Junior's varsity: Retiree still follows the team

SAN DIEGO - He attacks the waves on his surfboard now, not opposing ball carriers. If Junior Seau had his preference the waves could wait.

No surprise there. Seau went after it hard for 18 NFL seasons, often the first player to arrive in the locker room before the sun came up every morning, whether it was in San Diego, Miami, or New England. So he knew this wouldn't be easy.

"It's the first year I haven't been part of an organization, a locker room, the first time I haven't been able to speak in a huddle," Seau said yesterday before the Chargers thumped the Patriots, 30-10.

"There are a lot of times in the course of the year, during the journey, that are ups and downs. I miss that. I miss that challenge. That's what keeps us coming back for more."

The 39-year-old Seau would have come back for more this year, but only with the Patriots. It wasn't possible because of a combination of his health - he had offseason shoulder surgery in which his recovery took longer than expected, and he wasn't ready for the start of training camp - and the Patriots' infusion of youth with rookie inside linebackers Jerod Mayo and Gary Guyton.

No regrets, he said yesterday. He also left the door open for a return, and he'd presumably be first on speed dial if Tedy Bruschi, Mayo, or Guyton - the Patriots' top three inside linebackers - suffer an injury.

Seau always kept himself in tip-top shape and he still looks like he could walk into a locker room today and contribute, even if he's been spending most of his days going surf's up on the beaches of San Diego.

Yesterday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft took the time to let Seau know how much he appreciated what he contributed in 2006 and 2007. In a touch of class, Kraft personally presented Seau a 2007 AFC championship ring and said he hoped Seau would be spotted on a field again.

Seau, while not expecting a call from the Patriots, said he hoped that'd be the case, too.

"The only reason why I would come back is to finish what we didn't finish last year. That's the only purpose. There is no other reason for me to come back," he said. "With the guys in that locker room, and obviously the organization, there is such a great tie. I have a place in my heart for them forever. I wouldn't want to fight for anyone else but [Robert] Kraft and [Bill] Belichick."

Although he said he's enjoying time with his children - packing coolers, going to volleyball and football games - he's also remained in contact with members of the Patriots and is "watching them every play."

He likes what he's seen from his replacement, who not only is playing the same position as Seau but also took over his locker.

"Mayo is doing a great job," Seau said. "Obviously, there is such an excitement for Mayo to be in there with the guys that surround him. If there is a young player in the league today, there is no better place than to be with the Patriots and the defensive players."

When Patriots fans last saw Seau, he had been riding a roller coaster of emotion at the end of Super Bowl XLII. After the Patriots went ahead late in the fourth quarter, the image of Seau - closing in on his first Super Bowl ring - was hard to miss as he celebrated with Bruschi on the sideline.

Yet after the Giants pulled off their miraculous comeback, it was also hard to miss Seau, face down on the University of Phoenix field, hurting from having the championship slip out of his grasp.

Reflecting on last season, Seau said he focuses less on the result and more on the process.

"The only memory I have is being able to be part of something special. It was a special journey for all of us," he said. "There wasn't one game that [was] going to take that away. I'm going to hold on to that forever. There are only a certain amount of days, a certain amount of moments in life, that you can cherish. Being part of the New England Patriots, in the two years I was there, especially last year 18-1, is something I can rest with."

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