Corey Dillon said it best when he was asked last week what was the biggest difference between being a Cincinnati Bengal and being a New England Patriot.

``It's not depressing,'' he said.

Indeed, there are very few reasons to be depressed in Foxboro these days, at least as long as you are a member of the Patriots' organization. The team is coming off its second Super Bowl championship in three years, and right now, being a Patriot means never having to say you're sorry.

The players have apparently not gotten carried away with their continued success, and have been diligent in their offseason preparation. Most of them arrived at Gillette Stadium for last week's minicamp in good shape, they competed in the non-contact workouts with zest and a sense of purpose, and tonight at stately Kraft Manor in Brookline, both past and present members of the 2003 Super Bowl champions will receive their highly coveted championship rings.

It's a big thing -- but then again, it isn't. There's an old adage that veterans are supposed to pass on to rookies about the first time they score a touchdown in the pros. ``Act like you've been there before,'' is the operative phrase, although it seems that no one really pays attention to that any more.

Still, it's a mark of maturity when players at least make it look as if they are old hands at celebration -- and one gets the sense that it carries over to the presentation of Super Bowl rings, as well.

The Patriots appear to be going low-key this time around as opposed to the presentation of their first rings in 2002. The ceremony is taking place in Kraft's private mansion, nestled comfortably near the fairways of the ever-so-blueblooded THE Country Club (emphasis on the ``the''), and not at the ritzy Boston Harbor Hotel on the waterfront.

The last time around, Kraft spared no expense in creating the most coveted memento of the Patriots' 20-17 triumph over the St. Louis Rams. The appraised value of each ring was $15,000 thanks to the design that included 143 diamonds, 14-karat white gold with platinum inlays, and a ``Flying Elvis'' logo crafted out of red garnet and blue sapphire. Even the mahogany box in which each ring came cost more than $150.

It's not known whether Kraft broke the bank for this ring as well, although it has been revealed that not everyone in the organization is going to receive one of them.

The Boston Herald's ``Inside Track'' gossip column broke the news that some team employees were cheesed off that they weren't going to get rings to commemorate the 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers, although team spokesman and chief spin doctor Stacey James said the largesse of the first ring distribution was a special circumstance because, after all, it was the first time the Patriots had won a Super Bowl.

As we said, ``act like you've been there before, son.''

Bill Belichick, who acts like he merely tolerates such interruptions in his preparation for the next season, disputed the notion that the Patriots have become blas about their success.

``I think it's still very parallel to what it was two years ago,'' Belichick said Saturday. ``The location's different, I understand that, but we all recognize what (the rings) mean and what was accomplished, and are very respectful of it and appreciative of it.

``At the same time, we are moving into the next season,'' he said. ``But I don't think it's something that should be downplayed at all. It is what it is and it's important to all of us that are receiving them.'' Linebacker Mike Vrabel, who etched his name into Super Bowl lore for all time with his touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of the big game, agreed that the ceremony will be welcome, but put into its proper perspective quickly.

``What it does is it gives you the opportunity to close the book on and celebrate a great season,'' he said. ``You put it behind you and look forward to a new season, because you have to.

``Nobody else is going to care that we're going to get the rings on Sunday, because they're all going to be working,'' he said.

For at least one of the Patriots, the quieter ring ceremony may be welcome.

Defensive end Richard Seymour was in his accustomed position in drills and calisthenics this past weekend, but his efforts may have masked what must have been a great sadness in his heart.

A few months ago, Seymour's father was one of the victims in a bizarre murder-suicide involving him and a former girlfriend. The news came as a great shock who have covered Seymour for the part three years, because from the very day that he joined the Patriots, he had expressed great pride in his relationship with his father, including summers spent working alongside Richard Sr. in the family's construction company.

In a rare display of mutual respect, reporters did not seek comment from Seymour about the family tragedy after he came off the field following his first minicamp practice. But the genial two-time Pro Bowl participant made it clear that he was hale and hearty, and proceeding on course.

``It's been great to be with the fellows, to play around a little bit with the guys and have the camaraderie with the team,'' he said. ``That's always great ... I'm moving on, just like with anything.''

He'll be moving on to a celebration of happier times tonight -- which is probably just what the doctor ordered. Such is the privilege of being a world's champion.

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com