MOSS IN "BEST SHAPE EVER"
A source close to Vikings receiver Randy Moss tells us that the pass-catching phenom is in his "best shape ever" heading into training camp.
According to the source, the speedy Moss is "definitely stronger" as he prepares to assume a greater role in the Vikings offense.
Perhaps the worst-kept secret in Minnesota is that new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan will be feeding the ball to Moss this year like an Italian grandmother with a bucket of meatballs. Since opposing defense might have something to say about whether the Vikings will have success getting the pigskin into Randy's hands, the extra strength and conditioning will be a major plus for Moss, and for the team.
Though Moss has been spending much of the 2002 off-season in Minnesota, the source tells us that he's in the process of putting the final touches on his own speed-training program in Ft. Lauderdale, which will be used during the regular season to train high school and college players.
But Moss also has found some time to relax. Last week, he spent Friday signing hundreds of free autographs in Charleston, West Virginia with high school teammate Bobbie Howard, who latched on with the Bears in 2001. It was the fourth straight year for Moss to come home and sign free autographs for the local kids.
The next day, Moss took more than 100 kids from his hometown to Cedar Point, an amusement park near Cleveland. And Moss footed the entire bill for the trip.
It's become popular again to pounce on Moss, who did little to help his cause with that now-infamous "I play when I want to" remark from late last season. But Moss is moving forward in a surprisingly positive, and we're willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Again.
RAVENS HOPE ADAMS STAYS OUT OF CINCY
A league source tells us that the Baltimore Ravens privately are crossing their fingers regarding the courtship of free-agent defensive tackle Sam Adams by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Why? It's simple -- the Ravens don't want to have to face a fired-up and pissed-off Adams twice per year in 2002 and beyond.
The easy answer for the Ravens is to re-sign Adams before he joins the Bengals. The problem, however, is that the Ravens need to extend the contracts of linebackers Peter Boulware and Ray Lewis in order to create enough cap room to lure Adams.
According to the source, there currently is no dialogue between the Ravens and the agents for Boulware and Lewis.
Coincidentally, Boulware, Lewis, and Adams all are represented by the same agent tandem of Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene "Edelstein Has My Money" Parker.
PANTHERS NEED ROUGHLY $1.5 MILLION
Sunday's Gaston Gazette (scroll down for more) reported that the Panthers need to create some additional cap room in order to sign their remaining draft picks.
According to a league source, the Panthers need $1.5 million in 2002 cap room in order to exhaust the remainder of the rookie pool for guys like first-rounder Julius Peppers and second-rounder DeShaun Foster.
There's still no word on whether the Panthers will try to restructure contracts before merely releasing players. Regardless, that $10 million-plus in dead money for 2002 is wreaking havoc on a team that needs all the help it can get this year.
GARDENER RUMORS CONFIRMED
Loyal readers of this here site will recall that we reported several weeks ago that the Miami Dolphins seriously are considering the possibility of releasing defensive lineman Daryl Gardener.
Finally, the rest of the world is catching up with us on this one. The Miami Herald confirms our story (without, of course, mentioning our story), reporting that the Dolphins are "preparing for the possibility of releasing him."
According to the Herald, the Dolphins are considering whether to withhold Gardener's $200,000 workout bonus given his level of participation in off-season programs.
The Herald also confirms (because we had it first) a report that the Dolphins are interested in free-agent DT Josh Evans as a potential replacement for Gardener.
''This is news to me, shocking news,'' said Gardener's agent, Neil Schwartz. Hey, Neil -- it wouldn't have been such a surprise if you would have bookmarked this address.
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