Ex-Jet Woodhead happy to be with Patriots

Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots gains yards... — Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots gains yards despite the defense of Aaron Francisco #43 of the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. (Nov. 21, 2010) Credit: Getty Images

By NEIL BESTneil.best@newsday.comDecember 1, 2010

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - If Danny Woodhead harbors any revenge fantasy aimed at the Jets, he will try to live it on the field Monday night, not talk about it in the Patriots' locker room this week.

Not while reporters are around, anyway.

When asked Tuesday whether he was surprised the Jets let him go in September, he said only this: "It's a business, and that's what happens in the NFL.

"I'm long gone from that. That is not something I worry about or look at in the past because you can't. I'm here and I'm happy and that's all that matters."

The Patriots are happy, too, and even Jets coaches and players say they are happy for him.

It is difficult to root against a guy like Woodhead, an undersized back out of Division II Chadron (Neb.) State whom Ryan often praised during the Jets' summer run on HBO's "Hard Knocks."

That did not keep them from waiving him to make room for receiver David Clowney days before the Week 2 game against the Patriots, who had just traded Laurence Maroney and pounced. Many assumed New England simply wanted a convenient spy fresh from inside Jets camp.

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Woodhead didn't play that week but Kevin Faulk did, suffering a season-ending knee injury that thrust the newcomer into much of Faulk's role as a blocker, runner, receiver and special-teams man.

In nine games, Woodhead has rushed for 344 yards (averaging 5.4 yards per carry) and three touchdowns and has caught 24 passes for 230 yards and a score. Against the Colts two weeks ago he scored on an impressive, winding 36-yard run. Then he made the tackle on the ensuing kickoff.

This week he again offers the bonus of familiarity with the Jets.

"He's practiced against those guys more than anybody on our team," coach Bill Belichick said. "I'm sure there are some things he knows about their team that we don't know, just because we're not as familiar with the personnel or the schemes."

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Despite repeated attempts by reporters, Woodhead mostly refused to talk even in general terms about the Jets or his experiences with them, sticking to the mantra that he is focused only on his job.

Told the Jets had said nice things about him, Woodhead said, "Really, I just don't look at that too much. I didn't know about all that because I'm not too worried about what's going on in the media.

"Really, I'm just trying to do my job every single day. If they said good things, that's great, but it's not something that I'm looking into."

At 5-8, 195 pounds, Woodhead does not strike an imposing image among his peers. But he produces, including as a blocker, often against bigger defenders.

"I am really not a person thinking about my size,'' he said. "That's more so everyone else."

Belichick said Woodhead was "right at the top of our short list" after the Maroney trade, and that after Faulk went down, Woodhead filled a pressing need.

At Chadron he was a two-time Division II Player of the Year, and his 7,871 rushing yards was the all-division NCAA record at the time. But he went undrafted in 2008 before signing with the Jets.

The Patriots had had an eye on Woodhead, who missed the 2008 season with an injury, at least since he ran for 158 yards in a 2009 preseason game against the Eagles. He spent parts of that season waived, on the practice squad and finally on the active roster, totaling 64 rushing yards and 87 receiving for the Jets.In October, Belichick said, "How do you think he got here? Parachuted in? We scouted him."

Truth is, Woodhead would not have had the same opportunity with the Jets behind LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene.

So he seems to have found a perfect fit for himself here, including in his approach to sharing emotions publicly. "I'm just looking to do my job every single day," he said.