Hobbs

FOXBORO — There were nights last year when the pain in Ellis Hobbs’ left shoulder was so severe that he had to sleep — or try to sleep — propped up.

And as if the torn labrum wasn’t bad enough, there was also the sports hernia he was dealing with.

But let the record show: Hobbs has missed but one game in his career, and it was not last season. That was the contest after breaking his wrist in 2006, when he underwent in-season surgery and missed only one game.

After undergoing surgeries to repair both the labrum and hernia, Hobbs wasn’t able to participate in minicamp or many of the other offseason activities his teammates took part in, and he began training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

But he was back on the field for the first time yesterday, ready to make up for lost time, though he admitted he’s easing back into things.

“That’s what it is right now, it’s not much of practicing, but just participating,” he said. “I talked to the coaches and we have a great understanding of what I am doing right now, just getting into the swing of things, not necessarily trying to go out there and go ‘full go,’ (but) go as much as I need to go and just work my way back into the program, work my way back into the defense.”

One of the indelible images from Super Bowl XLII is of Hobbs trailing Giants’ wideout Plaxico Burress in the end zone as Burress made the game-winning catch. Not just for that play but others during the season, Patriots’ fans and football observers harshly criticized the 25-year-old corner.

He could have told his secret, let the world know he was struggling though injury, but he didn’t see the point.

“At the end of the day, whether things are going good or bad, you know inside what’s going on. It would have been a waste of time on my part to fight people that don’t mean anything to me,” Hobbs said. “I had to put so much focus into getting myself to whatever percentage — if there is such a thing — to be healthy enough to play each game that I didn’t have time to think about why was criticizing me.”

Hobbs, whose offseason rehab was tempered by his wedding, wouldn’t quantify how much pain he played in, but didn’t deny that it wasn’t easy getting on the field week after week.

“It was a great deal of pain. The thing is, the reason why you don’t complain, is because that’s what the game is about. There’s going to be injuries, there’s going to be nicks and bruises, and you’re not the only one out there with an injury,” he said.

“There were some Sundays where literally I didn’t even sleep the night before or had to prop (myself) up because I couldn’t lay down right. But you just do whatever you can to get out there, man. I feel like I’m never in a position where I can say, ‘you know what, go ahead team, I’m done.’” Elated to at least start the season healthy — he knows there are aches and pains coming in the weeks ahead — Hobbs is relishing his role as a senior member of the secondary in his fourth NFL season.

“I sit in the back (of the meeting room) now,” he said with a smile, his chest expanding just a bit. “It’s kind of weird. There’s only one guy that sits behind me, that’s Hot Rod [Rodney Harrison]. That’s the next seat I want to be in.

“It’s a sense of accomplishment — it’s like, man, we’re still here, we’re still going strong, but nowhere (near where) we want to be.”

smanza@projo.com