Moss grows on Raiders fans

ALAMEDA, Calif. – Randy Moss joined the Raiders on Wednesday, when Oakland completed a trade with the Minnesota Vikings for the star receiver.

Moss was introduced by his new team in an afternoon news conference. The Raiders were working to restructure his base salary of more than $7 million for next season into a more cap-friendly signing bonus to be prorated over future years.

Fans showed up early at the team’s practice facility to see Moss, who arrived in a limousine escorted by seven police officers on motorcycles.

“I’ve still got love in Minnesota,” Moss said, “but with the Oakland Raiders, I get a new start and a chance to go to the Super Bowl.”

As part of that new start, Moss is changing his jersey number to 18.

The Vikings receive linebacker Napoleon Harris, the No. 7 pick in April’s NFL draft and a late-round pick in the swap, which was completed a week ago but couldn’t be made official until Wednesday.

Moss said he was nervous at the news conference, but he was comfortable with Raiders’ catchphrases.

“Who wouldn’t want to be in the Silver and Black?” Moss asked. “I’m committed to excellence and I just want to win, baby.”

Oakland also was in serious talks with free-agent running back LaMont Jordan, who spent his first four seasons with the New York Jets.

The 28-year-old Moss will provide a huge upgrade to an offense determined to return to the high-powered vertical passing game of years past so preferred by long-time Raiders owner Al Davis.

It was their proficient passing attack that led the Raiders to the 2002 Super Bowl, won 48-21 by Tampa Bay.

“I don’t see this team slipping with the addition of me. I just see them adding more firepower,” Moss said.

Quarterback Kerry Collins couldn’t be happier with the acquisition.

“If he’s not the best, he’s certainly one of the best,” Collins said. “You can make a strong argument. Everybody has their own opinions. But ask any quarterback around the league which receiver they’d want, and I think most would say Randy Moss.”

Moss spent much of last season limited by a hamstring injury and didn’t reach 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his seven-year career. He finished with 49 catches for 767 yards and 13 touchdowns.