Randy Moss has announced that 2010 will be his last in a Patriots uniform. Why? “The Pats don’t pay”, he’s reported as saying.

Fair enough. The Patriots are not exactly famous for breaking the bank to go after big name players. In addition, there are plenty of other holes that need to be filled before Moss gets his share.

Vince Willfork was tagged in the hopes of working out a long term deal to lock him down, and after him the Patriots have to negotiate with the biggest name in the franchise’s history. Brady’s contract will also be up in 2010, and to say that resigning him for whatever he wants is New England’s biggest priority is a massive understatement. ESPN is guessing Brady will get between $15-$20M a year for a multi-year deal from Foxboro. As far as the fans go, the guy could ask for every vestal virgin in the New England area and we’d be idiots for not turning them over.

In addition there are holes all over the offensive and defensive line and that leaves Moss standing alone crying into that ridiculous beard as a secondary consideration.

Don’t get me wrong, I want Randy to stay and to finish out his career with Brady in New England. I think they’re an incredibly lethal duo. But the New England mentality of “no player is bigger than the system” has gotten us a Playoff bound team for the majority of the last decade and three rocks to go along with it.

The problem with New England fans is after the 2007 season, nothing else but complete and utter domination of the entirety of the NFL will satisfy. And it’s not going to happen that way again, but we still think Brady, Moss, Welker and the Hoodie can get it done. I’d love to see Brady and Moss go for another single season passer/receiver record. But it’s not going to happen.

Team/Player Photos: New England Patriots Team / Player Photos on Jul 24, 2010

Whether or not Moss stays will not determine the fate of the Pats in 2011. He’s an incredible receiver and rightfully popular with the New England fans, but there are too many other problems to nail down first.

Although, I will miss the Moss Mask!