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FOXBORO - With only a few notable exceptions, most of the players that have left the New England Patriots for one reason or another over the past nine years have not played as well with their next teams.

Those who follow the Baltimore Ravens also believe the same applies to players who've traded in the purple for other colors - and one of those potential underachievers, in their eyes, might be Patriots' linebacker Adalius Thomas.

As the 3-0 Ravens prepare to visit Foxboro to play the 2-1 Patriots on Sunday, the question was raised in a conference call to the Baltimore-area media whether Thomas, in his third season with the Patriots, has "dispelled the myth" that players who leave the Ravens are less successful afterward.

"I don't really care about the myth," he said. "That has nothing to do with football."

Patriots' coach Bill Belichick also cared little about the Baltimore perception, instead choosing to underscore the positives of Thomas' play as he saw them. "He's been a very versatile performer for us," he said. "We've asked him to do a lot of things since he's been here. He's going on his third year now, and of course last year, unfortunately, he missed most of the second half of the season (with a broken forearm). But he can run, he can cover, he can rush, he can play the run.

"He's played inside for us, he's played outside for us, he's played different roles for us in our sub-defenses," Belichick continued. "I know he's a smart guy, and he's a big, physical player with good speed, and they're hard to find. So, he's contributed in a lot of different ways, as well as being a good, smart, veteran player that helps overall with the communication and the operation of the defense."

Thomas, who has played primarily outside linebacker this year, parroted Belichick's statements about his past and possible future versatility.

"You can look and see that for yourself," he told the Maryland scribes. "Whatever it is, whatever the best matchup is for us, or wherever we need depth in our defense, that's what we do."

Thomas has been credited with nine tackles and one sack through three games, posting four tackles apiece in the Buffalo and Atlanta games. His 12.5 career sacks in three years with the Patriots are barely better than his 2006 season with the Ravens (11.0 sacks), and it would certainly help the Patriots' effort Sunday (1 p.m.; Ch. 4, 12) if Thomas would bring his "A" game to Gillette Stadium for the battle with his former teammates.

"I think we just have to continue to improve overall," Thomas said. "I think that I don't make an analysis of the defense as a whole. The coaches do that. Let them concentrate on who needs to do what and how we're doing and everything. I think that the most important thing is for me to get better individually and worry about the things that I have to do with my technique and coverage and everything else."

Thomas said he doesn't feel any added pressure with starting middle linebacker Jerod Mayo expected to be out until possibly the bye week at the end of the month. So far, he said, the adjustments that have been made in his responsibilities are what the game plan has demanded, not the personnel.

"It really depends on what it is that we're trying to accomplish that week," he said. "Everybody's asked to do different things at different times, so that's just how it falls."

"We expect all players to step up and do their job," Belichick said. "And unfortunately, not every player is available every single week on our team, or any other team. But, what each individual player can do is, do his job well and do it in a positive way with a commitment to the team.

"Adalius has done that regardless of what other players were or weren't in there," he continued. "That's how he's gone about it, and I think that's how all players should go about it. I don't think, really, they should change the way they do things based on what somebody else's situation is. They should do their best all the time, and try to be positive and try to contribute to the team any way they can, regardless of what else is going on." One of the toughest challenges Thomas and the Patriots' linebackers will face Sunday is the one-two punch of running backs Ray Rice (38 carries, 192 yards, one TD) and Willis McGahee (32 carries, 190 yards, five TDs).

"Both of them are good running backs," Thomas said. "You just have to get 11 guys to the ball. You've got Ray Rice who's fast. He hits the corner. McGahee is an older guy that does the same thing. Your point of attack is everywhere. It's not a set thing. Jump-cut runners, I think both of them are very explosive."

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com. Read Farinella's blog, "Blogging Fearlessly," at thesunchronicle.com/farinella.