Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

New Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss jokes around during a news conference on Tuesday.

“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.

“We have a deal in principle that he should sign tomorrow morning — 99.9 percent sure he will be a Raider,” Jordan’s agent, Alvin Keels, said in an e-mail Wednesday night.

The Raiders released veteran running back Tyrone Wheatley on Wednesday along with defensive tackle John Parrella.

“There’s no question we’re working on signing a running back,” coach Norv Turner said. “I don’t know where we’re at. He’s certainly a guy we’re familiar with. We know a lot about him.”

Moss, 28, will provide a huge upgrade to an offense determined to return to the high-powered vertical passing game of years past. It was their proficient passing attack that led the Raiders to the Super Bowl after the 2002 season 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 yards receiving for the first time in his seven-year career. He finished with 49 catches for 767 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“The coaches at Chicago, Green Bay and Detroit are so happy this trade was made and they won’t see him two times a year,” Turner said. “We’re so happy to have him and we’ll know how to use him.”

Moss joins Jerry Porter in a talented young receiving corps. Porter led the Raiders with 64 catches for 998 yards and nine touchdowns, falling just short of his first 1,000-yard season. His receptions were a career high, and he scored three touchdowns in a game twice.

“We’ve got to check our egos, and the ball has to be distributed in a way to make everybody happy,” said Porter, who re-signed for five years and close to $20 million last week.

Several of Moss’ new teammates have said they aren’t worried about his sometimes controversial antics.

“Hopefully, the people love me and will accept me, and I’m just here to make the best of another opportunity,” Moss said.

Moss was fined $10,000 for pretending to pull down his pants and moon the Green Bay crowd during Minnesota’s playoff win and also drew criticism for leaving the field with 2 seconds left in a regular-season loss against Washington.

Other transgressions included bumping a traffic control officer with his car in 2002, verbally abusing corporate sponsors on a team bus in 2001 and squirting an official with a water bottle in 1999, in addition to his infamous “I play when I want to play” comments.

He believes he’s been misunderstood at times.

“If there’s anything I could say, it’s just my passion and desire to win, week in and week out,” Moss said. “I mean, I love to win. I love to compete. And when I win, I like to talk trash. And when I lose, I don’t like trash to be talked to me. I mean, that’s the competitor in me. That’s the competitive edge that I have inside of me, that God has given me, and he has given me the talent to go out and showcase.”

More news

Getty Images

Urlacher hangs up spikes

CSN: Brian Urlacher, who played 13 seasons for the Bears, announced his retirement from football Wenesday on his personal twitter account.

Getty Images

PFT: Crabtree tears achilles, out 6 mos. |  Fantasy

PFT: The 49ers may have suffered a major blow when Michael Crabtree reportedly tore his achilles in an OTA.

Headlines

• Label

CSN: Super Bowl L to Bay Area; LI to Houston

PFT: Hackett says Manuel can improve everything

PFT: Jaws says Kelly's offense won't work in NFL

PFT: Goodell doesn't rule out 18-game season

PFT: Namath backs Sanchez, calls Geno bad pick

PFT: Spanos says Bolts want to stay in San Diego

PFT: Newly matured Dez says he's 'found himself'

PFT: Locker has no restrictions from shoulder