EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Asante Samuel wasn't just being a good company man when he said "both sides are happy" with the way his contract deal played out.

On Sunday, a league source confirmed the terms that got the cornerback to sign his franchise tender: if he plays 60 percent of the defensive snaps or New England wins 12 games, Samuel will not be franchised again next year.

That means that even if Samuel were to get hurt, he'd be free to hit the open market come March if the Patriots win a dozen games. Of course, if he does get hurt, he won't command as much money as he would healthy.

The terms are very favorable for Samuel, and are better than the ones Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs agreed to with the Bears for him to come to camp. Briggs, the Bears' franchise player, reported to the team after getting $1 million of his $7.2 million guaranteed deal upfront and a promise that he wouldn't get the franchise tag again in 2008 if he plays in 75 percent of Chicago's snaps.

Samuel reported to Gillette Stadium on the morning of Aug. 27, one month after training camp began, but did not immediately sign the franchise tender that pays him $7.79 million, instead having his agents make one last effort to try and work out a way for him not to be franchised again.

Whether it was because of the Rodney Harrison situation that became known publicly at the end of that week or possibly to engender some goodwill if the teams still hope to hammer out a long-term contract, New England was receptive to a compromise, and the deal was signed late on Aug. 27.

Samuel did not start the game against the Jets -- Ellis Hobbs and Randall Gay did -- but he came on for third down of New York's first drive of the game. He finished with two tackles.

"It was cool; I was knocking some of the rust off and getting back in football shape," Samuel said of his first game time in nearly eight months. "That's the hardest part, not playing at a fast pace (during his workouts before he reported). I felt pretty good though."

Green fills the void

It's not exactly easy filling the hole left by a five-time Pro Bowler, but Jarvis Green didn't look like he was struggling Sunday against the Jets.

The super sub, who is coming off a career season, was strong in pass coverage, with two sacks for 14 yards, two quarterback hurries and six total tackles.

As they generally do, he and the defensive line -- Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork, Le Kevin Smith and Santonio Thomas in this case -- set the tone for the rest of the defense at the Meadowlands.

Though New England mixed up its fronts, at times having just two down linemen, Green said the Jets' looks on offense potentially could have been a problem.

"They were trying to confuse us with their shifts," he said. "With a no-huddle offense, we were waiting for them to make a decision before they snapped the ball."

Pennington toughs it out

Green's third-quarter sack on Chad Pennington resulted in the quarterback limping off the field with what looked like a severe injury. Somewhat surprisingly, however, Pennington returned to the field for the Jets' next possession, though his mobility was visibly limited. He even ran a quarterback sneak trying to catch New England's defense in the midst of a change, and it worked, as the Pats were flagged for offsides.

"I don't know what happened on that play; I didn't hear him scream or anything," Green said. "(But) he's a competitor. He's a leader out there, and I know he wanted to come back to get his team back into the game."

Backup Kellen Clemens came on for the final offensive play of the drive in which Pennington was hurt, and led New York during their two fourth-quarter possessions.

After the game, Pennington talked about his injury as a "lower-leg injury," but there were no specifics from the Jets about how long the quarterback and co-captain might be out.

"We will be looking at Chad and obviously analyzing where he is," Jets coach Eric Mangini said, adding that Pennington's ability to lead his team on a scoring drive after the injury showed something about the player.

"It showed Chad's character. We put him back in the game, he drove them down. He was able to work through the distraction of the injury and be very effective in that drive," Mangini said.

Conventionally unconventional

The Patriots are known for putting players in non-traditional spots -- Mike Vrabel as tight end, Richard Seymour as fullback -- and Sunday was no exception. Junior Seau was the fullback on Heath Evans' touchdown push in the fourth quarter, a play that Vrabel was on the field for as well. Guard Ryan O'Callaghan checked into the game as eligible several times, but it seemed as though he was used purely as a sixth offensive lineman rather than a potential pass-catcher.

With David Thomas (foot) inactive and Marcellus Rivers cut, New England went into the game with just two tight ends -- Benjamin Watson and Kyle Brady -- likely necessitating O'Callaghan playing such a role.

A problem holding

New England backup quarterback Matt Cassel may have lost his job as the holder on kicks -- or he may have suffered an injury.

He fumbled and recovered the snap on a 43-yard field goal attempt by Stephen Gostkowski in the first half, but didn't get the ball down for Gostkowski.

Cassel held on Gostkowski's next three kicks, all extra points, but punter Chris Hanson held in the fourth quarter.

There was some speculation that Cassel hurt his pinky on the fumbled snap, which may have led to him eventually being taken out of the game.