Lee Schechter, Special to ESPNBoston.com 9y

Afternoon updates from Gillette

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick hits from the Patriots’ locker room on Friday:

Browner feels difference from last week. Veteran cornerback Brandon Browner held court with reporters and said he feels more game-ready this week after four straight practices. Browner played 41 of 87 defensive snaps last week and said afterwards that he felt winded. On Friday, Browner explained that there is a difference between general conditioning and football conditioning. "Practice makes perfect. My [football] conditioning is getting a little better," he said.

Revis keeps things in-house. This was the first chance we had to approach Darrelle Revis since the Boston Globe report of him missing Tuesday's practice as a result of oversleeping. Revis, who has consistently been available and cordial to the press this season, said he has an understanding with coach Bill Belichick, and there was nothing else to add.

Ninkovich on Forte. The Patriots will have to find a way to contain the Bears’ Matt Forte, the NFL’s reception leader who also happens to be a running back. “He is a smooth guy,” Rob Ninkovich said. “I feel like he is a smooth runner and he has good vision, so it comes down to fundamentally being solid and everybody being tight on responsibilities.” Ninkovich said one way to bump Forte around is through the pass-rush. “As a defensive end when you are on your way to the quarterback, if the running back is there, it would be smart of you to hit him,” Ninkovich said.

Ninkovich’s favorite team. He’s obviously a Patriots guy now, but as a kid from Illinois, Ninkovich’s favorite team growing up wasn’t the Bears. “Cowboys. '90s. Baller. Bears, not so much in the 90s,” he said.

Vereen update. Running back Shane Vereen missed practice on Friday and his chair was folded up, which seemed like he wasn’t at the team’s facilities. The Boston Herald reported Vereen missed practice due to an illness. Running back James White said that he made use of the increased reps and that he and Brandon Bolden are the next guys up if Vereen cannot play on Sunday.

Extra points. Defensive tackle Chris Jones was not fined for his low hit on Jets quarterback Geno Smith. And offensive lineman Jordan Devey was not fined for his unnecessary roughness penalty.

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