Dan McCarthy
Journal Staff

If Robert Kraft were to ever host a game show, it would have to be “The Price is Right.”

With the trade of future hall-of-fame wide-receiver Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings, the New England Patriots owner and CEO Robert Kraft has shown that he’s not afraid to let go of big names in the organization, as long as the price is right.

A majority of the Patriots’ fan-base was shocked to discover that their team’s leader in reception yards, touchdowns, and yards per reception since 2007 was dealt for a third-round pick and a bag of pretzels.  However, this is only the latest case where Kraft has shown a fan-favorite the door.  Since 2005, the Patriots have either traded or released eight different former pro-bowlers, often reeling nothing more than draft picks and pocket lint in return.  Why?  Because when push came to shove, Kraft was never willing to sign the check.  And that’s why Moss was sent packing.  And it’s also why no job is safe for the New England Patriots.

Tom Brady is the exception to the Kraft rule that usually states any player is replaceable if the asking price is too steep.  From Super Bowl heroes Deion Branch and Adam Vinatieri,  to defensive studs Asante Samuel and Richard Seymour, history has no impact on how Kraft and company negotiate contracts with Patriot greats.  And it shows, as all of them left with bitter tastes in their mouths. Samuel, for one, was not happy during his free-agent exit from the team in 2007.

“The Patriots don’t care about [the player],” said Samuel in an interview with NBC Sports.  “The way they treat people is not something I agree with.”

Can we expect similar ends for other Patriot superstars?  For guard Logan Mankins, it’s already a grim reality.   The offensive guard has refused to play for New England in 2010, and will sit out the remainder of the season if needed as a restricted free agent until he is traded.  He stated that there wasn’t a mutual level of respect between him and Kraft, who he felt had been treating him “unfairly” for the past few seasons.

“Right now, this is about principle with me and keeping your word and how you treat people,” Mankins said in an interview with ESPN.  “This is what I thought the foundation of the Patriots was built on. Apparently, I was wrong.”

Despite being the only remaining member of the wide-receiving corps with a pro-bowl pedigree, Wes Welker may be the next superstar to part ways with the juggernauts of Gillette.  We’re two years away from having to deal with any contract drama, but Kraft may already have him playing beside his replacement in Julian Edelman.  With a couple of years to learn the system, it’s possible that Edelman could produce similar numbers to Welker.  And more importantly, he could do it for a fraction of the price.

But for now, mums the word from Welker’s camp. And with everything we know about the cagey wide-reciever, no one should be suprised. He has been a model citizen during his brief tenure with the team, all while putting up historic numbers at the position. With this team, however, nothing should be taken as a suprise.

“I’ve got two years left on my deal,” Welker said in an interview with Yahoo! Sports recently. “I’m just here to play ball. I just worry about doing my job and let everything else take care of itself. I want to be out here to help my team win.”

Welker may have the team’s best interests in mind, but from what we’ve seen from Kraft during his successful reign over the Patriots’ organization, it’s debatable to say the feeling is mutual.