GSRelyea
02-26-2008, 03:38 PM
Updated: February 26, 2008, 12:21 PM ET
Minnesota Vikings' last link to the Randy Moss trade reportedly will be jettisoned from their roster later this week.
Though nothing may be officially announced until Friday at midnight ET when the NFL's new league year starts, the Jaguars have all but agreed on a trade with the Vikings for wide receiver Troy Williamson.
Williamson was given permission last week by coach Brad Childress to find a new home via a trade. The Vikings are expected to receive a sixth-round pick for Williamson.
The Jaguars were looking to add speed at receiver, and Williamson is one of the fastest in the league at the position. Going to the Jaguars will allow him to reunite with Mike Tice, the Jaguars assistant who was the head coach in Minnesota when Williamson was drafted.
Williamson was drafted in 2005 with the seventh overall pick, which the Vikings acquired from the Raiders for Moss. Other players which Minnesota acquired for Moss -- linebacker Napoleon Harris and cornerback Adrian Ward (picked in the seventh round via a Raiders selection) -- are no longer with the franchise.
Last season, Williamson was fined a game check -- a decision later reversed by the team -- for leaving the team to be with his family in South Carolina after the death of his grandmother, Celestine, to whom he was very close.
Williamson chose to stay at home the entire week and not return for the Vikings' game against the Chargers.
The Vikings wanted him back sooner, though, and docked him one paycheck for his absence, which amounted to more than $25,000 of his $435,000 base salary.
But after veteran players voiced support of Williamson's decision, the team opted to change course.
In 2007, Williamson caught 18 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown. In three NFL seasons, he has caught 79 passes for 1,067 yards and three touchdowns.
Information from ESPN.com's John Clayton and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Minnesota Vikings' last link to the Randy Moss trade reportedly will be jettisoned from their roster later this week.
Though nothing may be officially announced until Friday at midnight ET when the NFL's new league year starts, the Jaguars have all but agreed on a trade with the Vikings for wide receiver Troy Williamson.
Williamson was given permission last week by coach Brad Childress to find a new home via a trade. The Vikings are expected to receive a sixth-round pick for Williamson.
The Jaguars were looking to add speed at receiver, and Williamson is one of the fastest in the league at the position. Going to the Jaguars will allow him to reunite with Mike Tice, the Jaguars assistant who was the head coach in Minnesota when Williamson was drafted.
Williamson was drafted in 2005 with the seventh overall pick, which the Vikings acquired from the Raiders for Moss. Other players which Minnesota acquired for Moss -- linebacker Napoleon Harris and cornerback Adrian Ward (picked in the seventh round via a Raiders selection) -- are no longer with the franchise.
Last season, Williamson was fined a game check -- a decision later reversed by the team -- for leaving the team to be with his family in South Carolina after the death of his grandmother, Celestine, to whom he was very close.
Williamson chose to stay at home the entire week and not return for the Vikings' game against the Chargers.
The Vikings wanted him back sooner, though, and docked him one paycheck for his absence, which amounted to more than $25,000 of his $435,000 base salary.
But after veteran players voiced support of Williamson's decision, the team opted to change course.
In 2007, Williamson caught 18 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown. In three NFL seasons, he has caught 79 passes for 1,067 yards and three touchdowns.
Information from ESPN.com's John Clayton and The Associated Press was used in this report.