Moss: Belichick taught me football

Randy Moss arrived at the New England Patriots five years ago thinking he knew a lot about football.

Then, he began playing for Bill Belichick. Moss' mindset regarding his own football knowledge changed in a hurry. Only then did he learn the intricacies of his sport from ''A to Z,'' as the 49ers wide receiver now puts it.

Moss returns to Foxborough, Mass., this weekend with his new team to face the high-scoring Patriots in prime time - a matchup of Tom Brady and the AFC's top offense against NFL sacks leader Aldon Smith and the NFC's No. 2 defense.

The 35-year-old Moss hardly has the playmaking role as a 14th-year pro that he did as a youngster in the league, yet that didn't stop Belichick from piling on the praise this week.