Travel plans in works

Team considering West Coast stays

FOXBOROUGH - Coach Bill Belichick said yesterday the Patriots are considering remaining on the West Coast when the team has back-to-back games in the Pacific time zone.

The Patriots visit the San Francisco 49ers Oct. 5, then play the San Diego Chargers Oct. 12.

Later in the season, the team travels to Seattle Dec. 7, then heads south for Randy Moss's return to Oakland Dec. 14.

"We've talked about that and that's something we'll look into," Belichick said. "I think that's certainly a consideration."

If the Patriots work out the logistics - perhaps utilizing resources at a local college or high school - it might relieve some of the strain of making multiple trips across the country in a short span.

The Jets also have four trips out West. But those are spread out - they visit the Chargers in Week 3, the Raiders in Week 7, the 49ers in Week 14, and the Seahawks in Week 16.

'91 revisited

When Belichick assessed the NFL draft yesterday, he said it reminded him of 1991. The Patriots had the first pick after a 1-15 season under coach Rod Rust.

The Patriots traded the pick to Dallas, which selected defensive lineman Russell Maryland, and New England acquired Dallas's first-round pick (11th, offensive tackle Pat Harlow) and second-round selection (41st, cornerback Jerome Henderson) as well as veterans Ron Francis, David Howard, and Eugene Lockhart.

Why the similarity between this year's draft, when the Patriots pick No. 7, and 1991?

"I think this is a draft where there doesn't appear to be a clear-cut No. 1 player," Belichick said during his predraft press conference at Gillette Stadium. "I'm sure if somebody contacted teams anonymously about who their top players are, there would be some discrepancies. To me, it's a little bit like the '91 draft. I don't think there was any consensus on the order of those players and Russell Maryland was a little bit of a surprise choice at No. 1."

Belichick noted the second round of the '91 draft produced players who outplayed first-round talent - the second-round class included quarterback Brett Favre, linebacker Roman Phifer, and defensive lineman Phil Hansen.

Visiting hours ending

The Patriots will finish their predraft visits with prospects this week - Auburn defensive end/outside linebacker Quentin Groves is scheduled to be in town today - before finalizing player grades next week and assessing draft strategy. As for the player targeted at No. 7, Belichick said the team has "it narrowed down to a much smaller target than we had two weeks ago or two months ago." . . . Belichick credited vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli and newly appointed director of player personnel Nick Caserio with making sure the team's scouts and coaches blanketed the country in the scouting process . . . Belichick believes the draft is similar to past years for linebackers in a 3-4 defense, which means the pickings are slim. He believes there is more depth at cornerback . . . Belichick is interested to see how cutting the first round from 15 minutes per pick to 10 affects teams. He said clubs making detailed trades involving first-round picks often needed the allotted time.

Wilfork tunes out

Nose tackle Vince Wilfork, who has participated in the offseason program, said he hasn't watched the Super Bowl. He has no plans to look back on the disappointing result.

"We did a couple of good things last year, but you play this game for one thing and one thing only - and that's the Super Bowl, which we lost," he said. "We came up short - 18-0 really doesn't mean anything to me, 18-0 doesn't put a ring on my finger. Whatever it takes to get back to that level of play for me to help my ball club, that's what I'm going to do. I'm working hard this offseason to do that."

Wilfork started his offseason diet early this year and has already lost 10 pounds. He also is promoting his draft party (pinzbowl.com), from which proceeds go to diabetes research. Wilfork said he is not thinking about his contract status - his deal expires in 2009 - although several defensive linemen have cashed in with big deals this offseason.

Seward not on radar

Tomorrow is the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets, and barring a late change, the Patriots are not planning to sign Carolina linebacker Adam Seward, according to a league source. The team has hosted Seward at Gillette Stadium. If the Patriots sign Seward and the Panthers do not match, it would cost New England a fifth-round draft choice . . . The Patriots had free agent Mitch Berger, 35, in Tuesday. He could compete with incumbent punter Chris Hanson . . . The Patriots have 60 players on their roster. The team can bring 80 to training camp. With eight draft picks, that would leave 12 spots for free agents . . . Belichick will be inducted into the newly established Wesleyan University Athletics Hall of Fame May 23 as part of a class that includes marathon great Bill Rodgers.

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.