Future Hall of Famer and seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Randy Moss returned to the NFL team where he became a superstar after the New England Patriots traded him to the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday.

The teams' websites disclosed the deal that a league source said also involved a 2011 third-round draft pick for the Patriots in exchange for the 33-year-old Moss while the Vikings will get a seventh-round 2012 pick.

Moss was reported as saying in September that he was disgruntled with his team but later said he wanted a graceful exit in his last year with the team.

"I want to leave as good as I came in here in '07. I know that's really hard to duplicate, but I don't want the fans, the organization, coaches or my teammates to have a sour taste in their mouths about Randy Moss," he told The Associated Press.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached Randy Moss and aside from facing him as an opponent, I wish him the very best for the remainder of his Hall of Fame career," Patriots coach Bill Belichick was quoted as saying on NFL.com.

Moss' NFL debut in Minnesota 12 years ago revived a stagnant franchise as the first-round draft pick in 1998 transformed the Vikings' into Super Bowl contenders. His 574 catches, 9,142 yards runs and 90 touchdowns not only enabled Minnesota to reach the NFL finals but brought fans back to the Metrodome.

After being shipped to Oakland in 2005, Moss' star didn't shine until two years later when he went to New England for a three-year contract worth $27 million. With the Patriots, he set an NFL record of 23 touchdown receptions in 2007.