Brady takes a big step forward

Quarterback practices with no wrap on foot

FOXBOROUGH - After missing Sunday night's exhibition game at Tampa Bay and two practices because of a sore right foot, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady rejoined his teammates for at least part of yesterday's full-pads workout at Gillette Stadium.

Brady was present and accounted for during the 15-minute media access portion, taking part in stretching, some light throwing, and handoffs.

Unlike the week of the Super Bowl, when pictures showed Brady's injured right ankle heavily wrapped, there was no such visible cushioning on his foot. He did not appear limited in his movements.

Brady's presence does not ensure he will play tomorrow night against the Eagles.

Asked if there was an update on Brady before practice, Bill Belichick said he was day to day, which has been the coach's standard response regarding injured players.

The right foot is important for a righthanded quarterback like Brady because it's the foot used at the end of the dropback to push off and accelerate forward.

Harrison mentors Lynch

When Rodney Harrison sustained what some believed was a career-ending knee injury in 2005, he received a telephone call from an unexpected source - then-Broncos safety John Lynch. "I thought that was pretty classy," Harrison said yesterday.

Now the two are teammates, and Harrison is returning the favor.

With Lynch attempting to master the playbook in a short period, Harrison has been a willing on-call tutor.

Harrison's presence has eased Lynch's transition.

"He's been through this before, and I just wanted confirmation that I'm not the only dunce in here, [because] this is a tough system to pick up," Lynch said. "You play this long and feel like you should be able to come in and pick something up right away, but there is a lot to this system.

"At times, I feel like it's coming slow, but then I look at the calendar and realize I've only been here four days. Rodney has been good with that. He went through it, and he's helped me, as have a lot of the guys."

The veteran safeties talked yesterday about their mutual respect.

"John is a guy that you look at yourself and gauge yourself against - future Hall of Famer, nine-time Pro Bowler, a guy who really plays the game the way it should be played," Harrison said. "So I'm definitely going to welcome him with open arms. I think he's one of the greatest safeties to ever play this game."

Lynch said he picks a few safeties each offseason to study, and Harrison is part of the group. "He's one of the guys at the top of his craft in our profession, specifically in what we do," Lynch said. "It's great to be playing with him now."

Boost for Samuel

With former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel returning tomorrow, Harrison - always one of Samuel's biggest boosters - was asked how his good pal is doing in Philadelphia. "He's doing great," Harrison said. "Wouldn't you - $60 million richer? He's doing wonderful."

Harrison then took issue when it was suggested Samuel might be subject to a "Patriots jinx," following in a line of free agents who left the team, only to be limited by injury elsewhere (e.g., Deion Branch, David Givens).

"He's a tremendous player and he's going to be a tremendous player no matter [what] uniform he puts on," Harrison said. "It's a story for [the media] to sit back and hate on him and wish that he does terrible because he didn't sign here. All in all, he's a friend of ours, and we wish him the best."

DeVree shaped up

When the Patriots released him June 11, free agent tight end Tyson DeVree was told the decision was based "on a numbers game," he said, but that there could be another opportunity, so it was in his best interest to stay in shape. "And I did," said DeVree yesterday as the 6-foot-6-inch, 245-pounder pulled on his shoulder pads to dress for his second practice. He was re-signed Tuesday following the release of 13-year veteran Marcus Pollard.

"I was at home with my wife when I got the call about 7 or 8 o'clock Monday night," said DeVree. "I got the call and I was flying out at 7 o'clock the next morning from Grand Rapids [Mich.]. I got here and they ran me through some conditioning tests and I was out there practicing [Tuesday], all within 12 hours, so I'm a little jet-lagged."

DeVree said it "was a matter of being patient" waiting for a call.

The usual suspects

Other than Brady, the same players who did not practice Tuesday were not on the field yesterday, making it unlikely they will play tomorrow. Among those not spotted during the media access portion: cornerback Jason Webster, defensive back Brandon Meriweather, cornerback Mike Richardson, running back Kyle Eckel, offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan, center/guard Russ Hochstein, offensive tackle Matt Light, guard/center Billy Yates, tight end Stephen Spach, wide receiver Sam Aiken, and defensive end Le Kevin Smith . . . With guard Stephen Neal on the physically unable to perform list and backups Hochstein and Yates out, the Patriots will be thin at right guard. Third-year player Dan Connolly and 10-year veteran John Welbourn are the likely candidates to step in against the Eagles' pressure-based defense. In addition, the Patriots worked out veteran free agent center/guard Mike Flynn, 34, who played in college at Maine, attended Springfield Cathedral High School, and has spent his entire NFL career with the Ravens. Flynn potentially would address the need for help along the interior - as a possible backup to Dan Koppen at center or starter at right guard.