First of all, the Pats don't need him to be a leader, they just need him to run down the field.  They have enough leaders on that team already who have carried them through superbowls and the longest win streak in NFL history.  The value of Moss is not that he is going to be a leader on or off the field, but that his skills, even if they have decreased, will be enough to force defenses to plan around the Patriots WR corp for the first time in over a year.  

When it comes to the Character thing, that's a creation of the media by and large, media who cannot get interviews with the majority of the team, and need to figure out why they win - the Boston media hates Belichick, and there are not a lot of pro bowlers on the team, so it must be something else - Character.  That's a load of crap, and anyone who has paid attention over the last few years knows that.  Brian Cox, Rodney Harrison (who doesn't get voted dirtiest player of the year because he is a saint), Corey Dillon were all regarded as cancers, mental patients, and Dillon had a rap sheet the size of a phone book.  As far as off the field antics, I know plenty of Colts players have been involved in domestic abuse or DUI stunts, but I cannot even remember the last time a guy who played for the Pats got into a single ounce of trouble off the field.  

The magic of the Pats is that they take these guys and plug them into a lockerroom full of guys who win, and expect to win.  Either they fit in, and stay, like Cox, Rodney and Dillon did, or they don't and leave, like Gabriel did last year.  A lot of the vets on the team, as well as the new signings love to win, and will take less money to do so.  Guys like Seymour, Brady, much of the O line, Bruschi, Brown, Vrabel (spell it right!) have accepted less money then they could on the market, and guys like Stallworth, and Thomas this year took smaller salaries to play with NE.    

And he can be cut at little or no cost to the Pats if he does.  Sure, the signing is a risk, and almost everyone acknowledges that, but the upside is worth the risk of a 4th rounder and a few million.  

"You seem to be implying that Moss doesn't."

Not at all, in fact I am implying the opposite.  Many players who are known as head cases or have long rap sheets have come into NE and thrived and prospered.  Thats my point.  

"Anecdotal at best. Many players restructure contracts to make cap space. It's a common occurence."

I am not talking about restructuring a contract, but rather the amount they sign for in the first place.  Its common knowledge that Thomas passed up a million a year from SF to sign with NE.  Stallworth was also worth far more then the 1 year `prove it' deal he signed with the Pats.  

As for the links you posted...
Link 1 - Key word in the article being `former'
Link 2 - A guy who was traded for and quickly cut.  
Link 3 - A guy who never saw the field and was immediately released.  
Link 4 - It's the coaches kid, not a player.  Is Dungy a bad father considering what happened with his son?  Come on, that's pretty tasteless and sad.  
Link 5 - occurred before the player was ever signed by the Pats, and has nothing to do with my point.

So basically what I see is a couple players who were bottom of the depth chart, and were immediately released after their incidents, one who had left the team a year prior, and one who got in trouble before he signed with the Pats.  None of that has a single iota of relevance to my point, and in fact strengthens it.  The guys who got into trouble that were actually part of the team at the time were backups at best, and were immediately cut.  The other two had either left the team, or it occurred before they got to the team.  And lets forget your sad dig at Belichick.  

You can determine in your own mind that any of the Pats moves were bad, but unfortunately that is not the case.  The Colts lost both starting corners and one of their better linebackers.  You must be high if you think the additions we made are not going to give your defense nightmares.  Who exactly is going to cover Moss?  Oh, I forgot according to you he sucks.  Who is going to cover Stallworth?  Damion Hughes?  Well, guess what?  No longer can you guys bring Bob Sanders up in the box to stop the run.  because when you do, we go vertical on you.  Do you understand football and how it works?

I am sorry, but I believe in Belichick and Pioli.  I should as they have three super bowl rings.  In addition, Asante Samuel has not said he wants out of New England so badly.  He wants to get paid an enormous amount of money and will go to whatever team that is.

And exactly how does any move they have made look DESPERATE?  Management looked at the deficiencies on the team and addressed them.  They got a top tier linebacker for a decent price.  The added 3 good receivers without breaking the bank.  Filling needs is not desperation, it is good business.  Your thought that it is desperation sounds a bit like jealousy to me.  What has your braintrust done to improve?  I know you are jealous that the media has crowned the Pats already but haven't they done that the prior four years...crowned Indy the pre-season champions?  They were right once...

You can ban me if you want but it just needs to be said.  You are a freaking idiot.  We are going to stomp Indy next year.  No doubt about it.  And, when we do I will be sure to let you know.  In fact, I would be surprised if you guys make the playoffs as your "tough" division is improving.  

Maybe it's because you put guys on the roster (Stallworth anyone) who are injury prone.  Don't give me crap about how Stallworth took less money to be on the Patriots...he took less money because he's on his third team in three years and hasn't been healthy for a full season in his career yet.

So I'm not too worried about Moss or Stallworth in the playoffs.  Stallworth will be out for the year by the 4th or 5th week and Moss and his antics will have him done not much later.  

And how can you call it anything but desperate?  Taking players that everyone knows are sub-par but have big names?  That's not filling needs that's trying to be relevant...when youve lost three times in a row.  And yes that is impressive thank you.

You say desperate, I say kid in a candy store.  The Pats entered free agency with a boatload of cash, and were more then happy to scoop up a bunch of free agent WR's for small contracts that gave the Pats the option to cut them at the end of the year if they didnt work out.  If only half the WR signings pan out, it will still have been a good year.  

The Pats make signings because they can afford them.  The Colts are sitting and watching players leave, and relying on draft picks to fill the void and provide depth because thats their only choice.  

Really?  What about Rhodes and Reid?  I understand Rhodes is gone, but he left...Indy did not release him.  When is the last time a Patriot has been arrested, while a member of the team?

http://www.profootballtalk.com/turdwatch.htm

Someone clever could adapt the lyrics.

That said, I'm just sad that the Pats have resorted to getting bad character guys instead of building their team the way they and the Colts both have in the past. It takes away from the rivalry a bit, if you ask me. Does it make them a better team? I don't know...yet. No one does. They'll be one of the three best teams in the AFC for sure. So will the Colts. The Chargers have more talent than both of them, but they have no idea what they're doing when it comes to big games. That's why Colts-Pats is inevitable, again.

I just wish both fans could be realists. The Pats and Colts rivalry is as close to even now as it has ever been. The Pats have more rings and overall wins, but the Colts have the momentum and the newfound championship intangibile they so sorely lacked in the past. Neither team is that far ahead of the other in terms of talent and mostly likely both games we play against each other this season will go down to the wire just like they always do, except for the '04 playoff game (won by the Pats) and the '05 regular season game (won by the Colts).