Patriots' Aiken is on a role

Former Bill eager to help the team

SAM AIKENPhysical presence

FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots seemed like a comfortable fit for wide receiver Sam Aiken from the start. After five years with the Buffalo Bills, primarily as a special teams player, Aiken was contacted by the Patriots Feb. 29, just as the free agency period opened - and who wouldn't be flattered to have Bill Belichick calling? Aiken signed a two-year contract March 3, a deal that could be worth a maximum of $2 million if he reaches his incentives.

Aiken, 27, was expected to be a standout special teams player and, perhaps, stretch out at wide receiver. But after injuring his right knee in the first exhibition game Aug. 7, Aiken didn't get to play until Game 3 of the regular season Sept. 21, the Patriots' 38-13 loss to the Dolphins. The downtime was frustrating, as Aiken was aching to prove himself, but restricted to rehabbing in the weight room and watching film.

"All the time I was out, I was missing it, so I just paid attention as much as I could," said Aiken. "It was really more of a motivating factor for me to hurry up and get out there. It was supposed to be 6-8 weeks recovering time, and I cut that in half. It let them know I wanted to play."

Aiken was drafted by the Bills in the third round in 2003 out of the University of North Carolina, where he had a school-record 68 catches as a senior. In Buffalo, where he played in 64 games, the 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound Aiken was used as a special teams player and he was a force, racking up 61 career tackles for the Bills' unit, which was No. 1 in punt coverage and punt returns last year, and fifth in kickoff coverage.

He plays the special team role for the Patriots, too. But he can do more.

Though he came to New England with only 19 career receptions in five years, he offered a look at his skills at receiver against the Dolphins. With Kelley Washington out with an ankle injury, Aiken was the No. 4 receiver behind Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Jabar Gaffney. He was in for 15 snaps and had one reception for 9 yards, converting a third and 2 from the New England 42.

Washington did not practice yesterday and is listed as doubtful for tomorrow's game at San Francisco. However, the Patriots added wide receiver Maurice Price to the mix last week, signing the 6-1, 175-pounder after he was released by Kansas City.

Aiken is so soft-spoken, he nearly swallows his words before he gets them out. But as Le Kevin Smith, who has the adjacent stall in the locker room, said, "He says it real low, but he says it."

"Sam's a physical player," said Washington, also part of the Patriots' special teams unit. "We came out together in the draft, and we worked out together in Arizona. When he played in Buffalo, he's always been a standout special teams player and I think that he brings a lot of toughness to the team and adds another dimension as far as the special teams side of the ball.

"I think, just like a lot of us that come to this team, he's getting an opportunity to play offense, where he didn't play offense in Buffalo. So this is a good opportunity for him. He's been a good addition to the team."

Aiken allowed that his physicality is his strong point. He's tough. The former high school all-state high jumper would like to get a chance to grab a few more passes, but he's not frustrated with his duties. He's happy being part of this team, it's the right place at the right time and he said the first attribute of the team he noticed was the unity. "It's all one," he said.

Aiken pulled out a smile at last. "It's going good, real good," Aiken said. "I do whatever they ask me to do. I'm not a guy that 'wants.' I'm a role player."

Barbara Matson can be reached at matson@globe.com.