Welker isn't striking back

He says Clark hit was part of game

FOXBOROUGH - Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker does not expect any apologies from Steelers safety Ryan Clark, nor does he see why one would be necessary. Clark's vicious hit on Welker last Sunday, for which Clark drew a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, was, in Welker's mind, merely a part of the sport.

"It's a football play," Welker said. "It is what it is. No sense in crying or whining about it. You just have to keep on moving on and get ready for the next week."

Welker practiced yesterday and was not listed on the injury report, good news for the Patriots given he did not return to the game after Clark blasted him. Welker has watched film from the play, and he appeared unfazed by the hit while talking to reporters.

Welker never saw Clark as he ran over the middle ("Did it look like I saw him coming?" Welker asked). The ball tipped off the hands of another Steelers defensive back. While Welker slowed and tried to track the ball, Clark leveled Welker, knocking him onto his back hard against the turf.

"The ball got tipped and, you know, he came in and made a good play," Welker said. "Like any other hit, you just take it in stride and make sure you're getting ready for the next opportunity you have to get back out there."

On Monday, Mike Pereira, the NFL vice president of officiating, told WFAN Radio in New York that the hit by Clark was legal because he did not lead with his helmet or forearm when delivering the blow. Pereira pointed out that Clark was permitted to leave his feet, but indicated that the league would review the play further to determine if the hit was late. An NFL spokesman said Clark would not be fined.

"The hit was the hit," Welker said. "It's kind of a dead issue to me now."

Man of his words

Defensive end Richard Seymour stood by the comments he made earlier this week on WEEI about wanting to play more on third down while also making clear he accepts coach Bill Belichick's decisions about his playing time.

"It is what it is at this point," Seymour said. "Just go out and play football. When your number is called, go out and give maximum effort.

"Me and Coach Belichick have a good relationship. He has his opinions on what he thinks is best for the team, best for individual players. We just move forward from that standpoint. That's basically how it is."

Seymour stressed he takes pride in being viewed as a versatile and reliable lineman, which is part of the reason he wants to be included in third-down packages.

"When I look at a good a defensive lineman, that's what I look at," Seymour said. "Stop the run, rush the passer, be an every-down player. That's important to me."

Warren misses out

Defensive end Ty Warren, who has missed two of the last three games with a groin injury, did not practice yesterday. Kelley Washington also was out with a thigh injury. LaMont Jordan (calf), Tedy Bruschi (knee), and Ellis Hobbs (shoulder) continued to have only limited participation . . . The Patriots added linebacker Angelo Craig to their practice squad. Craig, 23, was drafted by the Bengals out of the University of Cincinnati in the seventh round and spent one day on the Panthers practice squad . . . Seymour, a Georgia alum, wore a Georgia Tech T-shirt in the locker room as a consequence of his bet with linebacker Gary Guyton, a rookie who played for the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech beat Georgia, 45-42, last Saturday. "It hurts," Seymour said.

Mike Reiss of the Globe staff contributed to this report.