On Monday, the Patriots sent a fourth-round pick to Seattle to bring Branch back to New England, where he was a primary target for Tom Brady and the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX. Branch, 31, may have left the Patriots for a bigger contract in 2006 but he returns understanding that he may have a different role this time around.
With Randy Moss traded to the Vikings last week, Branch becomes the veteran among the receivers, but he is not planning to take Moss’s place.
“That’s the first thing I wanted to let you all know: I’m not here to replace Randy,’’ Branch said yesterday. “I’m not Randy Moss. I wasn’t Randy Moss when I was here.
“My job is to go out and do what the offense asks of me to do, and that’s what I’m going to do.’’
Though Branch left after a disagreement over his contract, he said his relationship with the organization remained amicable.
“No regrets,’’ Branch said. “I wish it never happened, but no regrets. When I left, there wasn’t any issues between me and coach [Bill] Belichick. None at all.
“We talked during the course of the year. Not a lot, but I spoke to him, and I truly thanked him, but we didn’t leave on a bad note. And I think that’s why it was so easy to return, because we both understood what was going on.’’
Branch felt so good about his relationship with the Patriots that he thought there was a chance last season he would be back. There was uncertainty in Seattle and the Patriots were looking for another receiver after Joey Galloway was released early in the season. But the season came and went without Branch getting a call.
When Moss was traded, Branch said, he didn’t know whether he was in the Patriots’ plans. At 31, he is a different player than he was a few years ago, but that could be a positive.
“I understand the game of football,’’ Branch said. “I truly understand the game and how to study people, how to study guys, my opponent.
