Randy Moss and Bill Belichick formed a close bond during the receiver’s three-plus seasons in New England, and it’s clear the two still hold each other in high regard.
“He’s the greatest deep-ball receiver I think that’s ever played,” Belichick said of Moss on Wednesday during a conference call with San Francisco reporters. “Nobody runs better patterns, better at the deep part of the field, than Randy Moss can. I still see him doing that. You have to respect his ability to stretch the field so deep and get behind you. It’s hard to take that away and defend everything else that he can do. He’s an explosive, dynamic player. Probably the smartest receiver I’ve ever coached. I know he absolutely knows what he’s doing, knows what the defense is doing.”
Moss was stellar during his time with the Patriots, catching 259 passes for 3,904 yards and 50 touchdowns in 52 games. That includes a record-setting 2007 season in which he racked up 98 catches, 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns, so it’s understandable that Moss has fond memories of his stint in Foxboro.
“The compliments are great and I respect Coach Belichick and that organization still to this day. And hopefully we have a good game coming out Sunday night,” Moss told reporters covering the 49ers on Wednesday. “Looking forward to the game, and hopefully the fans do, too.”
Moss said that he told his 49ers teammates to have their heads “on a swivel” and be ready for anything come Sunday night, as he knows firsthand just how unpredictable Belichick and the Pats can be, especially when they’re on a roll. The 49ers pose a difficult task for the Pats, winners of seven in a row, and Moss wants to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to them that happened to the Texans on Monday night.
Don’t expect Moss to start comparing and contrasting the Patriots and 49ers any time soon, though. When asked if there are similarities between the two franchises, he dodged the question to avoid saying anything that might ruffle feathers.
“I don’t want to get into all of that because whatever I say is going to be the wrong thing to say. Basically, I’ll leave it at: I still got love and respect for the New England Patriots and everything we did as a team,” Moss said. “But now I’m a 49er, and hopefully we go out there Sunday night and give it a good game.”
Sunday’s clash could very well be a Super Bowl preview. You can bet once the coin is flipped, the lovefest between Moss and the Patriots will come to an abrupt halt.
