Patriots notebook

Cassel to leave team briefly

He'll be headed home after a death in family

Back in the fold, Junior Seau has resumed a vocal presence in the locker room. (Otto Gruele Jr./Getty Images)

By Mike Reiss

Globe Staff / December 10, 2008

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Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel is not expected to practice with the team today, as he has plans to return home because of a death in the family, according to a league source.

Patriots players were off yesterday, but preparations for Sunday's game against the Raiders are scheduled to begin today at San Jose State. The team traveled from Seattle to San Jose Sunday night following a 24-21 victory over the Seahawks, and will stay there this week.

Cassel, 26, is a native of Northridge, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles.

Inside info

Randy Moss and LaMont Jordan make their most noticeable contributions on the field, but both chipped in behind the scenes this week.

With both former Raiders preparing to face their old team for the first time since joining the Patriots, they shared information with the New England coaching staff regarding their time in Oakland.

"I talked to Randy about the specific players, their skills, strengths and weaknesses," Patriots coach Bill Belichick relayed yesterday via conference call. "He and LaMont know a lot of players on the Raiders team and I think that can definitely help us in our preparation. They know a lot better than we do."

Moss played for the Raiders from 2005-06, while Jordan was in Oakland from 2005-07.

Belichick described such conversations as standard operating procedure, but what seems to make the information from Moss and Jordan a bit more valuable is that the Raiders are an infrequent foe for the Patriots. The last time the teams met was at the start of the 2005 season.

That is in contrast to teams such as the Colts, Steelers, and division foes, whom the Patriots have faced regularly in recent years. In those cases, Belichick explained, the team might not delve as much into conversations with players who played on those teams.

Doing his share

It didn't take long for Junior Seau to resume his role as pregame motivational speaker. Seau apparently addressed the Patriots before Sunday's win despite having just joined the club two days earlier.

Belichick seems to appreciate what Seau brings to the team in that area.

"It is great," he said. "One thing about Junior, he is very enthusiastic, vocal, and positive.

"I don't think it ever gets old to hear a player of Junior's stature and the respect that he has on this football team, and the league for that matter, to step up and say what is on his mind, what is important to him, and what he thinks about the game, the situation or our team."

One to watch for

Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels noted that the Raiders play plenty of man-to-man coverage, which will make it a challenge for the New England receiving corps to get off the line of scrimmage against press coverage, be physical, and use their quickness to create separation.

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is perhaps the Raiders' top player, and one key matchup will be if he follows Moss across the field. For the most part, Belichick said, Asomugha usually sticks to a specific side, although he has matched up in the past.

A first-round draft choice in 2003 out of California, Asomugha was the Raiders' franchise player this past offseason. He has just one interception in 2008, matching his total from last season, but in 2006 he had eight.

"He doesn't get a lot of action, people stay away from him a good part of the time, so he doesn't get an inordinate number of opportunities to play the ball or have his receiver get it," Belichick said.

"He is very impressive, tight on the receiver, very physical on the line of scrimmage and is a good run-force player and tackler. He is a complete player."

No update on Bruschi

Belichick said he had no update on the status of linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who flew to Boston following Sunday's win to undergo tests on his injured left knee. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork, who hurt his shoulder on the Seahawks' first drive, remains with the team in California. James Sanders (ribs) also remained with the team. Although the practice load might be lighter for some banged-up players this week, outside of Bruschi, the other injured players could be ready to play . . . Ellis Hobbs's 55-yard kickoff return in the second quarter Sunday was touted as a big play by Belichick, as Hobbs continues to perform well in that role. His 1,140 kickoff-return yards this season mark the highest season total in team history . . . Wes Welker's 96 receptions lead the NFL, with the Texans' Andre Johnson (92) in the No. 2 spot . . . Brandon Meriweather's four interceptions are the highest total by a Patriots safety since Lawyer Milloy had six in 1998 . . . As they did on their October trip to the West Coast, the Patriots have flown their practice squad players out to participate in practices.

Christopher L. Gasper of the Globe staff contributed to this report.