FOXBOROUGH - With 44 receptions for an NFL-leading 732 yards and 10 touchdowns, Randy Moss’s athletic prowess has been on full display through the season’s first seven games.

But Patriots coach Bill Belichick pointed to a different part of Moss’s game while speaking with Redskins reporters on a conference call yesterday.

“He is probably the smartest receiver I have coached,” Belichick said.

Considering that Belichick said he had little history with Moss prior to his April trade to the Patriots, the words carry significance. Belichick, a coach with 33 years in the NFL, has been won over in six months.

“Randy has come in and done a great job for us,” Belichick said on the conference call. “He is smart and competitive. He has outstanding receiving skills. He makes great decisions on the field, in terms of reading coverages and making route adjustments.”

Moss’s smarts have helped him pick up the Patriots’ complex offense, despite the fact he didn’t get on the field for the bulk of training camp. His combination of physical skills and sharp mental approach has also contributed to him playing 83 percent of the team’s snaps, the highest percentage of skill-position players (other than quarterbacks).