One would think that since the Vikings parted with a third round pick to acquire Randy Moss from the Patriots that they wouldn’t waste any time signing him to a new deal. But given his age, Minnesota might be better off waiting a few weeks.

The NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reported on Wednesday night that Moss is seeking a contract extension in the range of $10 million per year. Even when you factor in his productivity in New England the past three years, that’s a ton of dough to hand a 33-year-old who some believe is in decline.

Outside of potentially pissing him off, what’s the harm in holding off a few games to make sure that Moss is as hungry as the Vikings think/hope he is? There’s no sense giving up a third round pick and paying a player $10 million if his production is going to be no better or worse than Bernard Berrian. The Vikings already have a Bernard Berrian on their roster.

Speaking of which, it appears as though Moss and Percy Harvin will become the full-time starters now in Minnesota, which means Berrian could see his targets drop dramatically. With Moss, Harvin and Adrian Peterson all deserving of touches in Brad Childress’ offense, there may not be enough to go around for Berrian come Sundays.

In semi-related news, the Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that Darrelle Revis may not shadow Moss in coverage on Monday night when the Jets host the Vikings. Revis is still battling a hamstring injury and he admitted yesterday that had there been a game on Wednesday, he wouldn’t have been able to play.

Now that I’ve waxed poetically about the genius that is Bill Belichick, I should probably tackle what the Randy Moss trade means to the Vikings.

Three years ago, Moss wanted out of Oakland – bad. So he agreed to restructure his contract in order to join the Patriots, who had Tom Brady, a winning attitude, a Super Bowl-winning head coach and great fountain drinks in their player clubhouse.

In his first year with the Pats, Moss hauled in 98 passes for 1,493 yards and a whopping 23 touchdowns. His production dropped a bit in his second year with Matt Cassel at quarterback, but he still racked up 69 catches for 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Last season, Moss caught 83 passes for 1,264 yards and 13 TDs after Brady successfully returned from knee surgery, but following New England’s season-opening win over the Bengals this year, he said that he felt “smacked in the face” that the Patriots hadn’t offer him a contract extension.

Less than a month later, Moss is a Minnesota Viking again after the Patriots intentionally or unintentionally fazed him out of their offense the past two weeks. Whether or not he was starting to check out mentally like he did in Oakland is up for debate, but the bottom line is that he’ll be donning purple and white come Monday night (rhythms – they just make you feel good) when Minnesota travels to New York to take on the Jets.

Nobody will be more elated to see Moss in the same huddle than Brett Favre, who has looked every bit of his age during Minnesota’s first three games. Sidney Rice is out with a hip injury and Favre can’t seem to get on the same page as Percy Harvin or the rest of his receivers. But with Moss, he doesn’t have to worry about that.

Favre is a gunslinger by nature. He wants to chuck the ball up and have his receiver make a play, which is exactly what Rice did last year and what Moss will do the rest of this season. Moss wants his quarterback to give him a chance on every play, so the duo will work well together in theory (not unlike when he first arrived in New England and Brady targeted him early and often in games). He’ll also make Harvin, Adrian Peterson, Bernard Berrian, Visanthe Shiancoe and everyone else around him better.

As long as he’s motivated, Moss can be just as dangerous as he was earlier in his career. He still commands double teams and he still has the athletic ability to best defensive backs that are either too small or too slow to match up with him in coverage. If the Vikings show a commitment to him financially (and why wouldn’t they after they gave up a third round pick to acquire him?), then this could be another dream scenario for Moss.

Heads up, NFC North.

The Minnesota Vikings are faced with quite a dilemma.

It’s optimistic to think that Sidney Rice is going to return to action by Week 8 or 9 following hip surgery. Some say he’ll be out for half the year, while others think he’ll miss the entire season.

I happen to fall into the latter category, which is why I understand the Vikings’ desire to trade for Vincent Jackson.

Thanks to their fickle 40-year-old quarterback, Minnesota’s window to win a Super Bowl is closing by the second. They know they have a hole at receiver and they know V-Jax could fill it. But a deal is contingent upon an arbitrator ruling that Jackson will avoid the Roster Exempt list, making him eligible to play in Week 4 following his three-game suspension.

If the ruling goes against Jackson, he’ll have to sit out three more weeks. But even if the ruling goes in his favor, would the Vikings be doing the right thing for their future?

Rice is only 24 and even if he winds up missing the entire season, he’s going to be back next year. The same goes for Percy Harvin, who is only in his second year.

The Vikings proved last year that a combination of Rice, Harvin and Bernard Berrian (who signed a six-year, $43.4 million contract in 2008) is more then sufficient to compete for a playoff berth (assuming they have a decent quarterback, of course). If they add Jackson, they’re going to have to give him a contract extension because after all, why part with multiple draft picks and not making him a part of your long-term plans?

A foursome of Rice, Jackson, Harvin and Berrian would be pretty lethal, but don’t forget that there’s only one ball. This isn’t fantasy football – the Vikings still have an entire roster to think about and it wouldn’t be wise to soak that much money into one position (especially receiver).

That said, I understand the Vikings’ dilemma. They need a receiver now so that they can win now. Jackson is the best available and certainly worth the compensation, but this is a move that could wind up costing the team in other areas down the road. Don’t forget that they still have issues in their secondary and also have an offensive line that is aging. So will they be willing to potentially sacrifice their future to win now? And what if they don’t win? What happens if they build this great receiving corps and Tarvaris Jackson winds up being the one that has to get them the ball?

I have a headache.

With the news that V-Jax might have his suspension reduced, owners who already have him on the roster should hold onto him through the weekend to see if things break his way. If V-Jax is available for cheap in your league and you can acquire him without cutting anyone of note, take a flier on him and see what happens in the next week.

If Jackson lands in St. Louis, it will likely hurt Mark Clayton, Laurent Robinson and Danny Amendola. All three currently have some value in PPR leagues, but there won’t be enough targets in St. Louis to support four fantasy wideouts. Sam Bradford would definitely benefit by having a bona fide WR1 to throw to.

In case you haven’t heard, Sidney Rice will be out until midseason after undergoing hip surgery. Obviously, this is a big loss for the Vikings, but what about the fantasy implications?

Let’s start with Rice himself. He’s going to miss the first half of the season and that assumes his recovery goes to plan. Rice is no more than a late-round pick. Stash him on your roster if you have the space and hope that he makes it back for the stretch run.

This news theoretically bumps up Harvin’s stock a bit, but with his migraine issues, there’s no guarantee he’s going to play 16 games either. He’s been going 6.10 over the last week, and while I’d rather have Santana Moss at this point, Harvin is not a bad pick in the 6th or the 7th. But don’t draft him unless you have a high tolerance for week-to-week uncertainty. That’s just how it’s going to be with Harvin, at least for this year.

Bernard Berrian seemingly gets the biggest bump of all the Viking players, and a 29 years old, he has plenty of football left to play. But Berrian is not Rice, so don’t expect anything more than fantasy WR3-type numbers. He’s currently going in the 14th, but I’d start to think about him in the 10th. And remember, he could be pushed back to the bench midseason if Rice comes back.

I’d also bump up Visanthe Shiancoe a bit more. I already liked him as a mid- to late-round sleeper after he posted TE5-type numbers over the last half of the ’09 season. Favre loves to throw to his tight end, especially around the goal line, and with Rice out, he’ll lean on Shiancoe even more.

As for Favre himself, this will probably hurt his numbers. He has a tendency to throw the ball up for grabs, and Rice excelled at using his length and leaping ability to go up and snag the ball out of the air. I’d expect fewer yards, fewer TDs and more picks. That’s just the nature of the beast.

The last guy to consider is Adrian Peterson. With Rice out, the defense will be able to crowd the box a bit more, but he’ll likely get more carries with the Vikings taking a more conservative approach offensively. His ypc will probably dip a bit, but more carries could offset this. I would still draft him in the top 4.

- CLEVELAND SCORES says it’s time for the Buckeyes to bench Terrelle Pryor.

- EAST COAST BIAS says that Brad Childress is a headset hottie.

- SPORTSbyBROOKS details how Jeff Reed got nailed for public drunkenness after nailing a couple of field goals on Sunday. No confirmation about whether or not he was standing on a roof yelling, “I am a golden god!”

Thanks to Brett Favre and their 4-0 start, the Minnesota Vikings are one of the most talked about teams in the NFL right now. One of the players off to a solid start is receiver Bernard Berrian, who has 16 receptions for 177 yards and one touchdown on the year. Bernard was gracious enough to chat with us about the Vikings’ big win over the Packers on Monday night, a game in which he hauled in six passes for 75 yards and a 31-yard touchdown. Among some of the topics we asked Bernard were what it’s like being in the same huddle with a legend, whether there was any truth to the rumor that there was a divide in the Vikings’ locker room following the signing of Favre, and who is the toughest cornerback he’s ever faced.

The Scores Report: Hey Bernard, how are you man?

Bernard Barrian: I’m fine, how you doing?

TSR: Good. Congratulations on the win Monday night.

BB: Thanks, appreciate it.

TSR: I felt that your touchdown in the third quarter gave you guys the momentum the rest of the way.

BB: Oh yeah I think it definitely did, or put us in position at least.

TSR: No knock on any of the other quarterbacks you’ve played with throughout your career, but you’re playing with a legend now. What’s it like being in the same huddle with Brett Favre?

BB: It’s fun really. He brings a lot of fun to the game. When you see highlights, you see emotion pouring out through different players on the field.

TSR: Who put the rocking chair in front of his locker after the win?

BB: I still haven’t found out who did that – I have no idea. But it was hilarious when I saw it sitting there. (Laughs)

TSR: (Laughs) I know it’s early, but what has he meant to the Vikings so far?

BB: Just the leadership ability that he brings and the way he approaches the game. It’s fun to watch him play because he brings a lot to the game.

TSR: Was there any truth to the rumor this offseason that there was a divide in the locker room between the players when he was signed?

BB: No, there was no truth to that. I don’t even know where that came from. There’s been nothing but unity out here.

TSR: I know the Packers bottled him up on Monday night, but talk to me about Adrian Peterson. How special is he and is his potential sky high?

BB: Oh, he’s definitely a special player. There’s no running back better than Adrian – he’s easily the best by far. He’s the best running back out there and his work ethic is insurmountable.

TSR: Can Percy Harvin be the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2009?

BB: I can definitely see that. The way things are going right now, he’s off to a great start and I only see him getting better. So yeah, that’s definitely a possibility for him.

TSR: Have you taken him under wing? Has he learned a lot so far?

BB: I think he has learned a lot just being out there and I think another thing that has helped him is having Brett out there. We’re always having conversations about what he should do and where he should be. He knows a lot of stuff on his own, which is kind of surprising when you sit down and look at things. He knows a lot himself.

TSR: You guys won the division and went to the playoffs last year. Besides adding Favre, what’s the key to you guys getting back to the postseason and not only that, but winning a playoff game?

BB: I think it’s just that little amount of extra confidence that’s the biggest difference. We thought we were a Super Bowl contender even before all the Brett Favre talk, but now that he’s here I think it’s just that little bit of added confidence that will able us to get there.

TSR: Is Brad Childress’ offense second nature to you now, Bernard?

BB: Oh yeah, it’s second nature to me now. It’s an easy offense to pick up anyway. Offenses are pretty much the same outside of different styles of offenses. You know in Chicago, we ran a different style of the West Coast Offense anyway, so the only big difference was the terminology and a couple different route structures.

TSR: Bring me back to last year when you caught your 99-yard touchdown pass against the Bears. Did you ever think that you’d have the opportunity to score on a 99-yard play, or even that a pass would be the play called in that situation since you guys were backed up against the goal line?

BB: Oh no, never. I was always lobbying for it in practice. We always work on our offense being backed up and I was always like, “Call a pass play – let it go, let it fly.” And then for them to actually call it was shocking and to even land it was even more shocking.

TSR: Was it more special because you did it against your favorite team or had that not crossed your mind?

BB: Nah, there’s no hostility towards those guys – what’s done is done. You know, once I signed with the Vikings I was a Viking and I had to let go of the Bears. What was done was done and besides that was the second game (of the series) anyway. All the emotional stuff was gone and let loose in the first game.

TSR: Who’s the top cornerback that you’ve come across in the NFL?

BB: Toughest cornerback…I’d have to go with Nnamdi (Asomugha).

TSR: Really? That’s a great choice. That division has two tough cornerbacks in Asomugha and Champ Bailey – have you faced Champ?

BB: Champ Bailey – yeah, he’s good and I have faced him but it wasn’t one of those games where he’s following you the whole game. So it wasn’t like we were going up against each other the whole time. I’ve got to face a guy for a sustained period of time before I can say I really went up against him.

TSR: Sure. You faced two good cornerbacks Monday night in Charles Woodson and Al Harris. Are those two the toughest corners in your division?

BB: Oh yeah by far I would say they’re the toughest in the division. They’re two great cornerbacks that are crafty – Charles is definitely a crafty guy and Al is a very physical, crafty guy as well. They play within their scheme very well.

TSR: Who is one Vikings player that you feel is being overlooked but is a key for the team getting to the playoffs?

BB: Ooh, that’s a great question…uh…

TSR: You can say yourself too, Bernard.

BB: Nah, I can’t include myself.

TSR: (Laughs)

BB: Hmm…

TSR: What about Sidney Rice?

BB: I don’t think he’s getting overlooked though.

TSR: That’s true. It could be a defensive guy.

BB: That’s where I think I’m going – the defensive side. I would go with Chad Greenway.

TSR: Okay, cool. What kind of impact do you think he can make throughout the course of the year?

BB: He’s always around the ball, he comes up with fumble recoveries or he causes fumbles. He’s a very athletic linebacker and talented linebacker that I’ve seen.

TSR: Is it frightening to be in the same locker room with Jared Allen?

BB: Oh no, it’s great being in the same locker room with him!

TSR: Better he be in your own locker room than in another team’s right?

BB: Yeah, definitely.

TSR: Now I know you guys lost, but what’s your most memorable experience from Super Bowl XLI with the Bears?

BB: I think just everything surrounding the Super Bowl, more so than the game. The game to me is always going to be a game, so that’s never going to change whether it’s the Super Bowl or not. But I think everything surrounding the Super Bowl…you know, I have a lot of family out there, so being able to enjoy the things I was able to enjoy.

TSR: One last question for you, if you could pay to watch any player on Sunday not a Viking, who would it be?

BB: Current?

TSR: Current.

BB: Current player…

TSR: I was talking to Junior Seau two weeks ago and he said Tom Brady, so I’m hoping you take us in another direction.

BB: Nah, I wasn’t going that way – I’m actually far from that way. I like watching somebody exciting, where every time the get the ball they can score or watching a defensive player when they get a sack or something. Uh, Ray is always an exciting player to watch.

TSR: Who’s that?

BB: Ray Lewis is always exciting to watch.

TSR: What about an offensive guy?

BB: We’ll go with Chad Johnson. He’s always exciting to watch and you never know what he’s going to do.

TSR: Very true! Well that’s definitely a good one. What about a former player?

BB: Barry Sanders.

TSR: Another good one! Do you have anything coming up that you want to get out there, Bernard? A charitable event or anything?

BB: Feeding America. We’re going to do something around Thanksgiving again this year, so keep an eye out for that.

TSR: Excellent, well I wish you the best throughout the rest of the season, Bernard, and I thank you for chatting with us.

BB: All right thank you.

The moment Brett Favre has been waiting for since Ted Thompson crapped in his cereal over 12 months ago is vastly approaching.

The Vikings host the Packers tonight at the Metrodome and Brett will no doubt be fired up to try to stick it to Thompson, as he so amply put it when the GM traded him to the Jets last year. (The fact that Favre put Thompson in a bad position with his fickle changing of the mind is still lost on Brett, but that’s a story for another time.)

The question becomes, will Brett beat Thompson’s Packers tonight?

Like most weeks, the Vikings will try to establish the run with Adrian Peterson in hopes of opening things up in the passing game. The Packers have a solid secondary, so Brad Childress would be foolish to take the ball out of Peterson’s hands early in the game and start forcing the action with Favre in the passing game. It would behoove Childress not to get wrapped up in the Favre-vs-Green Bay death match and just keep things simple with AP.

What would be interesting to see unfold is if the Packers dare Favre to beat them by loading the box with eight defenders to stop Peterson. As previously noted, Green Bay’s secondary is solid and Dom Capers could leave his corners on an island with Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin if he wanted to sell out to stop the run.

It would be in the Packers best interest if they get into a shootout tonight. If he gets protection (which has been a major problem for Green Bay so far), Aaron Rodgers can go toe to toe with any opposing quarterback if both teams start throwing the ball vertically. A Favre-Rodgers shootout would make for great television.

But alas, shutting down Peterson is easier said then done. He’s faced eight men in the box multiple times before and has still pounded out 100-plus yards on the ground. Still, a man could hope for a Monday night shootout, right?

Comment starter: Will Favre get his revenge tonight or does Rodgers outplay his predecessor?