Champs must contend with Moss in opener

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots marvel at the talent of Randy Moss. They'll see it up-close Thursday night when the receiver who grabs attention as well as passes makes his debut with the Oakland Raiders.\nYet if anyone should know that one star can't win a game by himself it's the Super Bowl champions, who built their success on the team concept.\n"We played a team similar to that before in Philadelphia, and Terrell Owens is one of those players, dynamic players that can change the game," linebacker Willie McGinest said, "and I don't think one guy can control everybody else."\nOwens caught nine passes for 122 yards in the Super Bowl 6 1/2 weeks after ankle surgery, but the Patriots beat the Eagles 24-21 for their third title in four years.\nThursday night's NFL opener begins the Patriots' quest to become the first team to win three consecutive championships.\nIn March, the Raiders obtained Moss from Minnesota, where he averaged 82 catches for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns in seven seasons, although he was slowed by a hamstring injury last year.\nHis rare combination of speed, jumping ability and excellent hands drew raves from the Patriots.\n"He doesn't really have any real weakness," coach Bill Belichick said.\n"He's a special player," linebacker Chad Brown said. "He can do things no other player can. I've actually had him come around on a reverse on me. My job is to contain him and it was a little frightening."\nThe Patriots have managed the past two seasons to handle teams with exceptionally talented individuals. They're 34-4 in that stretch, including 6-0 in the playoffs.\n"The type of character we have around here, guys don't quit," McGinest said. "Guys play hard and they look forward to challenges like that."\nThe Raiders were 5-11 last year and 4-12 in 2003, but made it to the Super Bowl the previous season and lost to Tampa Bay.\nMoss is just part of the challenge posed by the Oakland offense. There's also quarterback Kerry Collins' strong arm and running back LaMont Jordan's chance to show he can be a productive starter after four years as Curtis Martin's backup with the New York Jets.\n"LaMont's impact could be the key for us," Collins said. "(It) could give us that balance that we lacked to make defenses play us a little more honestly."\nThat would make the combination of Collins, who has thrown for more than 3,000 yards the past five seasons, and Moss even more dangerous -- as long as Moss' tendency to draw attention to himself and his controversial comments and actions don't get in the way.\nHe said last month he had used marijuana but "it's in the past." He was fined $10,000 last season for pretending to pull down his pants and moon the crowd in Green Bay during a playoff win by Minnesota. And he was criticized for leaving the field with two seconds left in a regular-season loss to Washington.\nCollins thinks coming to a new team can be "a rebirth" for Moss.\n"Some of the things that have happened with Randy have been well documented," and may have been "overblown" in importance, Collins said. "He's his own guy and at times he loves the spotlight and at times he really hates it."\nOakland coach Norv Turner has seen a Moss who works hard, helps young teammates and can be a huge help to an offense that might have to score a lot because the defense allowed the second-most points in the NFL last year.\n"He's been a great plus for our young receivers," Turner said. "He's helped them grow and kind of take things to another level in terms of their preparation."\nThe Patriots will try to stop Moss despite uncertainty at inside linebacker, where Ted Johnson retired and the other starter, Tedy Bruschi, is sitting out the season after suffering a stroke. But their secondary is stronger after a season in which injuries to starters Ty Law and Tyrone Poole forced them to use wide receiver Troy Brown at nickelback.\nOne thing hasn't changed: the hard-hitting presence of safety Rodney Harrison.\n"I love moving around, showing different looks, keeping the offense guessing," he said. "It's just exciting. Bill gives me the freedom to kind of move around a little bit and I enjoy that."\nHe'll probably spend much of the game moving toward Moss.\n"As long as we are aware of where he is," Brown said, "and give him his respect that his natural ability, his physical ability is due, I think we'll be OK"