Just figured I’d post a quick update from the southern part of California. We got to the hotel last night (Friday) with a group of team employee’s and clients from the East Coast. The flight in was long but uneventful. Quick piece of advice — Don’t ever watch the new Indiana Jones movie. It’s terrible. Waste of time, even on a 6-hour, cross-country flight. 

It was a quiet night at the hotel bar watching the Red Sox for most of the crew. Aside from a wedding, at which I don’t think there was a single ugly woman, we were pretty much the only people in the place. Red Sox, a $14 burger and $5.15 Miller Lites. How else would I rather spend a Friday night?

This morning I hit the tennis court with big bossman Fred Kirsch. He’s still a better player but I once again made him work for the win. I took him to deuce almost every game. (Full disclosure, it did me no good as he still won 6-1, 6-0). The highlight for me was when he miss-hit a serve and screamed looking up at the morning sun, “What the #$%^? They built these courts the wrong way. They’re supposed to go North/South!”

After tennis we played a little basketball. Fred once again beat me in H-O-R-S-E. But he plays the boring way. I only really tried trick shots while he was sticking to the basics. He also was telling me how good a player he was when he was younger. Said the only thing that really kept him from being really good was that he couldn’t play with both hands. To which I replied, in refrence to his towering 5-5 frame, “That…and your height.”

Anyway, we’re just killing time at this beautiful hotel while waiting for the team charter to fly down the coast from Santa Clara. They’re expected in later this afternoon. For them it will seem like a normal road trip with a Saturday travel right into a Sunday game.  They even get a little extra time since it’s Sunday Night Football, although it’s a 5-something start locally.

I think I’m going to take a walk now and take a few Erik Scalavino-like photos around the grounds. We’re right on the ocean. Then it’s back to the hotel room for a few Paul Perillo-like hours on the bed in front of the TV. Oh, I also forgot to mention I got in a few Mike Parente-like hours in at the hotel gym, and as he is wont to do I spent the whole time looking at myself in the mirror. I’m carrying the load for the whole crew today.

That’s all for now from sunny, breazy La Jolla, Calif.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The injury report for the Chargers game is out and the three players who missed practice all week — Kelley Washington (ankle), Eric Alexander (hamstring) and LaMont Jordan (calf) are all listed as doubtful. They’re joined by Laurence Maroney (shoulder) and Lewis Sanders (hamstring), who are bouth questionable after being limited in practice on Friday.

For the Chargers, wide receiver Chris Chambers (ankle) and linebacker Jyles Tucker (hamstring) missed practice and are doubtful for Sunday night’s game. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie (hip), running back LaDainian Tomlinson (toe), wide receiver Vincent Jackson (knee) and fullback Mike Tolbert (ankle) are all listed as questionable but took part in Friday’s entire practice.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Some players sleep in between meetings and practice.

Others play backgammon or dominoes.

Jonathan Wilhite turns the Gillette Stadium locker room into his own private soccer field.

Although he makes his living playing professional football, not fútbol, Wilhite hasn’t lost his passion for soccer. A former midfielder and fullback at Quachita High School in Monroe, La., Wilhite has developed a daily ritual of dribbling a soccer ball through the locker room before practice, showing off his fancy footwork in front of teammates and reporters during media availability.

“It’s just something that gets you warmed up before practice and gets you sweating and gets your hips and stuff loose,” Wilhite said. “It’s also fun. A lot of the guys in the locker room enjoy it.”

The game starts with Wilhite dribbling the ball and bouncing it off his knee for a few minutes before another teammate – usually Deltha O’Neal or Wes Welker, who Wilhite credits with starting the trend – saunters over to his side of the room. Soon, there’s a circle of defensive backs and receivers in the middle of the floor holding court until it’s time to head out to practice.

Every now and then, a kick goes awry and the ball either rolls into a teammate’s locker or temporarily dislodges a panel in the ceiling, much to the chagrin of head coach Bill Belichick.

“I’ve seen it around,” Belichick said Friday with a smile. “If I get close enough to it, I will put it over the fence.”

Oddly enough, Wilhite never even thought of playing soccer until he was forced to do so in high school.

“Football’s been No. 1 for me all my life,” Wilhite said. “Soccer was something my [football] coaches made me do. I was a running back in high school, so it helped out with my footwork or whatever and it also helped me for cornerback.”

Wilhite enjoyed soccer so much he even considered playing in college, but Auburn University doesn’t have a men’s program, so he stuck with football after transferring from Butler County (Kan.) Community College.

Since his arrival in New England, Wilhite has worked his way up the depth chart and is quickly developing into a regular contributor on the team’s nickel and dime packages as a slot defender. He played on 15 defensive snaps last weekend in San Francisco.

“It was good to get out and see what happens for the first time. I was happy for the opportunity,” Wilhite said. “I just tried to do my job on every play. I think the coaches were patient with me during the week and I got in there and just tried to do my job.

“I think the coaches prepared us good throughout the week. When you get out there, you’ve just got to be able to think on the move. I think, so far, things have gone pretty good. I just want to continue to keep doing what they ask me.”

As long as he’s making plays in the secondary, he’ll continue to kick that soccer ball around the locker room, too.

“Everybody’s here for a reason and everybody’s just got to be ready when their time comes,” Wilhite said. “My time has come and I’m just trying to take advantage.” 

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Patriots last practice open to the media was held at San Jose State on Friday with the team in shorts and sweatpants and shells. The attendance list reverted to Wednesday’s look with Kelley Washington (ankle), Eric Alexander (hamstring) and LaMont Jordan (calf) the only three players not on the field. David Thomas, who missed Thursday’s practice while suffering from the flu, returned to action.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Patriots released their practice participation report for Thursday and David Thomas missed the workout with the flu. Kelley Washington (ankle), Eric Alexander (hamstring) and LaMont Jordan (calf) all joined Thomas as having missed practice.

Laurence Maroney (shoulder) and Stephen Gostkowski (right thigh) were limited in practice, as was Lewis Sanders (hamstring).