Last modified: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 12:18 AM EST Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss seemed to enjoy his first Super Bowl media day. (Staff photo by Keith Nordstrom) Moss handles Media Day like an old pro BY MARK FARINELLA / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF GLENDALE, Ariz. - Nobody knew what to expect from Randy Moss on the occasion of his first Super Bowl Media Day. Neither did he, but he came through it with flying colors. The talented wide receiver, often withdrawn and reluctant to open up to reporters in previous stops in Oakland and Minnesota, got in the spirit of things and proved to a huge media gathering Tuesday at University of Phoenix Stadium that he was indeed happy to be preparing to play in his first Super Bowl. "Before I retired, I wanted a chance to play on this stage," said Moss, "not for all of the publicity or anything, but this whole Super Bowl, you hear a lot of the greats making their name as Super Bowl MVPs and being able to win the big game. I wanted to be on this stage to play in the big game, the last game of the season." Moss will get that chance Sunday (6:18 p.m.; Ch. 25, 64) against the New York Giants. Despite being held to just one catch apiece in each of his playoff games to date, Moss caught six for 100 in the Dec. 29 regular-season finale against the Giants at the Meadowlands, and he expects to perform similarly now that the stakes are as high as they can be. One catch won't be good enough Sunday, he said. "No, not in the Super Bowl," he said. "I think what we've done in the past week and a half to prepare, practice, weight training and eating right, things like that, I'm setting myself up to come out here and show the world what I've really got." Moss did not have to field questions about the restraining order filed against him by a long-time female friend in Florida. The order was extended through February by a Fort Lauderdale district court on Monday, and further disposition will be in March. "I'm here for the Super Bowl, one of the biggest times in my life as a professional athlete. I'm not considering anything negative at this time," he said. Accordingly, Moss spoke glowingly of the Patriots' organization as one that kept him focused on the prize all season long. "It's a team concept with everything that goes with a team," he said. "Such as the Giants for instance, they sort of struggled during the regular season and found a way to come together as a group to make this playoff run and they are sitting here at the Super Bowl. For me, speaking on the inside and being a player, the playoffs are a one-game season. You lose, you go home. There is not a next week. It's been an overall team concept from training camp all the way up to this point. That is a big difference than the teams I've been on in the past. "It's everything that the organization stands for," he said. "It's not just football but out in the community, getting to know the people, getting to know the fans, the administration. I think the whole concept of being a team, and not just on the field, is really what makes guys very enthused and appreciative to wear a Patriots' helmet." Sounding more like a wise veteran than the bad boy of years past, Moss said he's put in his time through good and bad, and has finally grown up. "I think being 10 years into the game and trying to stay positive was the main thing," he said. "It's something that is very, very hard to do because it's always good when things are going good, but how does a person act and respond when things are going bad? I think a lot of people, media and fans, were seeing that I was not responding to look like that I was not into the game, but overall I was just so down because of the expectations that we had to go out there and play football. "We're football players, so the chance to get to go out there and showcase what you have is on Sundays," he said. "Nobody gets to see the preparation during the week. For any advice, guys need to stay in there and stay strong through the good and the bad and hopefully something good will turn out."