Look for Moss to stay with New England

Look for Moss to stay with New England
The New England Patriots passed on a chance to apply the franchise-player designation this week to Randy Moss. But that doesn't mean they plan to let their star receiver run a fly pattern to another team the Los Angeles Times reported.

It's more likely that the Patriots and Moss have already worked out the framework of a contract extension, and the franchise tag only would have complicated the negotiation. Sort of like bringing up a prenuptial agreement when you've just met the love of your life.

Moss, coming off a season in which he made an NFL-record 23 touchdown catches and rediscovered his passion for the game, has repeatedly said he hopes to finish his career in New England. The Patriots have strongly expressed they hope he stays, and they opted not to gain leverage by "franchising" him before Thursday's 1 p.m. deadline

Cowboys can't risk losing Flozell Adams
Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor of the Dallas Morning News wrote: This is not the time for Jerry Jones, who made his fortune betting whether countless holes contained black gold or natural gas thousands of feet below the surface, to gamble.

This is not the time for Jerry to place his trust in draft picks like Pat McQuistan, James Marten or Doug Free.

This is the time for Jerry to sign Flozell Adams to a long-term deal. It's the smart move; the only move he should make. And he has six days to accomplish it before Adams becomes an unrestricted free agent.�If Adams reaches free agency, he's gone. Somebody, perhaps the South Beach Cowboys led by Bill Parcells, will offer the four-time Pro Bowl player a deal he can't refuse.

Cowboys meet with Zach Thomas at combine
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones arrived at the NFL scouting combine Friday and met with�with free-agent linebacker Zach Thomas the Dallas Morning News reported.

New England and New Orleans have reportedly made the former Texas Tech standout offers, and the Cowboys are aware agent Drew Rosenhaus hopes to have Thomas signed as soon as possible.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has long admired Thomas, the seven-time Pro Bowler who was recently cut after 12 season with Miami. He was limited to five games last season because of the effects of a concussion and migraines. Phillips believes Thomas would fit into the Cowboys' 3-4 scheme.

Giants may rework Strahan's deal if he doesn't retire
One year after refusing to renegotiate Michael Strahan's contract, the Giants might have a change of heart according to the New York Daily News.�Co-owner John Mara said Thursday the Giants might be open to redoing Strahan's deal if the defensive end decides not to retire. He is currently signed only through next season and is due a salary of $4 million.

"We'll have to talk about that and see," Mara said. "I'm not ruling it out."

The 36-year-old Strahan hasn't informed the Giants of his plans yet, although he's expected to do so sometime in March.

Giants failed to catch Pats in act of taping signals in 2006
Two years ago, the New York Giants were suspicious that the New England Patriots were spying on their defensive coaches during a preseason game. But according to the NFL, the New England Patriots were not caught in the act the New York Daily News reported.

Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior VP of public relations, said�Friday that neither the league nor the Giants were able to find any proof the Patriots were videotaping a Giants assistant coach sending in defensive signals, as they did in the incident that sparked the SpyGate controversy in the 2007 opener against the Jets. A report yesterday said the Pats were "caught" doing more illegal taping during the game at Giants Stadium on Aug. 31, 2006. But that was "inaccurate," Aiello said.

"No camera person was identified, no tapes were seized," Aiello wrote in an e-mail to the Daily News. "There was no formal complaint made by the Giants to the league office requesting an investigation or any other action."

Former Pats WR Childress signs with Eagles
Wide�receiver Bam Childress, who has spent time between the New England Patriots' active roster and practice squad from 2005-2007, signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, the team announced today.

Childress spent the entire 2007 season on the practice squad. His highlight as a Patriots was Dec. 24, 2006 at Jacksonville, a game in which the Patriots clinched the AFC East title. Childress had two catches in the game, playing as a running back and receiver.

Jets tell Vilma he can shop himself for trade
Jonathan Vilma's days with the Jets are numbered.

The popular linebacker, whose star has dimmed in two seasons under Eric Mangini, has received permission from the New York Jets to shop himself for a potential trade, the New York Daily News has learned. It doesn't mean a trade is a certainty, but it's a tacit acknowledgement from both sides that Vilma and Mangini's 3-4 scheme aren't a match.

Vilma, with one year remaining on his rookie contract, also is looking for a long-term deal. Now, with the Jets' blessing, he has the ability to speak with any team. If he agrees to a new contract, it will be up to that team and the Jets to negotiate trade compensation. The Jets could keep him, but they know they won't receive anything next year if he bolts as a free agent. A team spokeman declined comment.