Moss Still Has 'Love And Respect' For Patriots
BOSTON (CBS) - With the San Francisco 49ers in town on Sunday, receiver Randy Moss will be back at Gillette to take on his former team.
Moss, now with his third team since being traded by the Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings during the 2010 season, has 21 receptions for 326 yards and a pair of touchdowns this season, serving as San Fran's third or fourth option in the passing game.
While his numbers aren't anything special, his former head coach knows is pretty familiar with what Moss brings to the field.
"Randy is Randy," Bill Belichick said on Wednesday. "Good vertical receiver, he can still run through the defense. I don't think there is any doubt about that."
Moss caught 50 touchdowns in his three-plus seasons with the Patriots -- 23 of which came in his record setting 2007 campaign -- and loved his time with in New England. He made that clear when the Vikings played the Patriots just a few weeks following the 2010 trade, praising his former team as his new team reflected on a loss.
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Moss still feels that way for his the Patriots, but he is focused on winning with his new squad.
"I still have love and respect for the New England Patriots and everything that we did as a team up there, but now I'm a 49er and hopefully we go up there Sunday night and give it a good game," Moss said on Wednesday.
If the 49ers are hoping Moss has some insight on Belichick's scheme, the receiver says whatever he knows won't help much on Sunday.
"Everybody knows that Bill Belichick is a so-called 'genius.' He changes it up every week, so there's not really much input I can give for the week," said Moss. "I'd just say 'have your head on a swivel and be ready for anything.'"
"The way they're playing, coming off a Monday night game against the so-called best team in the league in the Houston Texans -- they put 40-something points up and really embarrassed them. I don't think we want to be that team that gets embarrassed on national television," he added.
Read: Patriots-Texans Film Review
"One thing we know, it's going to be a hard-fought game, coming from the offensive side because of their ability to put points up. Hopefully we can complement our defense," said Moss. "I'm not telling what's going to happen, but we have to play complementary football. I think if we do that and try not to let Tom (Brady) and the offense run the score up on us, I think it will be a good game."
Tune in to Patriots-49ers Sunday night on 98.5 The Sports Hub! Pregame coverage begins at 5pm with Patriots Preview, with three hours of coverage following the game. WBZ-TV's coverage kicks off with Patriots GameDay at 11:30am, with Patriots 5th Quarter after the game.
