Welcome back Packers fans to what I call, “The Packers Multiverse.” If you’ve been following along with each episode, you’ll know that I take a piece of Green Bay Packers history, and twist it a little, or a lot. Along this journey, we will be traveling to different Multiverse’s where decisions or outcomes were made different. Does it turn out better? Or does it turn out worse? We can only find out by entering, The Packers Multiverse.
The Patriots Trade for Randy Moss
During the 2007 NFL Draft, there were two teams that were looking to make a trade with the Oakland Raiders for Hall-of-Fame Wide Receiver, Randy Moss. Both the Packers and the Patriots had expressed interest but were un-willing to meet the Raiders high asking price. Both teams had declined sending the Raiders a second and third round pick for Moss. New England initially offered a sixth-round pick, while Green Bay offered a fifth. Moss also had some stipulations on joining the Packers. Quarterback Brett Favre had to commit to at least 2-3 more seasons before retirement. Which he agreed to. So, the Packers believed they had Moss in the bag.
But late at night, the Patriots changed their tone and offered the Raiders a fourth-round pick for Randy Moss. Raiders owner Al Davis reluctantly accepted. Randy Moss would now become a Patriot without the Packers even having a chance to rebuttal. In fact, the Packers found out they missed out on the trade through news sources the next day.
Moss then went on to have a career resurgence in New England posting career-best numbers with Tom Brady. Meanwhile, the Packers were one game short of the Super Bowl the next year before Favre retired, un-retired, and was traded to the New York Jets to give way to Aaron Rodgers. Moss played a total of about 3.25 seasons for the Patriots before returning to Minnesota on a trade to coincidentally, unite with Favre at last. The success was minimal though and Moss was then shipped out of Minnesota a month later.
But what if the Packers did land Randy Moss for that 5th round pick? Or what if they were allowed to sweeten the deal sending a fourth and a seventh?
We now visit the Multiverse where that indeed happened.