Corner proves he's back

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Asante Samuel took an important first step toward meeting the playing time incentives in the amended $7.79 million franchise tender offer he signed with the Patriots after missing a month of training camp.

A source with knowledge of Samuel's contract confirmed the cornerback's deal with the Patriots prevents him from being franchised again next season if he plays 60 percent of the defensive snaps or the team wins 12 games.

The fifth-year player didn't start yesterday's game, as Randall Gay got the nod at left corner, but he entered on the fourth play and played extensively the rest of the way, finishing with two tackles in the Patriots' 38-14 victory over the New York Jets at Giants Stadium. After the game, Samuel said he felt pretty good, considering he didn't play in a single exhibition game.

"The body is not physically there like it needs to be," said Samuel. "You need to keep playing to get back in football shape. That's what the preseason games are for; when you keep playing those games you're in football shape. I felt pretty good. I didn't get too tired, so I'm ready to roll."

Coach Bill Belichick said Samuel was put through extra conditioning during the week. He said Samuel's playing time was tied to the Jets' use of multiple-receiver sets. "They were in a lot of three-receiver sets, so we were in a lot of multiple-defensive back defenses," said Belichick. "We were kind of forced to match up that way, but it looked like everybody held up OK."

Samuel was beaten on one of the Jets' two touchdown passes, as Laveranues Coles outleaped him on a 1-yarder in the third quarter that cut the New England lead to 28-14.

"He made a [heck] of a catch, man," said Samuel. "My hand was on the ball and I think he juggled it a little bit. He jumped real high and he has strong hands. Big ups to him."

Samuel said his biggest challenge will simply be getting into game shape.

"When you're back home you're working out by yourself and not really playing football," said Samuel. "When you're playing against another opponent, with a fast tempo, it gets you back into the shape you need to be in."

Welker does well

While Randy Moss was the headliner yesterday, Wes Welker had a solid first game as a Patriot. Welker finished with six catches for 61 yards and an 11-yard touchdown grab on New England's first drive.

Welker said he wasn't surprised by the proficiency of the Patriots' offense, which had Moss for the first time. The Patriots were only forced to punt once, and that came after Welker dropped a first-quarter pass on third and 2 from the Patriots' 47 that would have earned New England a first down.

"That's what we expect to do," said Welker. "We're looking to get up and down the field and make plays. That's our job and I think the one time we didn't do that was frustrating and we've got to make sure we execute on those plays and finish them."

Iron Mike

One of the benefits of having Adalius Thomas lining up at inside linebacker on early downs is the return of 11-year veteran Mike Vrabel to outside linebacker. Vrabel had a monster day, with seven tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Vrabel spent the tail end of last season on the inside, filling in for the injured Junior Seau. That meant he was in pass coverage more often.

"I rush a lot more than I did last year," Vrabel said. "Whatever you're asked to do, you have to try to execute that responsibility the best you can, whether it's covering or rushing."

Filling in admirably

Filling in for the injured Richard Seymour, six-year veteran Jarvis Green turned in a solid performance, totaling six tackles and two sacks.

"It was a pretty good game for me," said Green, who lined up at right defensive end. "For me, it was more conditioning, having the wind to go out there and do the things, because when you get tired your thinking isn't the same and the reaction time isn't the same."

Green had a third-quarter sack that resulted in Jets quarterback Chad Pennington hobbling off the field with an apparent right ankle injury. Pennington collapsed, then got up and limped to the sideline, angrily flinging his helmet to the ground.

Green wasn't sure what happened.

"He got twisted up in there somehow," Green said.

Morris chips in

Maybe the Patriots will have a two-back system after all. Sammy Morris, signed as a free agent in the offseason from Miami, had a strong debut in the backfield, rushing 11 times for 54 yards.

His 13-yard run on the Patriots' first drive was their longest of the day.

Morris had to leave the field with an injury following an 8-yard gain early in the fourth quarter, but he returned on the same drive.

A clutch move

It wouldn't be a Patriots-Jets game if there wasn't focus on the postgame handshake between the coaches. Belichick and Jets coach Eric Mangini had a traditional game-ending handshake, with Belichick clutching Mangini's left wrist and pulling him closer before the two exchanged a few brief words . . . The Jets picked up a free first down in the second quarter when Seau had a Chris Webber moment. On third and 1 from the New England 16, Seau tried to call a timeout his team didn't have as he came off the field and was called for offsides. The Patriots used all three of their first-half timeouts in the first quarter. Brady took one before the touchdown pass to Welker and they called back-to-back timeouts before the end of the first quarter, the final one to force the Jets to punt into the wind from their 12 before the end of the period . . . Brady's 51-yard touchdown pass to Moss was the 150th TD pass of his career. He joins Steve Grogan (182) and Drew Bledsoe (166) as the only quarterbacks in Patriots history to total 150 TDs . . . The Patriots' inactives were safety Rashad Baker, linebacker David Herron, tight end David Thomas, defensive lineman Mike Wright, defensive end Kareem Brown, and offensive linemen Wesley Britt and Billy Yates. Matt Gutierrez, who got in the game, was the third quarterback. The Jets had a surprise inactive in rookie left guard Jacob Bender, who was projected to start the game. The other New York inactives were quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo, cornerback Andre Dyson, safety Eric Smith, fullback Darian Barnes, defensive end Mike DeVito, tight end Jason Pociask, and wide receiver Chansi Stuckey . . . The Patriots evened their record in season openers to 24-24.