The New England Patriots’ newest wide receiver hopes being with a winner will put the focus more on his catches than his controversies.
“The Moss of old is back,” Randy Moss declared Sunday.
Is that the Moss who made the Pro Bowl in five of his first six seasons? Or is it the one who was fined $10,000 for pretending to pull down his pants in front of a Green Bay crowd – among other transgressions?
New England obtained Moss from the Oakland Raiders for a fourth-round draft choice Sunday, the second day of the draft.
The Raiders used that pick on Cincinnati cornerback John Bowie.
The Patriots see signs that Moss will behave properly, a point of emphasis with team owner Robert Kraft since he bought the team before the 1994 season.
Moss kept repeating how excited he was to join the Patriots because of their chances of winning a fourth Super Bowl in seven years. He renegotiated downward a contract that would have paid him $9.25 million in 2007 and $11.25 million in 2008.
“I’ve made a lot of money and I still have money in the bank. So by me coming to an organization such as the New England Patriots, why would money be a factor?” Moss said in a conference call. “I’m still in awe that I’m a part of this organization.”
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan thinks Moss will help New England.
“If you put him in the right environment,” Shanahan said, “I think he could go back to being one of the top receivers in the NFL.”
Moss knows his behavior will be under “a microscope, and my microscope is very big,” he said.
But he has a chance “to really get on that Super Bowl stage and really show the world who I am and what I’m able to do,” he said. “I just told (coach Bill Belichick) that I’m going to keep my fingers crossed and try not to do anything stupid.”
49ers: San Francisco acquired veteran receiver Darrell Jackson from the Seattle Seahawks, landing a potential No. 1 pass catcher from a division rival for a fourth-round draft choice.
Jackson, a seven-year pro who spent his entire career with the Seahawks, gradually fell out of favor with Seattle general manager Tim Ruskell in recent months amid injuries and attitude concerns.
But with few tempting offers for Jackson, the Seahawks improbably helped the 49ers – who beat NFC West champion Seattle twice last season – at San Francisco’s leanest position.
“You know that makes it that much sweeter that I can go back and face my old team,” Jackson said. “I’ve been looking forward to becoming a 49er ever since I heard the talk about the trade.”
San Francisco gave up the 124th overall pick, and the Seahawks used it on Georgia Tech offensive lineman Mansfield Wrotto.
Buccaneers: Tampa Bay spent most of the weekend drafting help for an aging defense, then addressed a need on offense by signing former Seattle tight end Jerramy Stevens.
Stevens, a first-round draft pick in 2002, was an unrestricted free agent the Seahawks said they were no longer interested in retaining after he was arrested last month in Scottsdale, Ariz., for investigation of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.
Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said the Bucs met with the 27-year-old, who has had other run-ins with the law, and is confident he has learned from his mistakes.
“I think Jerramy Stevens is a good young man,” Allen said. “He is focused on doing things right for us. … But more importantly, he understands that he has to do things right.”
The team used seven of 10 picks on defensive players, selecting at least one in each round.
Giants: Mathias Kiwanuka is changing positions and moving into the starting lineup at linebacker.
Coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese confirmed that the Giants No. 1 draft pick in 2006 would move from defensive end to strongside linebacker next season.
Reese said the move had been planned for months and it had nothing to do with the draft.
Reese said the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Kiwanuka is athletic and dropped into some zone pass coverages last season while playing end.
Falcons: Linebacker Demorrio Williams underwent surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle that could keep the three-year veteran sidelined as long as five months.
Falcons general manager Rich McKay said Williams, scheduled to enter his third season as the weakside starter, was injured lifting weights last week.
McKay and first-year coach Bobby Petrino confirmed Williams’ injury means rookie Stephen Nicholas, a fourth- round draft pick from South Florida, will begin the mandatory three-day minicamp May 11 working with the No. 1 defense.
Lions: Alabama cornerback Ramzee Robinson is the newest Mr. Irrelevant.
Eighteen hours and five minutes after it began, the NFL draft ended when Detroit selected the 5-foot-10, 186-pound cornerback in the seventh round with the 255th pick.
“My faith was tested,” Robinson said during a conference call with the Detroit media. “Thankfully it held up and made me a Detroit Lion. I’m just thankful my name was finally called.”
