Patriots Officially Re-Sign Moss to 3-Year $27 Million Deal

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the New England Patriots have officially re-signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Randy Moss to a 3-year $27 million contract. The Pats elected not to use the franchise tag on the mercurial wideout, and after Moss didn't find another offer when the free agency period opened up, ultimately ended up coming back to the Patriots to team up with quarterback Tom Brady for another run at the Super Bowl.

The troubled superstar receiver set the NFL record for touchdown catches in a season last year, hauling in 23 TDs, helping New England break the all time record for points in a season. Moss just finished a 1-year $3.4 million contract he negotiated with New England after being dealt last offseason for a 4th round draft choice by the Oakland Raiders. Details of the new contract have not yet been leaked, but expect there to be some kind of pay by game details, or other provisions to help protect the team if Moss goes off the deep end.

UPDATE 03/03/2008 6:22PM: Per Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe, the deal includes a $12 million signing bonus and about $15 million in guaranteed money total.

Also per Mike Reiss, the Patriots have signed former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sam Aiken to a two year deal for an undisclosed amount. A former 3rd round pick by the Bills in the 2003 NFL Draft, Aiken has been a career backup at wideout, but has excelled at special teams, and was one of the key cogs of a special teams unit that ranked near the top of the league the past few years.