FOXBORO - Matt Light is known for being able to put his own unique spin on issues of import, and that ability was on display Wednesday from the West Coast.

The Patriots' offensive tackle, when asked for his take on comments by Chargers' center Nick Hardwick from last year's AFC Championship Game, offered a perspective that wouldn't have been the first tine in anyone's mind in January.

"He might have just meant physically dirty," Light said. "You know how you get in those games working hard and getting a little dirt on you."

OK, so maybe that's not what Hardwick meant last year, but it's unlikely Light would have tipped anyone off even if he really knew what was bothering the Chargers' center.

That's the status of the Patriots-Chargers rivalry, which will be resumed Sunday night at Qualcomm Stadium before a national television audience (8:15 p.m.; Ch. 7, 10) - a lot of familiarity that has bred some measure of contempt. "Yeah, I think there has been a lot said over the matchups we have had over the last four years," Light said Wednesday via conference call from the Patriots' hotel in Santa Clara. "We definitely have familiarity with them. It does feel like a Colts-type game where we end up playing each other every year."

Hardwick, like Light, is a Purdue alum, although their paths did not cross in college.

"He came in after I had left," Light said. "I believe he was actually a walk-on at one point. He and (Chargers' linebacker Shaun) Phillips played together for a couple of years. He was a young guy in the system when I graduated.

"We definitely have some background there," Light added. "We have had some fun over the years. When he was at Purdue he met guys like Rosevelt Colvin that he modeled his game after in his early years. I kind of see a little bit of that style with the way he plays. We had some good battles in college and it has been good facing him against San Diego."

Phillips has been a key figure in the Chargers' attempts to compensate for the loss of Shawne Merriman from a knee injury.

"It's pretty much a lot of the same stuff - a lot of pressure, a lot of edge pressure, a lot of guys in and out of the line of scrimmage and a lot of movement," Light said. "I don't really think from what we have seen on film that they have changed the way they approach each game.

"Shaun is going to be over on the strength side where that was kind of Merriman's role in the past," he said. "I think you are going to see guys like (Marques) Harris and Jyles (Tucker) on the backside of that. They are pretty much playing the same spots they always have."

Light was happy to be counted among those who've found the Patriots' week-long stay in California to be beneficial in their preparation for the Chargers.

"It's just what we needed to do for this type of a week with playing two West Coast games," he said. "I think it does give you a little bit more time together. You're away from your family and away from a lot of distractions you have at home. Your sole focus and sole purpose for being here is to go down a play a great game this weekend and prepare yourself.

"This is a big challenge for us this week," he said. "Two road games like this are going to take a lot out of us. We are going to need to be as focused as we can be. I think it is going to end up being a situation where we are going to get more studying, film and work on the little things." Brady on the mend

According to published reports, quarterback Tom Brady underwent surgery Monday in Los Angeles to repair his torn left anterior cruciate ligament.

The green light was apparently given once it had been determined that Brady's torn medial collateral ligament had healed. The surgery reportedly took place at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic 29 days after the hit from Kansas City's Bernard Pollard put Brady out for the season.

The quarterback is looking at a rehabilitation period of six to eight months.