Veteran Faulk being good scout

FOXBOROUGH - A 10-year veteran who previously served as a team captain doesn't often play on the scout team, but that hasn't stopped running back Kevin Faulk from diving into the role this week.

Faulk has been playing the role of Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown in Miami's "Wildcat" package, in which Brown takes direct snaps from center like a quarterback.

Defensive end Mike Wright, echoing other teammates, has been appreciative of the effort.

"Kevin is just out there trying to help his team, and you have tremendous respect for that, how he takes pride in helping out the other side of the ball," he said.

The Dolphins have run 59 plays out of the "Wildcat" this season, averaging 7.1 yards, with eight touchdowns.

In addition to Faulk, running backs Heath Evans and BenJarvus Green-Ellis have also performed on the scout team, replicating the roles of Ricky Williams and Patrick Cobbs in that package.

"We're not Ronnie Brown, we're not Ricky, but we're just trying to duplicate the speed and the tempo that it's done at to give our defense a good look so the problems it created last time can hopefully be fixed," Evans said.

While some veteran players across the NFL might balk at playing on the scout team, Evans indicated the backs in New England look at it differently.

"It's almost fun for us, too, because you get to be a part of helping to solve a riddle that really hurt us as a team last time," he said. "There were five or six plays that put us in a hole. They're still doing it, and they're doing it at a high level, so we have to find an answer for it and it feels good to help."

One way the coaching staff recognizes exemplary scout-team work is by awarding special black jerseys to those players who best help the team prepare in the days leading up to a victory.

Players on the regular offense and defense often cite the work of the scout team as integral.

"I think that's something everyone around here would do. If you're called upon to help out the team for that week, you're going to step in and help out, no matter the position," Wright said. "Everybody does a great job and takes a lot of pride in it. It helps so much to get a realistic look and to really pay attention to what the other side of the ball is doing."

Tuna talk

Former Patriots coach Bill Parcells, a leading figure in the team's rebuilding efforts in the mid-1990s, has his fingerprints all over the Dolphins' 6-4 start. Serving as Miami's executive vice president of football operations, Parcells's presence is felt regularly around the team's facility.

While coach Tony Sparano said Parcells doesn't set practice schedules or get involved with game-planning, he remains a valuable sounding board.

"As far as what I've learned from him, the list is long. He prepared me to be in this position, without a doubt," Sparano said. "Some of the greatest strengths I think I've taken from him are the game-management parts of this whole thing. As a young coach, what I'm finding, finally the game is starting to slow down a little bit for me right now, kind of like a quarterback. He's helped me do that from what he's taught me along the way."

In terms of Parcells's imprint on the Dolphins, Sparano cited his personnel acumen, and how the team continues to add quality players to the bottom of the roster.

Brown said players often see Parcells at practices and in the weight room, and he called his presence a reminder of winning and the mission to "turn your organization around."

Seeing less Seymour

Defensive end Richard Seymour, whose return to health this season has helped him total a team-high six sacks and 11 quarterback hits, was limited in practice yesterday with a toe injury. Seymour hadn't been spotted Tuesday in the 15-minute window that reporters view practice.

Elsewhere on the injury front, coach Bill Belichick was noncommittal when asked if outside linebacker Adalius Thomas (broken right forearm) has a chance to return this season. Thomas has yet to be placed on injured reserve.

Rookie cornerback Jonathan Wilhite was held out of practice with flu-like symptoms, while running back LaMont Jordan (calf) and Thomas also did not practice. Cornerback Mike Richardson and safety/receiver Ray Ventrone, both of whom had concussions, fully participated.

New perspective

Nose tackle Vince Wilfork, speaking with Dolphins beat reporters yesterday, noted that quarterback Matt Cassel continues to win over the team's locker room. "I think a lot of guys are looking at him in a different light now, almost putting him in that leading category because of the way he's playing," Wilfork said . . . Wilfork on how injuries have affected the Patriots: "I think this year has been a little different. It forces us to do some things that we normally don't do, to play differently, to approach games differently, our preparation is different. There are a lot of things that we had to start doing that we haven't done in a long time." . . . Receiver Wes Welker sees the Patriots' margin for error thinning. "It's getting to the point in the season where some must-wins are starting to come along," he said. "This is a big game, especially as tight as our division is." . . . Welker donned a red Texas Tech winter cap in the locker room, as he was saluting his alma mater in the days leading up to Saturday's showdown with Oklahoma . . . Wright, who started at left end last Thursday against the Jets in place of the injured Ty Warren (groin), said it was a confidence boost to get the nod even though he'd played mostly at nose tackle before that game . . . After practicing in full pads Tuesday for the first time in about a month, the Patriots went without pads yesterday . . . The team has practiced inside the Dana-Farber Field House the last two days, likely with the warmer South Florida elements in mind . . . The Dolphins have turned the ball over just eight times (five interceptions, three fumbles), the lowest total in the NFL . . . Miami averages 6.09 yards per first-down play, which ranks third in the NFL . . . Former UMass receiver Brandon London has fit in nicely with the Dolphins, according to Sparano. Calling him "an arrow-up" player because he keeps improving, Sparano noted that London plays an important role on special teams.