The Patriots’ Fernando Bryant takes the field during the team’s training camp Friday. Bryant is competing for a cornerback job,

AP / Michael Dwyer

FOXBORO — There comes a time in many NFL players’ careers where winning takes a priority over money.

For Fernando Bryant, this is that year.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back who is entering his 10th NFL season, made it to the AFC Championship game his rookie season in 1999 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. But he hasn’t been back to the playoffs since.

Bryant said the Patriots’ recent winning tradition is one of the major reasons why he wanted to play for New England this season.

“The biggest thing after nine or ten years in the league is you want to win,” said Bryant, who signed a one-year deal reportedly worth $730,000 with New England in March. “You don’t know how many years you have left and all you can go by is to try to put yourself in the best situation to win. I looked at the teams that wanted me and this was the best situation for me as far as schemes, winning, and opportunity. Everything was there.”

The Patriots aggressively sought out Bryant because of the departure of defensive backs Asante Samuel (Philadelphia), Randall Gay (New Orleans), and Eugene Wilson (Tampa Bay) who were signed away by other teams as free agents.

Bryant, 31, is expecting to compete for a starting job this season along with returning starters Ellis Hobbs, Rodney Harrison, and James Sanders, young up-and-comers Brandon Meriweather, Terrence Wheatley, and Jonathan Wilhite, and veterans Tank Williams, Jason Webster and Lewis Sanders.

So far in training camp, Bryant has been playing a lot with the Patriots first-team defense at the left cornerback position.

Bryant started all 16 games for Detroit last year. He recorded 69 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 13 pass deflections.

“My goal is to try to help this team win as many games as we can,” Bryant said. “That’s always my goal every year.”

Bryant said he was hoping to bring “consistency” to the Patriots secondary, which was decimated by free agency.

“Throughout my career that’s one thing that I’ve always been known for as far as being out there as an every down player,” Bryant said. “I’m somebody that [my teammates] can depend on.”

The Patriots have one of the most complicated defenses in the league, but so far Bryant hasn’t had a problem learning the playbook.

“I am a veteran and I kind of picked up the scheme a little quicker than some of the guys and that’s the biggest thing around here,” Bryant said. “Your job is to learn the scheme and try to fill in where you can.”

Bryant’s transition to New England was an easy one. He said he knew several players on the team before he arrived, including Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris, and new defensive backs coach Dom Capers who was his defensive coordinator during Bryant’s rookie year with Jacksonville.

Bryant was released by the Lions in February, mainly because of salary-cap reasons. He was slated to make $4 million with the Lions for the 2008 season. He said that he doesn’t mind taking the pay cut to play for a winning team.

“You want to win,” Bryant said. “When you get to my age, you look at how many years you have left and the biggest thing is winning. Everybody wants a shot and that’s all you can ask for.”

Money has never been the biggest motivating factor for Bryant. He is well known for his generosity in giving back to the community. In 2004, the Albany, Ga., native was named the Detroit Lions’ man of the year. Last year he was honored at the Georgia State Capitol for his humanitarian efforts.

“The way I was raised, I believe in (the Bible verse) ‘To whom much is given, much is expected,” Bryant said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to make the salary I make and I think you have to want to give back … I’ve seen some need in different areas and I’ve been fortunate enough to give back to those areas.”

Bryant’s 25 Foundation (named after his jersey number) aids inner-city children through a variety of initiatives.

roblee@projo.com