Gostkowski's a long shot

He's confident of going the distance

FOXBOROUGH - Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski is doing some long-range planning for this season.

Gostkowski made 21 of the 24 field goals he attempted last season, but his long was just 45 yards. That may have come into play in Super Bowl XLII, when Patriots coach Bill Belichick passed up a 49-yard attempt to go for it on fourth and 13.

It's not as if Gostkowski doesn't have the leg. He holds the Gillette Stadium record for the longest field goal, a 52-yarder he drilled his rookie year against the Chicago Bears, and hit the only other 50-yarder he's attempted in his NFL career, against the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Divisional playoff round in 2007.

Gostkowski, whose longest attempt last season was from 48 yards, said that part of the reason he didn't attempt many long kicks was his team's potent offense.

"It's not like I can't make them or I won't make them," said Gostkowski. "I just didn't have the opportunity."

Gostkowski said that no matter the distance, a field goal is a field goal on the scoreboard.

"Kicking a 50-yarder is great, but kicking a 30-yarder counts just as many points," Gostkowski said. "It's just a little more exciting. But if I get the chance, I'm hoping to capitalize on them this year. It's definitely an area of work, but you get most of your work in the midrange area.

"You want to work where you're going to get the bulk of your work, and that's what we concentrate on."

Despite last season's doubts, Gostkowski is the lone kicker in camp.

"That's [team management's] decision," said Gostkowski, "and whether they had someone in or not, I'd feel like it was my job to lose or win.

"As long as I'm here, I'm going to feel that way, and I got to work hard to prove that I'm going to be the guy whether someone is in here or not."

Safety measures

Safety Rodney Harrison, 35, came off the physically-unable-to-perform list yesterday and participated in the afternoon full-pads practice, which followed a walkthrough in the morning. He joined his teammates on Day 6 of camp.

Harrison, entering his 15th season and sixth with the Patriots, made 67 tackles, registered two sacks, and had an interception last season.

With Harrison coming off the PUP, the Patriots now have nine players on the list: defensive end Jarvis Green, cornerback Ellis Hobbs, guard Stephen Neal, tackle Oliver Ross, linebackers Bo Ruud and Mike Vrabel, wide receiver Wes Welker, center Ryan Wendell, and defensive lineman Mike Wright.

Just gripe, baby

Scarred by Randy Moss's renaissance in New England, Raiders owner Al Davis is upset that running back LaMont Jordan landed with the Patriots after the Raiders released him Friday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The paper reported that Davis released Jordan on the condition he not sign with either the Patriots or the Denver Broncos.

"From my understanding, my release wasn't based on that," said Jordan, who had an acrimonious parting with Oakland, which told him not to show up at the team's training camp.

"My release was based on the fact the Raiders no longer wanted me out there. I think that's what it comes down to."

Jordan said he's happy to be a Patriot - calling it a privilege and an honor - and said he would love to duplicate the success Moss had after arriving from Oakland.

"I'll tell you what, if we have the same results with this Raider, I'll be happy about that," said Jordan.

"That's ex-Raider, for the record."

Book buddies

Terrence Wheatley said he and fellow rookie corner Jonathan Wilhite, who are rooming together, have become playbook study pals.

Wheatley, who had a nice knockdown of a pass intended for Moss in the end zone, said the same is true of all the new cornerbacks, even veterans Fernando Bryant, Lewis Sanders, and Jason Webster.

"Yeah, we definitely compare notes after practice, like, 'So, did you see what Randy did that play? How close I was, but I wasn't really that close,' " said Wheatley. "You do stuff like that. You definitely go over the playbook, and you make sure that we're all on the same page. Even though we're competing, we are a team. We definitely want to help out each other as much as we can."

Thomas missing

One day after suffering an apparent lower leg injury, tight end David Thomas, who landed on injured reserve with a foot injury last season, was absent from the afternoon practice session. He was joined by Webster, left tackle Matt Light, linebacker Vince Redd, tackle Anthony Clement, and defensive end Richard Seymour. Light, Webster, and Redd have not participated in a practice since Saturday . . . NFL umpire Butch Hannah, one of three officials in camp, provided some details of the defensive coach-to-player communication system. Teams are allowed to designate two players, but they cannot be on the field at the same time. Hannah said that if the second player with the radio receiver enters the game, he must check in with the umpire, but no announcement (a la tackle-eligibles) will be made. Failure to report, or the presence of both headphone-outfitted defenders on the field, will result in a 5-yard penalty . . . Procedure penalty: In this space yesterday, it was reported that Patriots legend Andre Tippett would be enshrined in the Hall of Fame Sunday in Canton, Ohio. The ceremony is Saturday.

Mike Reiss of the Globe staff contributed to this report