Pass-rushing Wilfork gives it old college try

FOXBOROUGH -- Vince Wilfork is on his way to being considered one of the NFL's premier run-stuffing nose tackles. Yet over the last three weeks, he's turned back the clock to a different part of his game, one that he specialized in at the University of Miami.

"All this training camp, the main thing I really wanted to focus on was pass rushing, being able to get more active doing that," he said. "I know my role -- I'm a nose tackle, first and second down -- but if something happens down the road and they need someone, I want to make it so that they feel comfortable putting me out there."

Wilfork returned to his roots in last Friday's exhibition game against the Titans, staying on the field on third down. Part of the reason he was called upon was the absence of defensive end Mike Wright, who has been a regular rusher on third down.

On the third play of the game, Wilfork was credited with a 3-yard sack. It came after Titans quarterback Vince Young slipped, got up, and attempted to scramble for the first down. Wilfork stayed alert, fought off a block, and brought Young to the turf.

It was the type of play Wilfork was known for when starring at Miami from 2001-03, when he totaled 42 quarterback pressures and 14 sacks.

"I thought it went pretty well," Wilfork said. "It's preseason and you're still working out kinks, but all in all, I feel pretty good. It's something to work with. Everything isn't peaches and cream, not yet, but it's something to look forward to in the future."

When defensive lineman Ty Warren signed a five-year contract extension last week, it was reported that the deal carried through the 2011 season. But the five-year extension was tacked on to the remaining two years that Warren had on his contract, so it actually extends through 2013. Warren received a $7 million signing bonus, $7 million option bonus, and the first three years of new money in the deal averages $7.4 million. His guaranteed money is $18 million. In terms of salary cap charges in the first three years, Warren will count $2.81 million against the cap in 2007, $4.358 million in 2008, and $3.815 million in 2009. Warren now has the longest contract on the club. Fellow starters Richard Seymour and Wilfork, as well as top reserve Jarvis Green have contracts that expire after the 2009 . . . Patriots players had little to say regarding Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleading guilty to federal dogfighting charges. "My heart and prayer goes out to him and his family, and to the league, because it's affected all of us. This is our business," said fullback Heath Evans. "You hate to see a rap like that go down, but it's one of those things I really don't have an answer for you. It's probably the same as [the media], you're just kind of stunned and shocked." Evans said he wasn't concerned that all football players would be shed in a negative light in the wake of Vick's actions.

Linebacker Junior Seau, who is entering his 18th NFL season but only his second with the Patriots, said that despite his veteran status he is still a neophyte when it comes to New England's complex defense. "My situation is basically going out there and learning the terminology and kind of growing with what I was able to do last year and kind of building on that," said Seau, who had a sack in his preseason debut Friday. "Obviously, everyone knows with the scheme that it is definitely a difficult scheme to learn. I want to get to a point where I feel the game instead of just knowing it. There is a big difference between knowing the game and feeling it. Feeling it you can anticipate what's going on before it happens. That's when you get the best player, out of me or anyone else." Even though the 38-year-old is a 12-time Pro Bowler, he's willing to put his ego aside to master the playbook. "I learn from everyone," he said. "When you come into this locker room you have to be humble, No. 1, and try to absorb everything that you can during the course of the year. Just know that you're not going to be perfect and try to persevere through it. That's exactly what every player needs to do." The defensive system isn't the only thing Seau is studying. He's also taken up the guitar. "Yeah, I'm horrible, but it's coming along," he said. "It's a lot different [than learning the playbook]. I don't have anyone helping me. I have to push through this little manual. I get about 20 minutes a night."

Wright, who missed Friday's exhibition game against the Titans and who last practiced Aug. 14, was back on the field. With Wright and Warren out of Friday's game, the Patriots started second-year player Le Kevin Smith at left defensive end. Warren (sprained elbow) has not been part of full-pads practices since participating in two plays in the exhibition opener at Tampa Bay Aug. 10 . . . Receiver Jabar Gaffney was sidelined for the second day in a row with what appeared to be a leg injury, while Randy Moss remained out of practice, as he has since pulling up Aug. 1 . . . Defensive back Larry Anam, safety Rashad Baker, offensive lineman Russ Hochstein, and tight end Kyle Brady were also held out . . . Belichick said the team spent yesterday's practice focusing mostly on Friday's opponent, the Panthers.

Christopher Gasper can be reached at gasper@globe.com