Brady (foot) doesn't make Tampa trip

The Patriots play the Buccaneers in Tampa tonight, but quarterback Tom Brady did not make the trip. Brady remained in the New England area because of a sore foot, according to an NFL source.

Brady, whose injured right ankle was a hot topic of discussion last January when he was spotted in New York City wearing a protective boot, did not practice on Friday.

It is unknown which foot is causing Brady problems.

Brady told media members Wednesday that he was looking forward to playing in the preseason at some point. When asked how he would feel about not taking a snap in the preseason, Brady, who did not play in the opener, said that wasn't an issue because he expected to play.

His absence means the quarterback duties will be split among Matt Cassel, Matt Gutierrez, and Kevin O'Connell tonight.

New start for Wilson
Seemingly, everything is different for Eugene Wilson this season. New team . . . new position . . . new jersey number.

The new will meet up with the old tonight as Wilson and Tampa Bay host the Patriots.

"I still have great memories from my time in New England, winning the two Super Bowls, but I'm here in Tampa now and it's a time to start fresh," Wilson said.

As part of that fresh start, Wilson has switched from safety to nickel cornerback (playing in the slot against a third receiver). In the base defense, he backs up 12-year veteran Ronde Barber at right cornerback. Wilson is also no longer No. 26, but instead wears No. 38 because "that's pretty much all they had."

"It's been real good," Wilson said of his transition, which became official March 17 when he inked a one-year contract with Tampa Bay that could be worth as much as $1.8 million.

"We had a real good camp, and for me, I made it all the way through camp healthy. That's one of the main things I want to accomplish, staying healthy throughout the whole season, just getting out on the field and performing well and helping the team win a championship. We want to be the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium." Super Bowl XLIII will be held in Tampa Feb. 1, 2009.

Wilson, who turns 28 today, knows a thing or two about Super Bowls. When the Patriots were winning Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX - over the Panthers and Eagles - those were some of Wilson's best years in New England.

He was a rookie in 2003 and ended up as a surprise replacement for Lawyer Milloy at safety after Milloy was cut prior to the season opener. A second-round draft choice out of Illinois, Wilson was mostly a cornerback, so the position change was a surprise to some around the NFL.

Yet he was a starter in his first three seasons in New England before injuries limited his playing time in his final two years with the club. In 2006, he had a torn groin and a hernia that knocked him out after just four games. Last season, a mild high ankle sprain kept him on the sidelines for five games, although he felt he could have returned sooner.

He's enjoying being part of coach Jon Gruden's program.

"He's a lively, energetic guy. He's a cool coach. He knows his stuff," Wilson said. "He's hard-nosed when it's time to get down to business. Camp this year wasn't too gruesome, but at the same time we got a lot of things done."

On a learning curve
O'Connell, the Patriots' third-round draft choice out of San Diego State, received valuable experience in the exhibition opener against the Ravens Aug. 7. He hopes it's a springboard for better things, starting tonight.

"I learned a ton last week; every snap there was something new that I learned to apply going forward," the 23-year-old O'Connell said. "I just want to continue to grow. I just want to continue to move the football and be a catalyst whenever I'm in there."

O'Connell was on the field for 27 snaps against the Ravens, entering late in the third quarter and playing the remainder of the game. He finished 6 of 13 for 57 yards with one interception (a pass that should have been caught by C.J. Jones), and added 22 rushing yards on two carries.

Lynch willing, but is he ready?
It would seem highly unlikely that newly signed safety John Lynch plays tonight after just one full-pads practice, but he wouldn't mind suiting up against the Buccaneers, the team with which he spent the first 11 seasons of his career. "I studied hard [Wednesday] night and I am picking it up," said Lynch. "We will see. If they want me out there, I would love to be out there. I would love the opportunity [to play in] my old stomping grounds."