The Vikings have decided to end Randy Moss' brief second stint in Minnesota just weeks after they traded a third-round draft pick to the New England Patriots for the All-Pro receiver.

"This decision was made based on what we thought was in the best interests of the Minnesota Vikings, both in the short and long term," head coach Brad Childress said in a statement. "We wish Randy the best as he moves forward in his career."

Vikings players said Monday that Childress told them that Moss "is no longer with us."

Moss' name did not appear on the league's official waiver report Monday, but he could be awarded to another team as early as Wednesday.

A team can claim Moss and pick up the final year of a contract that pays him $6.4 million in base salary. Winless Buffalo has the worst record in the league and the first shot to claim Moss, followed by Carolina and Dallas. If no team claims him, the Vikings owe Moss the remaining $3.388 million on his deal. He'd be available for around $450,000 and Moss could choose the team he would like to join.

Various league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and even the Patriots are among the teams possibly interested in claiming Moss.

Sources close to the situation told Schefter that Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is angry that his team plans to waive a player he wanted in Minnesota. Wilf played a major role in the re-acquisition of Moss and is unhappy with the way Monday's events regarding Moss unfolded.

Linebacker Ben Leber told the Star Tribune that Childress didn't give the team a reason for Moss' ouster from Minnesota.

"No reason, really, [he] just wanted to give everybody a heads-up and say this is what's going on, and that's it," Leber told the newspaper. "He didn't really dive into any details, and just said that's what we're going to go with."