Rookie cornerback Jonathan Wilhite, left, battles wide receiver Randy Moss during training camp yesterday in Foxboro.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

FOXBORO — When the phone rang at Marcus Pollard’s home last spring, he pretended not to hear it.

Pollard said he was outside working in his yard when the ring reached his ears. He didn’t recognize the incoming number so he slightly disguised his voice and answered with a sleepy-sounding “hello.”

“Hey Marcus, did I catch you at a bad time?’ crackled the voice at the other end. Pollard responded that he was waking up from a nap. “I asked who it was and he said ‘this is Coach Belichick.’ ”

Pollard instantly lost his tired voice and snapped to attention. “I was like, ‘Hey coach. How you doing?’ It was surprising to get a call from him. It’s never happened to me that way before as a free agent when the head coach calls. That’s one of the things that really pushed me over the top and made me want to come here.”

Belichick’s direct recruitment led to the 13-year veteran signing with the Patriots last April. With Benjamin Watson the only healthy tight end returning (Dave Thomas was placed on injured reserve last October but looks good in camp), finding help at tight end was deemed an off-season priority. In Pollard the Pats get a veteran of 191 pro games who worked with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis for 10 seasons before moving on to Detroit and Seattle.

“I think we all know that he is a very experienced guy and good in the passing game. He has done a lot of different things offensively in his career,” said Belichick. “I don’t think we are doing anything that he hasn’t done before. It is just a question of adapting to different terminology and a little bit of refinement here and there.”

Pollard says he still sees himself as a two-way tight end that can make plays, regardless of what the Patriots ask of him. Whatever happens in Pollard’s career as a Patriot, he says he’ll always recall the memorable phone call from the coach.

“To me, that’s like getting a call from the president of the United States. Everybody doesn’t get that call every day,” he said. “For a head coach to take time out of his busy schedule to make a phone call says a lot about who he is and the organization.”

Practice heats up

How much does Belichick value Rodney Harrison? Yesterday he called Harrison the best practice player he’s ever had.

“It is good to have Rodney back. He brings a level of play and intensity out there to the practice field that is good for everybody,” he said. “Nobody practices harder than Rodney. I don’t think, in my career, I have ever coached a player that practices any harder than Rodney practices on a daily basis. He has a tremendous work ethic and is as good as anybody I have been around, especially on the defensive side of the ball. That carries over to other players and forces them to rise up to his level.”

Extra snaps

When Tom Brady and center Russ Hochstein flubbed a snap during the morning practice, the quarterback began a frustrating lap around the practice field. Hochstein followed. The miscue is deemed the type of mistake that Belichick requires laps to be run. … Jerod Mayo popped punter Chris Hanson on a punt-return drill. While the shot drew oohs and aahs from the fans, Belichick wasn’t thrilled with the rookie. After all, Hanson is the only punter the Pats have in camp. …The hour-plus afternoon practice consisted of a light (no pads) walk-through. … Public access to the Pats is limited the next few days. The Patriots are off today and there is one practice tomorrow but it’s closed to the public due to a Bruce Springsteen concert at Gillette Stadium. Fans can watch the Sunday practice (2:30-4:30 p.m.).

kmcnamar@projo.com