reporting that Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs, owner Daniel Snyder and Coles' agent, Roosevelt Barnes, have reached a verbal agreement that will likely lead to the wide receiver's release.

"We had a couple of good talks. That's the only statement I want to make," Gibbs said. "Me and Laveranues talked, and we have a good understanding." Despite catching a career-high 90 passes last season, the 27-year-old Coles has expressed displeasure with the team's offense and how he's been used. The Redskins signed Coles to a seven-year, $35 million deal in 2003. Coles is expected to retun part of his $13 million signing bonus.



WHOINTERESTEDTHE SKINNY
Plaxico Burress
Interested: Ravens? Buccaneers? Falcons? Bears? Cowboys?

Feb. 20 - Plaxico Burress appears finished in Pittsburgh. As an unrestricted free agent, he will test the market and likely be offered a lucrative contract that's too high for the Steelers to match, the Beaver County Times reports.

The Ravens, Buccaneers, Falcons, Bears and Cowboys need help at wide receiver, and one of those teams just might make Burress an offer he can't refuse March 2, when all franchises must adjust to the 2005 salary cap. The Steelers could franchise Burress, but historically, the team doesn't advocate franchising players, and they would have to pay him $7.8 million this season if they did. Since they won't pay Burress more than fellow wideout Hines Ward (due to make $1.668 million this season), re-signing him is a real longshot. The Steelers probably will sign one of the NFL free agent wide receivers or select a wideout in the early rounds of the April 23-24 draft. "The free agent group of wide receivers as it as stands right now isn't a real deep group," director of football operations Kevin Colbert told the newspaper. "But in the draft, at this point in time, we think it's a good group."