Players familiar with the drill

FOXBOROUGH -- Tomorrow's encounter with the Miami Dolphins represents the Patriots' final divisional game of the season. A win would give New England a 5-1 record in the AFC East and, coupled with a Jets loss, their fourth straight division title and fifth in six years.

Since 2001, New England has the best divisional mark of any team in the NFL (29-8, .784 winning percentage).

You can imagine that the Patriots' AFC East foes are getting sick of playing second fiddle, adding fuel to already heated rivalries. "The intensity around this game and the Jets, it's different than any other game we've played," said fullback Heath Evans.

Ty Warren said that if by chance a Patriot didn't realize he was playing a division game, he'd know by the intensity on the field.

"If you don't know, you will because you have to have your head on a swivel, because if you don't, you'll go out there and get your head knocked off," he said.

Evans, who noted preparation for division games is more in depth because of the familiarity, said there is a pride factor when it comes to staying on top.

"You want to win your division," said Evans. " These are the guys you play twice a year. You see them so often that you don't want to lose to them."

Reserve safety Rashad Baker was added to the Patriots' injury report (probable, thigh).

Rodney Harrison (out, shoulder) was the lone player not present for the media portion of practice.

Rookie running back Laurence Maroney, who was injured during the first quarter of last Sunday's win over Detroit and didn't return, is still questionable with what the team is calling a back injury. Originally, the team announced Maroney had the wind knocked out of him. "One, I didn't get no concussion," he said, "and two, I didn't get the wind knocked out of me."

Asante Samuel professed that making the Pro Bowl isn't that important. Samuel, who is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with seven, is fourth among AFC cornerbacks in fan balloting, which makes up one-third of the selection process. The other two-thirds are voting by players and coaches. "I'm not thinking about the Pro Bowl," he said. "It would be nice, but you know I got a game to worry about."

However, Samuel appeared to be playing coy since he had a copy of the story detailing the Pro Bowl voting with him. "I think he'd like to make it," said safety Artrell Hawkins. "Obviously, every player strives for that individual goal to be named and to be recognized by your peers, to be one of the best at your position. I think he wants to get to the Pro Bowl. I don't think it's something that is consuming his time."

Hawkins said Samuel's chances should increase once players and coaches weigh in. "I think the fans do a little bit more name recognition," said Hawkins. "I think the players will recognize, and I told him this, too, the contribution and the achievements that he's had this year, and I think that will get him over the top."

Linebacker Junior Seau, whose season ended when he broke his right arm against the Bears Nov. 26, was quoted in yesterday's San Diego Union-Tribune as saying he doesn't plan to retire.

"I'm going to be back," Seau said. "I don't know which helmet I'll wear, but I'm definitely going to be back."

The 17-year veteran played in 11 games for the Patriots, starting 10 at inside linebacker. The lone game he didn't start was when the Patriots opened in a nickel package against Cincinnati.

"It was a fluke injury," Seau said. "The look of the break made it look worse than it really was. But I'm fine. I'll be back."

Coach Bill Belichick said he agreed to wear a microphone during the game against the Lions for HBO's "Inside the NFL" because of the involvement of his family in the piece and the connection the Belichick clan has to the Detroit franchise. Belichick's late father, Steve, played fullback for Detroit in 1941 and Belichick was an assistant coach for the Lions in 1976 and '77. The piece showed Belichick interacting with his sons, Stephen and Brian, before the game and featured a sitdown with all three Belichick children, including daughter Amanda. It also showed Brian charting plays on the sideline during the game. "I thought it was an interesting [story]," said Belichick. "I get a million requests to do this, do that. I thought that was a very unique one."

Mike Reiss and Amalie Benjamin of the Globe staff contributed to this report.