NEW ORLEANS — By proclaiming himself before Super Bowl XLVII as the greatest receiver in NFL history — when he wasn’t even the best receiver in 49ers franchise history — Randy Moss invited the kind of scrutiny narcissists bring on themselves.
In Texas, they call it “big hat, no cattle.”
Moss, the legend in his own mind, went out last night in the biggest game of his career and was mostly invisible as the Ravens defeated the 49ers 34-31 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Moss was targeted three times in the first half by Colin Kaepernick, and he came up with no catches. He had two catches in the second half — a key, 9-yard first-down grab in the third quarter and a 32-yard gain that led to the 49ers touchdown that cut the deficit to 31-29.
The 49ers tried to go to Moss for the tying two-point conversion, but Kaepernick’s pass sailed over his head.
It wasn’t all Moss’ fault. In the second quarter, Kaepernick finally looked like a rookie quarterback making his 10th NFL start when he threw the ball late and high over the middle, resulting in the easiest interception of free safety Ed Reed’s career. The ball was so high Moss didn’t even bother to jump in an attempt to catch it.
The 49ers didn’t get burned on that turnover, however, because of a failed gamble by Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, who tried a fake field goal on fourth-and-9. Kicker Justin Tucker took the direct snap and ran around left end but was tackled one yard short of the first down by linebacker Patrick Willis at the San Francisco 8.
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On the very next series, Kaepernick stared down Moss on the left sidelines, and that gave cornerback Cary Williams a golden chance to break on the ball. Williams should have intercepted the pass, but he dropped what would have been a gift turnover.
Moss caused quite a stir earlier in the week when he declared he was the greatest receiver in NFL history — forgetting perhaps that 49ers Hall of Famer Jerry Rice set NFL records in receptions (1,549), touchdown receptions (197) and yards (22,895) in his 20 NFL seasons.
Moss, who does not have a Super Bowl ring, got defensive when people questioned his sanity.
“You make your own judgment,” Moss said. “You really do. I know what I think. I am not going to sit up here and tell you how to look at it and how to judge it. I think when it comes to going out there, making plays and helping the team do the things that they are able to do to win the game — I think I am the greatest receiver ever, point blank. Next question.”
OK, how about this one: Uh, really, Randy?
Moss said the furor over his comments “speaks of the impact that I have made on this NFL football league.”
“If Joe Blow would have said it, I do not know if it would have been in USA Today. Since Randy Moss said it, it is front of the sports page,” Moss said. “Like I said, I just try to stay humble and do my job. That is what I am able to do. I am able to come out and try to say these things, but I do believe in my heart and my mind I am the greatest to ever do it.”