NEW ORLEANS -- If you enjoy all things Moss -- and many do -- Tuesday was a bonanza. I stuck with the former Patriot and current 49ers wideout for about 35 of the 60 minutes of access in the Superdome.
I posted a story Tuesday afternoon regarding why Moss has resisted being more open with his personality.
But I couldn't get to all of it. A few Mossian pearls of knowledge and information are enclosed herein:
Can Alex Smith still play?: It's kinda like that situation with Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe. If you follow that story, Drew Bledsoe still played. And I believe in my heart that Alex Smith can still play. But Colin Kaepernick took advantage of his opportunity and never looked back and that's about it.
On why he doesn't like the media: I'm not gonna be an ass-kisser and sell my soul to anyone else. I do it my way and that's just how I feel. I don't try to break any rules or any laws. I believe in myself. I know there's some people out there like me and there's some that don't. I don't really know why and I don't really care. When it comes to you all doing you all's job, a lot of things are sold on negativity. So if that's what you're looking for, I'm not the one to find.
Favorite Beyonce song: Whatever that song is where she's singing, 'Uh-oh, uh-oh...' where's she's shaking her hips and her butt, I like that.
On if he plans on coming back and playing another season: Ive thought about it. I do want to play another year.
New England Patriots
On what he has said to his teammates regarding their business this week: I think for us being here, and this is my second trip here, some guys have never experienced the atmosphere of the whole week of the Super Bowl. Its more of a business approach. Early in the week, get your fun out of the way. Whatever partying that you may do, get it out early in the week because I think towards the middle of the week, and the end of the week, its all preparation. We put a lot of work in last week because we didnt really know what to expect this whole week. Its more just getting the fun out of the way early in the week and starting this evening all the way up to Sunday, its all business.
On getting another chance to play in the Super Bowl at the end of his career: Its actually a dream, really. By me taking a year off and having to work out for almost a whole year, being able to come back and be in the Super Bowl one year later is just a dream. I really didnt expect this. Everybody has their own goals and has their own dreams of what they want to do and what they want to accomplish. For me to be here, I couldnt have told you this back in June or July. It wouldve been more of a, Keep your fingers crossed. I hope Im in New Orleans for the Super Bowl in February. Now that its here, I just want to make the best of it and take advantage of it and bring a trophy back to San Francisco.
On what having a Super Bowl championship would mean to him: I think that what Ive accomplished in my professional career and throughout my whole life of playing football, Ive really wanted a championship on every level. Ive always told myself that I wanted to win a championship on this level. Having a Super Bowl ring, I think my career would be complete.
On if he came back just to win a Super Bowl: No, I think the reason I came back was I really wasnt ready to leave the game. I think I told yall earlier, just going through some family problems with my kids and trying to put them on the same page because football takes a lot of our time up. Sometimes we forget, as parents, about our main objective in life. I think that I keep my family dear to my heart. I really do. I play each and every game. I collect the game check and my family spends it. I think that for me to be able to take a year off; Ive said it before that I really did cry, I really did. I love this game of football so much. I dont like everything that comes with it, but going out on the field between the white lines and playing football is something Ive always done. Ive been doing it since I was six years old. For me to be able to just walk away from the game, knowing that I wasnt ready, mentally or physically, it really hurt me, man. It really depressed me. It warmed me up to know that I wasnt ready to leave the game. Now that Ive made the decision to come back and play, it was something that I was ready to do. I think that my conditioning in the offseason really showed that I was ready to go. I feel good. I really do. Throughout the whole season, Ive been healthy. Ive come out of games where it felt like I didnt really do anything. I always want to compete. I always want to contribute to the team. For me to be here, its just like a dream because I would have never thought in a million years that this would happen. Its something that you keep your fingers crossed and hope you get here.
On if he has taken on a leadership role of the team: I dont really want to get into that, because I never considered myself to be trying to be a leader. This team already has the leaders. It already has Joe Staley, has Justin Smith, has Patrick Willis, Frank Gore of course. I just wanted to play football. Thats something Ive always done. Ive never been vocal. I think its something you develop over time, especially when your peers look to you for vocal leadership. If there is anything that Ive been able to give back to the younger guys, its my experience. Thats something Ive taken to heart because by looking at the younger guys and how they respond and how they look at me, its something I never would have imagined. I never wanted to be a vocal guy and lead by my mouth. I always wanted to lead by example and thats by making plays on the field.
On the main thing that he missed when he was away from the game: I think the main thing that I missed was the locker room, the meetings each week and going out here to put a show on for the fans. I really consider us as entertainers because Ive always said that no matter what a person may go through during the week at their 9-5 job, that they can always depend on the NFL to keep them smiling and perk them up. Thats the main thing, just going out here to compete, being around my teammates and going out here and showing out for the fans on Sunday.
On the difference between his Patriots Super Bowl teams and this 49ers squad: In 07 with the Patriots, we were riding high being undefeated leading up to the Super Bowl. I think thats just something that we wanted to accomplish as a whole team, something to set ourselves in history. Being here with the 49ersthey were so close last year with a couple mishaps against the Giants in the NFC Championship gameI think by the way we practice and the way guys speak in the locker room, they were determined to get back here. I just wanted to be a part of it.
On kids using the term Mossing someone to describe catches over defensive backs and what he sees as his legacy in the game: For me to be able to go up above the defensive back and make a catch, sort of like a slam dunk, I hear it still to this day and its really hard to believe that its me that theyre talking about. I try to stay focused and try to stay humble and try to stay grounded, but if you go out to different parts of the country, and sometimes different parts of the world, and you hear that phrase, that little slogan, its hard to believe. Im overwhelmed by it. I never thought in a million years that something like this would happen. Ive always just wanted to play football and everything else comes secondary. For that slogan, Youve been Mossed, is something I definitely hang my hat on.
On how he spent his Sundays when he wasnt playing last year: My Sundays last year, I watched a little football. I usually would fish during the week or maybe on Saturday, but I still love football. Its hard to get away from. It really is. I like to see the guys go out there and compete even though Im not playing. I think for me to be able to sit home on Sundays one of these days and just watch guys I played with and the future of the NFL will hopefully grow. I look forward to it. I would like to, one day, tailgate a football game. Ive always said that. I think there is something that Im missing from the food to the drinks and seeing the camaraderie and how the fans interact. I think that most of my Sundays were spent watching football. I watched a little basketball, but mainly football. Thats what I do; Im a football player.
On the discussion he had with his family about returning to football: We were at dinner, at my Moms house. I told my 18-year old daughter. Shes actually a freshman at the University of Florida. I asked her if it was okay for me to get back into football. She said, Dad, I dont even know why you left the game. For her being older, I had to really sit down and explain to her the importance of family and how much I love them and what Ive sacrificed all these years so theyre able to have and able to do. After I explained it to my mom, I had to explain to her that if I come back to this game, youre not going to see me as much. She didnt earlier in her life. She said, Dad, if you come back to the game, I want you to win a Super Bowl because Im going to the University of Florida to win a National Championship in basketball. That really made me smile because Ive never heard my daughter talk like that. For her to be able to tell me that face-to-face, well Im on the verge of trying to win my first Super Bowl. Hopefully, well get it and the next thing is to see her get her NCAA Championship.
On his love for the game: I dont think Ive really expressed how much I love to compete. Ive been in fights in practice. Ive been in verbal arguments in practice with coaches and players, even in college and high school. I dont think the football world understands how much I love to compete. When I hear people talk about how talented I am and how easy I make it look, I can honestly tell you people that its very hard work. I work out five times a week. I put the work in and for me to be able to go out there and have results it something I am proud of. Its not always the individual results that Im proud of. For me to be able to talk to a Michael Crabtree or talk to a Frank Gore or Percy Harvin and for them to go out there and have a good game that week, thats something I can be proud of. Thats just me giving back to the NFL. Ive always said, I dont like what the NFL does for me because Im very blessed. My family is blessed. Ive always been the type of person to know what I can do to make the League better. At this point in my career, if Im able to be vocal, to share a little knowledge and also to go out there and play, if thats what it takes to win a championship, then Im willing to do that. Ive always been that way.
On Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith: We dont like to talk about how age finds every player, but I think that Anquan Boldin, Ive watched him back when he was in college. I was a fan of his since he was in college. He went to Arizona and teamed up with (Larry) Fitzgerald. There are a couple duos out there in the NFL that are very exciting to watch. I think Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith are a nice duo to watch. The guys in Atlanta Roddy White and Julio Jones are a nice duo to watch. I dont know how many years he has left, but in the 3-6 years, I think they can do some magical work.
On the Harbaugh brothers facing each other and how he would be if he was facing his own brother: Knowing they grew up in the same housesame room? That makes it worse because me and my brother shared a room. I dont really think that I could talk to my brother for that week. If our mom came down to have dinner, Id probably have to cancel that. I understand that its the 49ers against the Baltimore Ravens, but I know John and Jim would like to beat one another. Thats bragging rights forever. You know what Im saying? They could be long gone, grandfathers or great grandfathers, but they still have something to hold over the other brothers head. I think that both Jim and John want to beat each other. They dont care how they do it. They just want to win. I think thats the approach of each team.
On how he would describe Jim Harbaugh: A coach.
On where he ranks Colin Kaepernick among the other quarterbacks that hes played with: Ive never really ranked them. I think for what me and Tom Brady accomplished in 07 would put him at the top, just because trying to be undefeated and coming to the Super Bowl. I cant really rank Kaepernick because he came in midseason. It was Alex Smiths team and Kaep took over. All I can say about Kaep is Im happy to play with him. I wish he would take some of the heat of those balls sometimes. His future is very bright. Either he or Frank Gore asked me, they said, Moss, how long do you think this pistol offense will work? I said, Man, as long as you keep doing what youre doing, itll go as far you will take it. Im a big fan of Kaepernicks. I told him and hell tell you, it couldve been April or it couldve been May, that I saw something in him. I pulled him to the side and shared a few words with him. Im not going to share what we were talking about. I had just seen something in him. Hes very athletic. Just seeing his focus and determination to go out and lead the offense up and down the field like the Atlanta game, its what you want to see in your quarterback. Alex Smith, Im not taking anything from Alex Smith. Ive watch him and I dont really think that in his career that Alex had a fair chance because he could never get a coaching staff or offense to grasp and learn. Each and every year, it was always an offense this year and another offense the next year and then the following year had another offense. Alex Smith can still play this game. He really can. He can still play the game. Hes still throwing the ball in practice. When it comes to sports, I think you take advantage of your opportunities. One thing that Kaep did was he took advantage of his opportunities. Hes a blessed young man. Not just this year, Im looking for big things out of Kaepernick.
On what his responsibility is to the younger players around the league: My responsibility is to try and lead, going out there and showing them how professionals are supposed to work. Early in my career, I looked at Cris Carter, Randall McDaniel, Randall Cunningham and John Randle, just seeing how professionals are supposed to work each and every day. Thats something that I thought I knew how to work, but then I went up to New England and ran into Kevin Faulk. Me and Kevin Faulk, we have a little bit of history together because we came out the same year in high school and were on the same All-American team. I said, Man, this is really how yall work? Like I said, I thought I knew how to work. I was working out in the mornings doing this and doing that. He took it an extra mile. He took it to the next level. What Ive learned and what Ive experienced and what guys like the Faulks and the John Randles and the Carters have taught me is that its my duty to give it back. Like I said, Ive always wanted to make the NFL better because there are different topics, good and bad, that come up every day about the NFL. As you know now, talking about concussions and trying to take player safety downward instead of upward, I think its my duty to do whatever I can to give back to the league to make it better.
On what he has done to become a better professional: I just think my work ethic and my preparation each and every day. I dont do anything different. Probably the last five or six years, Ive always taken the approach to do everything that I need to do in the morning. Once you sit in the classroom all day and jot down your notes, look at film and go out to practice, I think Im so mentally and physically drained that I cant go lift another weight. There are a lot of guys that can vouch for this, that once that evening meeting comes after practice, a lot of guys are tired and a lot of guys do doze off. Not in Coach Harbaughs meetings. Hell call you outside and want to talk to you for a minute. Whats said? I dont know. I havent been caught yet. Hopefully, Ill be able to hold strong this week.
On what are some of his good memories from New England: The memories that I have in New England are just something that I hold dear to my heart because of what we accomplished. Im trying to do something here special in San Francisco, too. I dont want to sit up here and talk about the Patriots because the Patriots are the past. Im living in the present. Its not hard to get what we did because we did some great things up there. I think being here with the 49ers and the organization giving me the opportunity to come back to this game, its something that I wanted to do and I just want to go out here and play football. I know in a couple days, this stadium is going to be full of cameras, full of 49ers and Ravens fans. The atmosphere is going to be crazy. Its something that I look forward to and hopefully Ill step up for the moment.
On Moss TV: Moss TV, it was something for the fans. A friend of mine told me that Ive never really given back to the fans. I think that when I started Moss TV, that was just the way of my fans being able to interact with me and ask questions and things like that and feel like we were face-to-face. I couldnt see them, but they could see me and I could see their questions. I think that was just my way of giving back to the fans. I know there are some true Moss fans out there. I mess with them every day on Twitter. My little slogan is My comeback is our comeback. I really do believe that because I do know there are some true fans out in the world that love me for who I am. I really thank them for that. When Im able to give back, its what I do on Sundays. I look forward to a good game this Sunday.
On his post-football plans and if he thinks hell do any coaching once his playing career is over: I think if I do any type of coaching, I think I would like for it to be on the high school level. The collegiate level and professional level takes up a lot of your time. Being able to go to high school is where youre on the verge of thinking youre something and you might not be, but you could be something. My experience, throughout my whole life, I think thats where Im able to impact and give back the most is probably on the high school level. So if I did any type of coaching, it would be on the high school level. I just want to love my family and do a little fishing. Thats about it.
On if hes ever had an imaginary girlfriend: No. If I did, I never told anybody about it.
On what would happen if someone tried to hoax him: Speaking of the linebacker from Notre Dame, I feel for the young guy. We all do some things in our life that we wish we could have back or we regret. Like I said, when youre going to a prestigious school such as Notre Dame and being in the limelight, being up for the Heisman, I think that you have to expectIve always said you have to take the good with the good and the bad with the bad. Ive been a fan of his since he came on the scene playing football and being catfished I guess. Hes not the only one. Big ups to him and I hope he keeps his head up.
On if he still thinks about the Super Bowl loss to the Giants: I still think about it. I still think about the loss in 07. I can still say that I havent seen the game. I havent watched the game of it yet. The only time that I really watch the game is when we are doing film study and critiquing ourselves after a win or loss. I go to the coachesIve always been coachable. I think there was some stuff out there early in my career that I wasnt coachable. I still dont know everything. I think when it comes to players and coaches, sometimes the coaches need to sit their butts down and listen too because they expect us to listen. Were out here playing. Were out here putting our lives on the line. I think Ive always been coachable. I love to be coached by a guy that loves to listen.
On if he typically watches the replays of games: I would probably love to watch it. I really do. Theres just something about 07, being undefeated going into a Super Bowl and losing it like that. Ill never forget that moment because its not fun when youre sweating and you have confetti dropping down and sticking to your face knowing that youre not on the winning side of the confetti.
On if winning this Super Bowl will make up for losing in 2007: No, I think Ill still remember that because if I win this one, that means I could have had two. Thats something Ill never forget.
On comparing Jim Harbaugh to Bill Belichick: They both have their styles of coaching. I think Coach Harbaugh, he loves to have fun. He has a lot of stories. Some are very, very comical. Others are just pushing forward and keep striving. Coach Belichick is very business-oriented. He doesnt really show a lot of emotion. He prepares his guys and really doesnt crack a smile. I think the comparison between the two, if I could put it on, is Coach Belichick is really straight forward and Coach Harbaugh sometimes gets off the road and keeps it humorous.
On if Bill Belichick was a good listener: Yeah, not every coach is going to listen because certain coaches are stuck in their ways and Im not talking about any particular coach. If a certain coach has gotten to this point doing it the way hes done it, they just do it their way. This game has changed and evolved like no other. I think its time for the coaches, and you can take it down to high school even, these guys watch us train. I think if coaches would take time to really talk to the players and see how they see it on the field because if youre sitting up there watching as the eye in the sky or watching from afar to see whats going on, it might not be as easy as it looks because football is a game of reaction and how you react to the play.