Belichick

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Nnamdi Asomugha knows he’ll have success and happiness on the football field one day, like his former teammate Randy Moss, but he doesn’t know when that day might come.

Asomugha, the Raiders’ gifted cornerback, is easily the Raiders’ most talented player and one of the most underrated players in the NFL. In 2005, when Moss arrived in Oakland from Minnesota, Asomugha was embarking on his first season as a starting corner after beginning his career at safety.

While they likely had their share of battles in training camp, Moss still spent time helping the former first-round draft pick and ultimately boosting his confidence.

“I have size [he’s listed at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds] and I have longer arms and long speed — those sorts of things — and he would come up to me at training camp,” Asomugha said yesterday via conference call. “He knew it was my first year starting, but he would tell me that receivers … hate bigger corners. They don’t like guys that have the attributes that I have and if I could continue to use them, I could be pretty special.

“I had just moved from safety so I wasn’t really that sure of myself, but hearing things like that from a guy like Moss, who had already been in the league tearing it up, it helped me a lot with my confidence. I’ve always kept those things in my pocket and have been grateful to him for that.”

Though they haven’t spoken since Moss was traded to New England last year, Asomugha recalled the conversations the two used to have in Oakland, when Moss would say he knew he would have fun on the football field again.

“He would let me know that this was just a road stop in his career. He knew that he would be happy again, he would be in an offense that he liked and he would be around a team and a group of players that were as committed to winning as he was,” Asomugha said. “It kind of hurt him while he was here to see some of the things that were going on. I’m not shocked at all that he’s been able to do [and] what he’s done and I’ve cheered him on since he’s been with New England just because I know the type of player he was. I know the heart he had.”

A few weeks ago, Denver head coach Mike Shanahan referred to Asomugha as the “most underrated football player in the history of the game.” After pulling in eight interceptions last year, very few teams have dared throw Asomugha’s way this season.

“He really does everything well,” New England’s Bill Belichick said yesterday. “He’s probably as complete a cornerback as we’re playing all year.”

But Asomugha is unhappy in Oakland, and has said as much on several occasions this year. Unfortunately for him, the Raiders will likely designate him as their franchise player again for the 2009 season and he will remain in silver and black for one more year.

Jordan appears ready to play

It took a bit longer than he expected, but LaMont Jordan was happy to be back on the football field Sunday against Seattle.

“I feel great. I had a chance to get out of the locker room,” Jordan said yesterday. “I knew I was going to get back, it was just a matter of time. It took me longer than I would have hoped, but it feels good to play football again.”

Jordan suffered a right calf injury against San Francisco the first week in October, and returned to practice about a month later, only to suffer a setback. He practiced, albeit on a limited basis, prior to the Pats’ game against the Steelers but did not play.

The running back, who spent three years with the Raiders, is looking forward to returning to the Oakland Coliseum. He knows he won’t be warmly welcomed, but Jordan said that even before he played for Oakland, during his days with the Jets, the Coliseum was his favorite place to play because of the atmosphere and the fans in the Black Hole.

Some practice, some don’t

In addition to Matt Cassel, the Patriots had three other players miss practice yesterday: LB Tedy Bruschi (left knee), S James Sanders (abdomen) and LB Pierre Woods (jaw).

Numerous players were limited for the session on the practice fields at San Jose State University: RB Kevin Faulk and WR Moss were non-injury related; CB Ellis Hobbs (shoulder), LB Vince Redd (ankle), LB Mike Vrabel (neck), DT Ty Warren (groin), WR Kelley Washington (thigh) and Vince Wilfork (shoulder) rounded out the list.

Wilfork being on the field was a good sign for New England; he left the field in the first quarter against the Seahawks. Washington missed the last two games with his injury, and Redd missed last week due to his ankle injury.

smanza@projo.com