PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Ellis Hobbs' 108-yard kickoff return sets an
NFL record.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ellis Hobbs is not going to take a knee. No matter how deep the kickoff is into the end zone, he's going to run it out. Sunday afternoon, his kickoff return to start the second half jump-started the New England Patriots to a 38-14 victory over the New York Jets at Giants Stadium. Hobbs took the kickoff back 108 yards for a touchdown, weaving to his left, sliding off a hit by New York's David Bowens at the 20 and then cruising down the left sideline with an escort of blockers to give the Patriots a 21-7 lead. "I didn't even think about kneeling the ball," said Hobbs. "I'm taking them all out. I'm out there for a reason. They pay me to make plays. They pay me to do a job. They don't pay me to take knees. This isn't college, this isn't high school. We're in the NFL. They pay me to return the ball. They pay the guys in front of me to block." Hobbs' touchdown was the longest kickoff return in NFL history, eclipsing the 106-yarder held by three other players. The latest was Roy Green of the St. Louis Cardinals against Dallas on Oct. 21, 1979. The other two were Green Bay's Al Carmichael against Chicago on Oct. 17, 1956 and Kansas City's Noland Smith against Denver on Dec. 17, 1967. The play also tied the NFL record for longest play. Two Chicago players, Nathan Vasher and Devin Hester, returned missed field goals within a year of each other. Vasher did it against San Francisco on Nov. 13, 2005 and Hester did it against the New York Giants on Nov. 12, 2006. It was the second kickoff return for a touchdown in Hobbs' career, the other coming last Dec. 17, a 93-yarder against Houston. Hobbs admitted he enjoyed this one, taking a look at the big video screen about the stadium even as he ran down the field. "I'm not going to lie," he said. "I looked up at the screen. Ain't nothing wrong with a little Showtime." Hobbs took his peek at about the 25. And, he said, he didn't keep looking at the shot, concentrating instead on maintaining his stride. Hobbs called his return a "calculated risk," one that he's going to take every time. "I tell those guys all the time, even in practice, I'm bringing it out," he said. "I don't care. You don't make plays sitting on the sideline." Once he came out, Hobbs saw the play unfold and knew he had made the right decision. "When you start going, you can feel it," he said. "Just like a quarterback feels pressure, you can feel it opening up more and more and you just want to really turn it on." THE NEWCOMERS: Here's a quick look at how the Patriots' offseason additions did: Wide receiver Randy Moss caught nine passes for 183 yards and a touchdown; wide receiver Wes Welker caught six passes for 61 yards; wide receiver Donte Stallworth caught one pass for 19 yards; running back Sammy Morris rushed for 54 yards (4.9 average) and caught two passes for 11 yards; linebacker Adalius Thomas made five tackles and knocked down two passes (one was an interception that he dropped); wide receiver Kelley Washington made three special teams tackles and forced a fumble; tight end Kyle Brady didn't catch a pass, but was a key blocker on the line. "They have a lot of good players, whether it be wide receivers, tight ends, running backs, quarterbacks," said Jets Coach Eric Mangini. "They do a good job across the board." CORNERBACK ASANTE Samuel, who held out of training camp and signed on Aug. 28, didn't start, but he was in the game for good on the third play. He finished with two tackles. Samuel tied for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions last year. JARVIS GREEN, starting at defensive end for Richard Seymour, had six tackles and two sacks, as well as two quarterback hits. MIKE DeVITO, the former UMaine defensive lineman, was inactive for the game. DeVito, an undrafted free agent, made the Jets' 53-man roster out of training camp, but was one of seven players who did not dress for the opener. Cornerback Andre Dyson was also among the inactive players for New York. The Patriots inactive list included safety Rasha Baker, linebacker David Herron (who was claimed off waivers from Minnesota last week), offensive linemen Wesley Britt and Billy Yates, tight end David Thomas (who missed all of training camp and preseason while on the Physically Unable to Perform list), and defensive linemen Kareem Brown and Mike Wright. THE PATRIOTS made a couple of roster moves late Saturday night, signing linebacker Corey Mays and defensive lineman Santonio Thomas from the practice squad and releasing cornerback Tory James and tight end Marcellus Rivers. Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at: mlowe@pressherald.com

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