It’s been over a week now, and I still need to be consoled, knowing that No. 84 won’t be lining up in purple and yellow this year.

As you may recall, I wrote a “One-Timer” in the January 19 issue of The Polytechnic, defending Randy Moss’ actions. I guess the Vikings’ organization was fed up defending him.

There are a few things that puzzle me about this trade. The first is with the management. The Vikings are in the process of transferring ownership from Texan Red McCombs, to Arizona businessman and African-American, Reggie Fowler.

I’m not going to get into a discussion about my thoughts on Fowler, or the sale of the organization, but if you were about to spend over $600 million on an investment, wouldn’t you want its most marketable asset?

McCombs still technically owns the team, but shouldn’t he leave any major personnel decisions to the new owner as a courtesy? Fowler went on record to say that he would not trade Randy Moss. I guess what Fowler wants doesn’t matter, now does it? I would be livid if I were Fowler.

So now it begs the question, why did they trade Moss? The general consensus seems to be team chemistry. Many teammates didn’t get along with him. The management also wanted to give the keys to the franchise to Daunte Culpepper, who is a superstar in his own right.

With Randy Moss always around, he would never be able to truly lead the team. This is saddening, because I always thought that Culpepper and Moss could break the record of 79 touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver combo.

The relationship between Moss and Culpepper has always been shaky. There was a highly publicized shouting incident two seasons ago.

Even in Culpepper’s latest comment on Moss, he said, “He’s my good friend, but you almost get to thinking that maybe enough is enough. And maybe the Vikings organization has had enough.”

I can’t control what the team does, so I just have to accept the fact that the receiver with the best seven year start to his career will be catching passes from Kerry Collins.

In return the Vikings got a first round draft pick, a late round draft pick, and linebacker Napoleon Harris. I think the Vikings got gypped.

The first round draft pick is the seventh overall, which isn’t bad. Considering that this year’s draft class is considered weak, one can see why the Raiders don’t want to shell out millions in guaranteed money.

But Napoleon Harris? Being a big football fan, I knew who he was and his general background. Folks, he’s no superstar.

I was hoping for maybe cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon or Charles Woodson, both very good players at the position; that could shore up the secondary.

But Napoleon Harris? It’s funny that the Vikings will have now started a former Oakland linebacker three out of the last four years. Greg Biekert was picked up by the Vikings after he got supplanted by Harris in 2002.

The late round draft pick will most likely be inconsequential, unless the Vikings find someone that turns out to be the next Tom Brady (just at some other position).

I mourn the loss of Moss. I hope whoever the Vikings take with the seventh overall pick makes as much of an impact as Moss did his rookie year.

Most of all, I hope the Vikings don’t get the losing end like they did in their last big name trade. Does anyone remember what happened to Herschel Walker after he joined the Vikings in 1989? Probably not, but you probably do remember the team they traded to: the Dallas Cowboy dynasty of the ‘90s.