Ride just beginning for them

By Christopher L. Gasper and Mike Reiss, Globe Staff  |  May 13, 2007

FOXBOROUGH -- Rookie minicamp has a relaxed feel; any doubt about that was erased when defensive lineman Kareem Brown, the Patriots' fourth-round pick, decided he was going to "interview" first-rounder Brandon Meriweather, his former teammate at the University of Miami.

Brown's hard-hitting inquiries included questions about what it was like to have Brown as a roommate and what kind of car the defensive back drove.

"Right now, I drive a 1992 Toyota Camry with a rusted paint job," said Meriweather. "The back window doesn't let down. It's kind of beat up, but I'm happy with it."

Now we know what Meriweather should spend his signing bonus on, although he didn't seem eager to part with his decidedly un-pimped ride, which by his estimate has 270,000 miles on it.

"The Camry is a go-getter, man," said Meriweather. "The Camry is good. I don't care where I put the Camry. The Camry will make it. Give me an oil change and I'll drive to Canada if I wanted."

Meriweather, along with the other rookies receiving their NFL indoctrination, felt like he was in foreign territory. But he proved a quick learner when asked where he would project himself in the Patriots' defense.

"I don't project myself anywhere because you already got the great players that are here," said Meriweather, who was working at safety. "I don't even know the playbook yet, not even half of it, so I can't project myself anywhere."

Meriweather said he's just trying to learn day by day and earn the coaches' trust. With head coach Bill Belichick saying the minicamp was more of a teaching opportunity than an evaluation period, Meriweather's biggest adjustment thus far has been New England weather. The Florida native thought yesterday's temperatures were actually a little cold. Wait until he plays at Gillette Stadium in December.

Rookies don't get to choose where they play and they don't get to choose their numbers either, apparently. Meriweather, who wore No. 19 at Miami, donned No. 38 yesterday.

"I didn't have a choice; if I did, it wouldn't have been 38," said Meriweather. "To be honest with you, a number is just a number. The number don't make the player, it's always been the players that have made the number. If they want me to keep it, I'll keep it; if not, I'll change it."

Offensive lineman Corey Hilliard, a sixth-round draft choice out of Oklahoma State, did not finish practice after vomiting during a positional drill led by line coach Dante Scarnecchia. The 6-foot-6-inch, 315-pound Hilliard offered no excuses, saying that while he was a bit ill and nervous, he should be in better shape.

"Obviously, it's hard work," he said. "What's done is done, and I'm sure I wasn't the first and I won't be the last. We'll see how I respond to it."

With Hilliard watching from the sideline, fifth-round pick Clint Oldenburg (6-5, 297) and seventh-rounder Mike Elgin (6-4, 277) had more time to impress Scarnecchia.

Belichick was asked if he gives rookies more leeway on conditioning at this point, because they haven't been in the team's strength and conditioning program.

"I understand that not everybody is in top condition, it's the middle of May, but at the same time it's a job, it's a profession, this is a career," he said. "So if this is what you want to do, you need to be able to take advantage of the opportunities and do it."

Hall of Fame offensive lineman John Hannah, who will be present for all home games this season while serving as a celebrity speaker for club-seat holders, was present for yesterday's practice . . . The Patriots have given Randy Moss a spot next to quarterback Tom Brady in the locker room . . . Linebacker Junior Seau, receiver Troy Brown, and quarterback Vinny Testaverde -- all free agents -- still have lockers. Seau is slated to come to Boston late in the week to take a physical. If he passes, he is expected to sign a one-year deal . . . Former Patriots linebacker Don Davis, now an assistant strength and conditioning coach, ran through drills to give linebackers a better look in pass coverage. "He's smart, and I think he gives a good perspective to people coming into this organization from a player's point of view," Belichick said.

Boston College's Larry Anam, who signed as an undrafted free agent, worked at cornerback . . . Matt Gutierrez, an undrafted free agent out of Idaho State, was the lone quarterback in camp . . . Wide receivers Chris Dunlap (Georgia Tech), Chris Baker (Rutgers), safety Denny Poland (Air Force), and running back Chris Vincent (Oregon) were in camp on a tryout basis . . . Running back Quinton Smith, an undrafted free agent from Rice, was not present because he was in Rice's graduation ceremonies . . . Linebacker Justin Warren, an undrafted free agent from Texas A&M, spent the majority of practice on exercise equipment . . . Forty-two media members covered the minicamp.

Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com; Ron Borges of the Globe staff contributed to this report.