Randy Moss won’t admit it, but he may have some extra incentive in playing against his former team tomorrow.

AP / Paul Sakuma

SAN JOSE, Calif. –– In his own colorful way, Randy Moss declined to speak with media this week, not wanting to discuss his return to Oakland, where he spent two difficult years (2005-06) after being traded from Minnesota, his first NFL home.

But Moss may have a good game in store tomorrow, as the Raiders rarely move top corner Nnamdi Asomugha from his spot on the right side of the defense, while New England always moves Moss from left to right.

Add in any lingering bad feelings he has for the Silver and Black — former offensive coordinator Tom Walsh said Moss is “a player whose skills are diminishing” and knocked his work ethic after he was traded to New England — and he may be looking for the chance to light up the Coliseum scoreboard.

Yesterday, Bill Belichick downplayed the notion that Moss was looking forward to facing the Raiders any more than the Patriots’ other opponents. But when Belichick was reminded of his own comments about returning to Giants Stadium, where he spent so many years as an assistant, he conceded that there could be a little extra fire from the receiver.

“I am not denying that, but in the end it’s going to come down to how we perform as a team against the Raiders,” Belichick said. “I think everybody knows it is an important game. They are trying to get ready for it and we all want to do our best. That includes Randy, LaMont [Jordan, also a former Raider] and everybody else –– guys that were with the Raiders and guys that weren’t.”

Jordan said this week that Moss is the same teammate with the Patriots that he was in Oakland, and both he and Asomugha blamed the media for making Moss look like a bad guy.

“He gets a lot of flack from the media a lot of the time, but I’ve always said that he was one of the coolest, one of the best players that I’ve ever been around just because he was so carefree,” Asomugha said. “He didn’t have any problems with anyone. I knew he’d be able to turn it around.”

O’Connell praises Cassel

Kevin O’Connell’s workload changed this week, but the rookie quarterback was more concerned with his teammate than his snaps.

With Matt Cassel missing Wednesday’s practice because of the death of his father, O’Connell ran the first-team offense that day. Yet even as he got a chance to run with the big boys, the third-round draft pick didn’t relish the opportunity.

“More than anything, it’s just about being there for Matt as a friend and teammate and preparing for a good Oakland Raiders team,” O’Connell said. “He’s one of the most mentally strong guys I know. I saw it as an opportunity to give back to him because he’s given so much to me this year.”

O’Connell minimized his role on Wednesday, calling it “just reps,” though for the day many of his mental reps became physical ones, as he was under center with Moss, Wes Welker and Kevin Faulk at his disposal.

O’Connell said that he believes the escape into football has helped Cassel, who rejoined his teammates on Thursday and was on the field again yesterday. Belichick said Cassel was doing well “all things considered.”

Cassel was removed from New England’s injury/participation report on Thursday, and it seems clear he will play against the Raiders.

Costly celebration

The NFL yesterday fined Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson $10,000 for his touchdown celebration against the Seahawks.

Watson placed the ball under his jersey to make it look as though he were pregnant and rubbed it; his use of the ball as a prop drew him a 15-yard penalty as well as the hefty fine from the league.

The celebration was in homage to Watson’s wife, Kirsten, who is expecting the couple’s first child, a girl, in about seven weeks.

On the injury front

New England removed LB Mike Vrabel (neck) from the injury report yesterday, so clearly he’s a go for tomorrow’s game; the same can likely be said about NT Vince Wilfork (shoulder), who is listed as probable and said on Thursday that he will play.

DT Ty Warren (groin) is listed as questionable, as are CB Ellis Hobbs (shoulder), LB Vince Redd (ankle) and WR Kelley Washington (thigh). LBs Tedy Bruschi (knee) and Pierre Woods (jaw) are out, and S James Sanders (abdomen) is doubtful.

Bruschi, Woods and Sanders did not practice yesterday; the other players were reported to have been limited for the team’s final session at San Jose State.