"I can never repay him for what he taught me about football,'' Hobbs said of Belichick.

On one side, kick returner Ellis Hobbs was greeted by owner Jeffrey Lurie as he dressed following the team's 40-17 rout of the New York Giants.

Nfl Notes ; Proof Hobbs Can't Cover (Mouth)

By KAREN GUREGIAN

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Ellis Hobbs is rarely, if ever, a boring interview. He's usually incredibly candid, never afraid to speak his mind, which is a commendable thing.

But he crossed a line with his former Patriots teammates earlier this month by accusing them of faking injuries. His failure to cite anyone by name made it only worse, casting a net over the entire team.

Former Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs downplayed the significance of facing his former team last night in the preseason opener.