Patriots' Redd trades in blue for black

Team rewards his practice performance

VINCE REDDPlayed Porter

FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots dressed warmly for yesterday's light practice, wearing sweats and shells. Before heading out the door of the locker room, reserve linebacker Vince Redd tugged his No. 49 jersey over his head, but it wasn't blue, like the ones ordinarily worn by the defense in practice.

Redd's was black.

The 6-foot-6-inch, 260-pound linebacker earned the right to don the special black jersey - a weekly honor bestowed to players who do exemplary work on the scout squad and prepare the team to win that week's game - by playing the role of Joey Porter in practice leading up to last Sunday's 48-28 romp over the Dolphins.

"For me, it's like going back to high school, because our colors were orange and black," said Redd, who attended Elizabethton (Tenn.) High, where he registered 104 career tackles for the Cyclones before going on to the University of Virginia and then transferring to Liberty University. "I love wearing black; a black jersey has always been nice."

Bill Belichick said recognizing the efforts of practice players was meant as a way to make those reserves or inactives feel fully invested in the outcome of that week's game. Last week, veteran running back Kevin Faulk played the part of Ronnie Brown when the Patriots prepared for Miami's "Wildcat" package, so he was also awarded a black jersey.

"We try to find ways to make everybody feel a part of the team," Belichick said. "Not everybody can be active for the game. Not everybody plays in the game, but everybody has a role during the week in preparation, and that is important, too.

"Same thing in the offseason program; everybody participates in that and can be recognized, to a certain degree, for what they do. There are some guys that get a lot of attention - the guys who get a lot of sacks, get a lot of touchdowns, and they get their recognition one way - but there are a lot of players that contribute to the team in a very significant way that we can recognize as a team and appreciate.

"There are a lot of different ways to do that and the practice player's jersey is one way."

Others who garnered practice player honors this week included offensive lineman Russ Hochstein, practice squad safety Mark Dillard, reserve linebacker Gary Guyton, and, of course, Redd, whose job it was to impersonate the bombastic Porter.

So, did he give the Patriots' offense a full-throated dose of Porter?

"I probably didn't talk as much as he does," Redd said with a laugh. "But I guess, in some ways, [the offense] doesn't like him. That's just how it goes; you've just got to work hard in practice."

Did Redd go as far as to kick some dirt, as Porter often does after he sacks the quarterback?

"Whatever he does," Redd said. "I thought he was signaling the punt team; that's what I always thought. Yeah, it's good and you work hard in practice and the guys on defense got that thing that if you make enough plays or give a good look the whole week, then you get the jersey to wear."

But Redd, who was signed as a rookie free agent May 2, released from preseason camp Aug. 30, then signed to the practice squad Aug. 31, was rewarded in a more meaningful way when he was signed to the active roster last Saturday.

"Vince is part of what we're doing now," said outside linebacker Mike Vrabel. "I think it's what Bill has done a lot since I've been here. You get a young guy who has talent and just needs to get some work in and he works him during the week on the practice squad and he impresses everybody.

"If you keep working and you do the right things, then you get your opportunity to play on Sundays, and Vince is no different from a lot of guys who have done that."

Redd joined the team on its trip to Miami and made his NFL debut against the Dolphins, seeing action on special teams coverage and return units and recording one tackle.

"That's what I've been waiting on; just to get my chance to go out there," Redd said. "Now I just have to go out there, study hard, and be able to make plays. But, yeah, it just felt good to be down there, to be on the trip. I haven't been on one for so long that it felt good to be able to go out there and practice and just play."

What was particularly gratifying to Redd was the fact that Porter registered hardly a blip in the game: one third-quarter sack of quarterback Matt Cassel. It had little to no impact on the Patriots' 11-play, 78-yard scoring march that resulted in Cassel's 8-yard touchdown toss to Randy Moss for a 24-21 lead.

"I guess that meant I gave 'em a good look all week," Redd chuckled.

His contribution earned Redd the right to don black during this week's practices in preparation for tomorrow's game against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps, this will be his chance to shine?

"It'll be a chance to get in there and not mess up, more than anything else," Redd said with a nervous chuckle. "A chance to do my part, and hopefully help our team get a win."

Michael Vega can be reached at vega@globe.com.