When Randy Moss’ career was waning and needed a boost, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had his back. Now, the former All-Pro wide receiver is returning the favor.

“I’ve always stood in Tom’s corner,” Moss told the Fayetteville Observer on Saturday before opening his Randy Moss Academy Football Camp in North Carolina. “I called myself a professional but that man was definitely a letter grade above me.”

According to Moss, whatever “evidence” the NFL thinks it has doesn’t exactly qualify as facts. Nor, Moss explained, should Brady be punished for it.

“Over some air?” Moss asked. “If he did it, so what? He hasn’t shown me anything but how he carries himself as a professional man, husband, father and athlete.

“Tom Brady is a pro’s pro. I love the man and everything he’s accomplished.”

That’s a strong vote of confidence from a player who caught 259 passes and 50 touchdowns from Brady over 3-plus seasons, including a record 23 touchdowns in 2007.

Brady currently is suspended for the first four games of the 2015 NFL season for his involvement in the Deflategate controversy, which alleges the Patriots deflated footballs in their AFC Championship Game victory over the Indianapolis Colts in January.

Brady appealed that suspension and had a hearing with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last month in New York. A ruling on that appeal, according to Goodell, is expected “soon,” potentially as early as this week.

Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@onSMASH