"The "old soul'' owns a playful spirit. On Thursday, Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo stood behind a herd of reporters who were asking questions of teammate Gary Guyton. Mayo stretched his 6-foot-1-inch frame above the huddle and listened in. He whispered to a reporter to ask Guyton about the red-and-blue braid accenting his hairdo.

Guyton smiled as the question was asked, but avoided eye contact with Mayo. Mayo then whispered to another reporter, "Ask him why he doesn't grow facial hair like the rest of the defense.''

Guyton responded, "Because that guy has it all,'' pointing at Mayo. "That guy was born with facial hair. Only guy I know that was born with facial hair.''"