New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco 49ers were up first at Media Day on Tuesday and Randy Moss declared himself the best wide receiver of all-time while deposed starting quarterback Alex Smith called his trip to the Super Bowl "bittersweet."
Moss returned to the NFL this season after a year away and wasn't a major factor in the Niners' offense. He caught just 28 passes for 434 yards with three touchdowns in 16 games, but doesn't believe those statistics tell the true value of his brilliant, but sometimes controversial, career.
"I think now that I'm older I do think I'm the greatest receiver to ever do it," Moss said from his podium inside the Superdome. "This year has been a down year for me, statistically. The year before I retired was a down year, and then in Oakland was a down year."
Moss spent seven stellar seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, then had two troubled years in Oakland before hooking on with New England. He set an NFL record with 23 touchdown receptions during the incredible 2007 campaign with the Patriots, who went undefeated before losing to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. His tenure in New England ended badly in 2010, a year in which he made a brief return to Minnesota and before finishing in Tennessee.
"I don't really live on numbers. I really live on impact and what you're able to do out on that field," Moss added. "I really do think that I'm the greatest receiver to ever play this game."
Moss doesn't have the greatest numbers of all-time, trailing Niners great Jerry Rice in most categories. He has 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and his 156 touchdowns are the second-most in NFL history.
Smith, meanwhile, lost his job to Colin Kaepernick after suffering a concussion in Week 10 against St. Louis. He sat out a week because of the injury, but never got on the field again as Kaepernick began to shine.
"It's tough for sure," said Smith, who had a big crowd around him despite not having a podium. "It's tough to accept, tough watch, but we're in the Super Bowl. This has been an amazing experience, it's a great team ... but it's been bittersweet a little bit, but a great thing to be a part of."
Kaepernick had nothing but praise for Smith.
"He's done everything he can to help me and help this team," said Kaepernick at his podium. "To have a veteran quarterback like that on your side is always great."
