FOXBORO -- Veteran running back Corey Dillon said last night that it was his helmet, not another player, that caused the eye injury he suffered in the first quarter of Saturday's game against Washington.

"My helmet was too big, and when I hit the ground, it moved and poked me in the eye," the 10-year veteran said at the team's annual Kickoff Gala.

There was some swelling, and Dillon didn't return to the game. But he was at practice yesterday and Monday.

Patriots team owner Robert Kraft, vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli and coach Bill Belichick were also at the event, at which season ticket-holders get a chance to interact with all of the players and the team gives out its Ron Burton Community Service Award, which this year went to Jarvis Green.

Kraft was asked about the Deion Branch situation, and whether the owner had a say in the decision by the team to let Branch and his agent, Jason Chayut, try to find a trade for the disgruntled receiver.

"We're aware of what's going on here, but we have managers we trust," Kraft said. "Both Bill and Scott have done an excellent job and I think our performance speaks for itself. There's a lot of ups and downs along the way that you can't predict, and we have to be there as a unit, standing together."

Not surprisingly, the longest autograph line was for Tom Brady, though injured linebacker Tedy Bruschi was also there and signing. Bruschi had a soft cast on his surgically repaired right wrist.

-- SHALISE MANZA YOUANG