re: Inside source info regarding Randy Moss

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The 2013 version of Randy Moss, however, looks nothing like any of that. The glorified prep rankings that helped carry him through his first 13 seasons are long since irrelevant. No longer able to outrun every cornerback or outleap every safety, Moss has, by necessity, become a sly veteran, using his wiles as much as his physical gifts to extract yardage and the occasional score from limited playing time this season. Although he totaled only 434 yards and three touchdowns in two starts this season, he offered not a negative word about his usage, or Coach Jim Harbaugh’s system, onto the record. It runs far deeper than that, however. It might have been difficult to predict when the 49ers signed Moss in March after he sat out the 2011 season, but he has become an undisputed leader on what may be the N.F.L.’s best team. “A lot has been made about Randy being a certain way, but he’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had — that any of us has ever had,” said wide receiver Kyle Williams, whose season ended with a knee injury in November. “The emergence of Michael Crabtree isn’t by accident. He’s learned a lot from Randy.” Crabtree, in his fourth season, is putting up the kinds of numbers people expected when he was taken with the 10th overall selection in the 2009 draft: 1,105 yards and 9 touchdowns this season, plus 119 yards and two touchdowns in the victory over the Packers. “Randy is one of the reasons that Crabtree has really developed this year,” safety Donte Whitner said.

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Smith, who's playing in the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe this week, was asked about the offseason additions. He didn't hide his excitement. "He's been a blast on the field and off the field," Smith told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport regarding Moss. "Great guy, great teammate, catches everything, makes you look good as a quarterback, so it's been great." That was the hope when the team signed Moss so … so far, so good on that front.

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