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Although the contract that Randy Moss has signed with the Patriots will cost a maximum of $5 million in 2007 (which is less than five percent of the team's total cap space), a potential hiccup in the transaction was the requirement that the Pats be able to absorb Randy's $9.75 million cap figure after the trade and before the signing of the deal deal.

To make the Moss cap number fit, quarterback Tom Brady restructured his contract.

"Tom does what he can to win" agent Don Yee told Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe.

Before we give Brady yet another "Swell Guy of the Year" plaque, it's important to remember that a restructuring doesn't necessarily mean a pay cut. It could simply be that Brady took a big chunk of his current year's base salary or roster bonus as a signing bonus, which in turn would reduce the current year's cap number and push cap money into future seasons.

For example, taking $5 million in base salary as a signing bonus on a contract with five more seasons on it clears $4 million in current cap space -- and increases the cap number by $1 million in the subsequent four years of the deal.

So, while we don't doubt Yee's proclamation that Tom does what he can to win, Brady's only sacrifice in this case might have been to take more money from the Krafts sooner than he otherwise would have.

Brady deserves a tip of the cap in Moss deal - The Boston Globe