Moss to Be Given Franchise Tag?

The Boston Globe reports:

Would the Patriots consider using the franchise tag to retain wide receiver Randy Moss? The answer will become known over the next two weeks because today marks the start of the 15-day period in which teams can assign the tag to players. The Patriots have 13 players scheduled for unrestricted free agency, a group headlined by Moss and cornerback Asante Samuel.

Franchising Moss is the only sure way to guarantee he is on the roster next year.  But there are a couple of issues with using the tag.

 One, what will Moss think of the tag?  He will get $8 million, but he loses out on the guaranteed long-term contract that he wants.  Will we have to deal with a situation similar Asante Samuel’s last year?

Second, could the Patriots sign Moss to a long-term deal without having to use the tag?  That would obviously be the ideal situation.  However, the only problem with that will be years.  Moss will probably want four or five years, and the Patriots will only want to give up about two or three.