That was enough for him to be honored as AFC Defensive Player of the Week, but it is what Meriweather has done all season that has impressed former teammate Rodney Harrison, now an analyst for NBC.

Harrison declared Meriweather not only a defensive leader but “right now he’s the MVP of that team,’’ while speaking about the Patriots’ defense on NBC’s “Football Night in America’’ Sunday night. Harrison added that he thought Meriweather and Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins are “probably playing the best of any safety in the AFC right now.’’

Yesterday, as the Patriots returned to practice for the first time this week, Meriweather brushed off the compliments from his former mentor with a smile.

“I have no comment on that,’’ Meriweather said. “Everybody has their own opinion. He might think that, but somebody else might think something else.’’

Meriweather said he appreciated the comments but wanted to keep it in perspective.

“I can’t look at it too hard because when you start to look at things too hard, then you start to play like it, you fall off, your head gets big,’’ Meriweather said. “I’m trying to stay humble, and just continue doing what I been doing.’’

Meriweather, who is in his third season with the Patriots, has 39 tackles this season and is tied with Darius Butler for the team lead in interceptions with two. Against Tampa Bay, Meriweather returned one of those interceptions 39 yards for a touchdown.

He didn’t hear about the weekly honor until after practice yesterday, but said, “I’m excited about it, but I know there’s still a lot of work to be done.’’

“That was important,’’ tight end Benjamin Watson said. “As a team, we don’t usually get to go on those field trips. We usually break here or break from work and go home to your family and then go back the next day. But we were forced to hang out together and eat dinner together, and go out and experience a new city together, so it was good.’’

From the flight to the long bus rides, there were plenty of chances to interact.

“It was definitely a good time to bond with the guys, get to know each other a lot better,’’ said defensive back Leigh Bodden.

He is the first Duquesne athlete to play in the NFL since 1953. While with the Dukes from 1999-2002, Bodden was part of four consecutive Metro Atlantic Conference titles and was a two-time first-team All-American. He also was the 2002 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year.

“It feels great,’’ Bodden said. “Not many people can say that their name is going to be in that school forever. That’s a great accomplishment, I think. I’m very fortunate to have gone to that school. I’m happy that it happened and I want to go celebrate with a lot of my old teammates.’’

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com.