"Linebacker Adalius Thomas turned in one of the highlight-reel plays of Week 2 of the NFL season with his "double sack" of Jets quarterback Brett Favre and running back Leon Washington.

The sack that helped seal the Patriots' 19-10 win has been replayed over and over, but yesterday Thomas was talking about the play after the sack, expressing his thoughts over what he felt was an illegal block by Washington.

On the play, Thomas rushed off the left side. Replays showed Washington dive at his legs, while right tackle Damien Woody dropped into his pass set to block. Thomas felt that it was a chop block.

"I think it was an illegal play, as far as one player setting you up and another comes to block you," he said. "I didn't sit there and [harp] on it any farther, but I knew that once he went for my legs, after I got up, I wasn't about to let him go out for a route. That's why I stayed on top of him.

"I think from the play before, whether it was embarrassment or something, that might have been a frustration play. Was it intentional? I don't know. I just know that it's not legal. I think the league is cracking down on that."

The NFL, which reminded teams about the importance of player safety in a memo yesterday, reviewed the play and determined that Washington will not be fined.

Thomas was unaware of the league ruling when he spoke with the Globe yesterday. He said such blocks can jeopardize a defender's health, but that he must block those thoughts out when he takes the field.

"You can't go out there and play that way, wondering if someone is going to do that to you. You have to go out and play at full speed," he said. "Injuries are going to happen without illegal hits. Sometimes hits are legal and people get hurt."

Winning attitudes

Matt Cassel refused to be dragged into a war of rhetoric with Miami linebacker Joey Porter, who made disparaging comments about the Patriots quarterback Wednesday, saying, "He's not Tom Brady. So if he's not Tom Brady, it shouldn't be that hard."

Porter seemed to guarantee a win for the 0-2 Dolphins in Sunday's game against the 2-0 Patriots at Gillette Stadium, saying, "It'll be good to go out there and get our first victory."

"I haven't read Joey's comments or anything like that, or whatever he said," Cassel said. "I don't know what he said and don't really care to know."

Apprised that Porter had said the Dolphins planned to "treat him like you treat a backup . . . you throw the kitchen sink at him," Cassel merely shrugged and smiled."