National Football League

It's official: Vikes trade for Pats' Moss

Published Oct. 5, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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As FOXSports first reported yesterday, the Randy Moss to Minnesota deal has now come to fruition.

Twelve hours after reporting the deal was on the verge of happening, it has now been completed for a third-round pick, sources tell FOXSports.com.

In doing so, the Minnesota Vikings pulled off their biggest blockbuster since acquiring Brett Favre.

FOXSports.com learned last night that the Vikings and New England Patriots were in serious trade talks and very close to a deal to send the All-Pro wide receiver back to the team that drafted him.

There was talk that the Vikings and Moss would try to work out a contract extension before finalizing the deal, but the team decided to get the deal done and work out future details later.

"He is a tremendous competitor and was an integral member of the Vikings organization," Vikings coach Brad Childress said in a statement. "Once again, ownership was completely supportive of our efforts to add a valuable football player to our team. I know the entire organization is thrilled to welcome him back to the Twin Cities."

Since the Vikings have had their bye and the Patriots haven't, Moss can potentially become the sixth player since 1990 play 17 games in a regular season.

The Vikings (1-2) opened the season with losses to the Saints and Dolphins, before getting a Week 3 win over the Lions. They play the Jets on the road on Monday night, then face the Cowboys at home before road trips to Green Bay and New England.

In a 41-point outburst Monday night over the Dolphins, Moss caught zero passes, and he has made his displeasure known with his contract status in New England.

"In this business, there are complex and often difficult decisions, but it is my responsibility to make them based on what I feel is best for our football team, in both the short term and long term," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached Randy Moss and aside from facing him as an opponent, I wish him the very best for the remainder of his Hall of Fame career."

Moss, 33, was a first-round pick of the Vikings in 1998 and shined for several years before being shipped to Oakland in 2005. The four-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection was traded from the Raiders to the Patriots on Day 1 of the 2007 NFL draft in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the ’07 draft.

In his first three seasons in New England, Moss caught 250 passes for 3,765 yards and 47 touchdowns. In 2010, he has nine catches for 139 yards and three touchdowns.

The Vikings have been searching for a star-caliber receiver and were unable to pick up Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson.

"This is an exciting move, I think everybody feels that in the locker room," Favre said on the team's website. "It's rare you get to play with a future Hall of Famer and get to appreciate their talents up close. Randy Moss is a great player and his career speaks for itself. I've admired him from a distance for a long time and you can't help but be impressed by the guy."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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