The Raiders cut ties with Randy Moss after two unproductive seasons, sending the former Pro Bowl receiver to the Patriots on Sunday for a fourth-round draft pick. Moss was disgruntled for most of his two seasons in Oakland, and said frequently last season he thought he'd be better off with another team. He wanted to be dealt either to New England or Green Bay and got his wish.

The Lions have traded Josh McCown and Mike Williams to the Raiders for fourth-round pick, No. 105 overall. As soon as JaMarcus Russell went to the Raiders with the top pick, it was only a matter of time before Josh McCown was traded to Oakland.

The Raiders shopped wide receiver Randy Moss around the league today, hoping to unload the disgruntled wide receiver and his hefty salary on the eve of the NFL Draft, multiple league and team sources confirmed. New Raiders coach Lane Kiffin spent part of Friday trying to attract a first-day draft pick in exchange for Moss, who has not backed down from trade demands that began midway through last season. The Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots are believed to have talked with the Raiders, but neither was willing to give up the asking price -- believed to be something as high as a second-round draft pick in today's draft. "Nothing's been finalized," one team source said Friday, speaking on the condition of anonymity. A five-time Pro Bowl star in Minnesota, Moss has been a disappointment since the Raiders traded for him two years ago. He struggled with injuries in 2005, then complained openly throughout last season, when he had a career-low 42 catches for 553 yards. He is owed more than $11 million in guaranteed money the next two seasons, making him the highest-paid player on the roster.

With the first pick in the 2007 Draft, the Raiders selected JaMarcus Russell. Russell is a 6-5 quarterback out of LSU who has been touted as a one of a kind arm. "I kind of had faith in it. Everybody had been talking about it for a while," Russell said of being chosen first. "It's a dream come true. Growing up as a kid playing every sport in life and always seeing the guys on the professional level, and here I am today." "I can't wait to get in the black and silver and get to work."

An NFL source with knowledge of the Raiders' discussions with Brady Quinn's representatives this week said late Friday afternoon that the two sides aren't close, have never been close and will certainly will not consummate a deal before the start of Saturday's NFL Draft. In fact, NFL observers at the draft in New York were preparing for the Raiders to select LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell instead of Quinn with the first pick in the draft.

JaMarcus Russell said during a media session Thursday that the Raiders had not contacted him. "I've heard nothing, nothing at all," he said, adding, "I have no problem waiting to find out." Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn said Oakland had begun to outline contract parameters for him. Calvin Johnson, the wide receiver from Georgia Tech, declined to comment on whether his camp had any communication with the rebuilding Raiders. Pre-draft maneuvering to obtain the right player at the right price is nothing new. Russell is taking things in stride. "You never know what is going to happen in the draft," he said. "Whatever happens, I'm going to be pleased with it."

The Raiders have had preliminary contract negotiations with representatives for Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell of Louisiana State and Brady Quinn of Notre Dame, sources familiar with the deliberations said yesterday. But according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Raiders have not commented publicly on the matter, it remains unclear if the team will sign the player it intends to choose Saturday before the draft begins, as NFL rules permit. "There's probably only one guy in the world who knows what the Raiders are going to do, and that's [owner] Al Davis," former Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese, now a draft analyst for ESPN, said during a conference call with reporters yesterday.

The Randy Moss to Green Bay talk is expected to return in earnest this weekend. The trade could happen some time Saturday or Sunday, especially if the Packers pass on a wide receiver in the first round. Some people feel the deal already is done, but both teams do not want to lose leverage in the draft by announcing it now.

If Oakland does take Calvin Johnson with the No. 1 pick, the Raiders will look to grab Stanford quarterback Trent Edwards with the first pick of the second round. The problem there is everyone knows that, and teams like Detroit and especially Cleveland covet Edwards, too. Don't be surprised to see some team trade from high in the second round to the bottom of the first round to select the Stanford QB. And don't be shocked if the Eagles, at No. 26, are involved.

New Raiders coach Lane Kiffin made his first major decisions as head coach Friday when he cut veterans Brad Badger and Lance Johnstone. Badger, a guard, and Johnstone, a defensive end, have been valuable backups on the team for the past couple of years. Badger has been able to back up at guard along with being a candidate to fill in at tackle when needed. Johnstone has been a third-down pass-rusher and a backup defensive end. Age was obviously a factor in Kiffin's decision. Johnstone is 33. Badger is 32. Their releases save the Raiders approximately $1.6 million.