Zereoue is happy to switch sides

FOXBOROUGH -- Before the ink dried on the contract of new Patriots running back Amos Zereoue, the ex-Pittsburgh Steeler was being ribbed by his former teammates for joining the ''enemy."

New England brought him in to replace backup tailback Kevin Faulk, who broke a bone in his foot against the Steelers and could be out for two months.

Leading harassment of Zereoue was Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter. That's OK with Zereoue, who feels fortunate to be with a winning organization.

''[The Patriots] are envied by a lot of teams around the league," said Zereoue, who played with Oakland last year. ''I'm just happy to be here."

Zereoue started six games with the Raiders, and led the team in rushing a year ago, but wasn't offered a contract in the offseason. To his surprise, he was without a team three weeks into his seventh season in the NFL.

''I didn't know how to react to it, it was very difficult," Zereoue said. ''The most difficult part is that I think I'm young. I haven't started all 16 games for six years, so I feel fresh."

Zereoue, who was born in the Ivory Coast and played at West Virginia, has started 17 of 81 games in his NFL career.

''We felt like what our needs were and what our options were, that he was the best fit," coach Bill Belichick said. ''He's had some experience. He's good running the ball.

''He's built kind of like Kevin, not the same, but similar: short, thick, strong legs, good balance. He's probably had more production running than receiving, but I think he can also be in the passing game."

Light has surgery

Offensive tackle Matt Light had surgery to repair the broken fibula in his right leg, a source close to Light confirmed last night.

According to the source, the starting left tackle, who injured his leg in the first half of last Sunday's win over Pittsburgh, was doing fine and the surgery was a success.

Reunion for Flutie

On Sunday, Doug Flutie will be reacquainted with his former teammates from the Chargers, for whom he played from 2001-04.

He said he was able to give the Patriots a headstart on preparations this week -- ''I can help them a little bit on what their strengths are" -- but acknowledged the impact of those contributions is minimal.

Flutie downplayed the notion that playing against his former team would give the game special meaning.

''You're going to look out there and see a lot of familiar faces, and that's about it," he said. ''I'm good friends with a lot of guys on the team. You're in this locker room, they're in that one, and you're off and running and you're competing. When you travel to the other venue and you're in the other stadium, there's a little bit of that sentiment that comes with the game, but not in this case."

Much like his final two seasons in San Diego, Flutie said he's content with his backup role.

''If you're behind someone you know you deserve to be behind, that makes it a lot easier to accept," he said. ''In the last two seasons, out in San Diego with Drew [Brees], it was that way. He's a young guy, and after his first season as a starter really had it all together.

''It's been great working with Tom [Brady]. I'm very content right now to watch him pull the trigger, win some football games, and just try to be ready if it's ever necessary or needed. I'm very, very happy with that role."

Flutie was asked if Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson was the best running back he's played with. He said that honor goes to the late Walter Payton, but acknowledged Tomlinson's style reminds him of Payton's.

Quite a catch

Belichick said San Diego's pass-catching twosome of tight end Antonio Gates and receiver Keenan McCardell might be the best in the NFL at exploiting zone defenses.

''McCardell, he just kills zone coverages; he's outstanding," Belichick said. ''He knows all of that stuff, when to stay on the move, when to pull up, when to undercut the linebacker, when to go behind, he's outstanding.

''Gates is outstanding. They're always open. They always make the right decision and they always get open."

Mike Reiss of the Globe staff contributed to this report.