According to voice of the Raiders Greg Papa, Oakland has sent Richard Seymour a “five-day letter,” indicating that the former Patriots defensive lineman has five days from receipt of the letter to report to the team or he will be placed on the reserve/left team list.

If Seymour fails to report for his physical within five days, he could be placed on the list. If that happens, the Raiders would retain his rights in 2010 at his 2009 salary, and Seymour would miss the entire season.

Papa said he was unsure when the letter was sent.

The five-time Pro Bowler was traded by the Patriots to Oakland last Sunday for a first-round pick in the 2011 draft.

The Bills understand the challenge ahead of them and have been preparing this week to take on the Patriots Monday night. Quarterback Trent Edwards and head coach Dick Jauron spoke to Buffalo reporters Thursday about the Patriots and what they are expecting in the season opener. Although not as entertaining as Terrell Owens, Jauron and Edwards both had some interesting things to say about the Patriots.

•There has been talk this week that there will be an element of surprise that the Patriots won’t be ready for because of the firing of offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, and because Terrell Owens hasn’t played much during the preseason. Dick Jauron addressed this issue during his press conference.

• Trent Edwards remembered his first game at Foxborough, and also spoke about all the changes that have been made with the Patriots defense.

Turn up the volume on your computer and click on the links below to listen to both Dick Jauron and Trent Edwards.

Jauron talks about trying to surprise the Patriots.

Jauron gives praise to the Patriots organization.

Jauron talks about the abilities of Tom Brady.

Jauron says that the Bills are excited to play the Patriots.

Trent Edwards comments about the changes that have been made in New England.

Edwards talks about season predictions.

Trent Edwards knows the Patriots play with a lot of intensity.

Edwards recalls his first time playing in Foxborough, and talks about some of the rookies who will experience Gillette Stadium and the Patriots for the first time.

Edwards talks about the firing of offensive coordinator Turk Schonert.

The Bills have just released their Thursday practice report:

Did Not Practice
TE Derek Fine (hamstring), CB Drayton Florence (knee)

Limited Participation
DT Spencer Johnson (thigh)

The Patriots have just announced their practice report for Thursday:

Did Not Practice
WR Matthew Slater (elbow)

Limited Participation
Offensive lineman Dan Connolly (back), WR Julian Edelman (ankle), RB Sammy Morris (finger), DL Myron Pryor (calf), CB Shawn Springs (knee), WR Wes Welker (knee), CB Terrence Wheatley (knee)

Full Participation
QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), DB Bret Lockett (chest), TE Benjamin Watson (hamstring)

Former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, appearing on the Dale & Holley Show on Thursday afternoon, said that the “clown-act antics” of Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens have detracted from a Hall of Fame-caliber career.

“I’m pumped about T.O. opening up his big mouth about the Patriots,” Harrison said of Owens’ comments on Wednesday. “I can actually put a bounty on T.O. if I wanted and not get in any trouble.

“He’s a clown. he’s all about the circus show and the cameras. But you better believe he’ll have Shawn Springs in his grill and Brandon Meriweather be putting his helmet down his throat. So, I’m excited about seeing that on Monday.

“He’s so miserable and seems like … he seeks so much attention. Something happened a long, long [time] ago, before we even knew T.O., that just made him like this. The guy is such a phenomenal talent, but his clown-act antics and his tactics just take away … Year after year, the story we should be talking about is his playmaking ability, the big plays and his potential Hall of Fame career.”

Harrison also spoke on several other topics, including the Patriots’ decision to get rid of Richard Seymour and Seymour’s hesitance to head to Oakland. Here are some highlights of the conversation. To listen to the complete interview, click here.

Q: You’ve got to be pumped up that football is back.

“I’m pumped about T.O. opening up his big mouth about the Patriots…I can actually put a bounty on T.O. if I wanted and not get in any trouble.”

Q: His material has fallen flat, don’t you think?

“He’s a clown. He’s all about the circus show and the cameras. But you better believe he’ll have Shawn Springs in his grill and Brandon Meriweather be putting his helmet down his throat. So, I’m excited about seeing that on Monday.”

Q. How come some guys never learn?

“He’s so miserable and seems like … he seeks so much attention. Something happened a long, long [time] ago, before we even knew T.O., that just made him like this. The guy is such a phenomenal talent, but his clown-act antics and his tactics just take away … Year after year, the story we should be talking about is his playmaking ability, the big plays and his potential Hall of Fame career.”

Q. Why did the Patriots trade Richard Seymour before the season started?

“Well, you look at Richard going into the last year of his contract and you know, basically from what I hear, the Patriots are possibly switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3. Obviously they like some of the young guys they have there, they feel like they’re not going to be able to pay Richard 10 million-plus next year so if you can get rid of a guy a year early and still get a top 10 pick — because you know the Raiders are going to be bad enough where they can get a top 10 pick — and you look at Bill Belichick and historically he hasn’t been afraid to do that. He’s pulled the trigger with Drew Bledsoe, Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour, Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law, so he’s not afraid to pull the trigger and if you can guarantee yourself from a football perspective a top 10 pick and say, ‘Well, you know, we’re not going to keep the guy next year anyway, so why not get rid of him?’”

“But you know of course Richard is a five-time Pro Bowler. I feel bad for him because he did give everything he had for that locker room and for that team he had a lot of success there, but sometimes the business is a dirty business. He had a wonderful career there and he has do whatever he feels is best for he and his family to continue his career or not continue his career.”

Q. I read a quote from you saying that if you were in that situation the only way you would report to Oakland is if they guaranteed not to franchise you. I kind of figured that’s the way Richard was looking at it as but I’ve also seen other media reports that he’s working out a long-term deal out there. That doesn’t make much sense to me at all.

“Well, money sometimes could be the key to why a lot of guys may go to a lesser place. I don’t know what Richard is feeling and ultimately what he’s going to do, but if some offers you 40, 50, 60 million, then you know what? Oakland might not be such a bad place. At least it’s sunny out there. As bad as it is, having $35, 40 million after taxes may not be a bad deal at 33, 34 years old. Ultimately, I want whatever Richard wants. I want to support him. I know Richard wants to play football and he wants to continue his career and hopefully one day make it into the Hall of Fame.”

Q. What do you think the reaction is of those guys in the locker room knowing they had a good player taking away and there’s no help coming in terms of that trade until 2011

“Well, he’s the head coach and a lot of the decisions Bill makes aren’t going to be popular with the media and with the players, but ultimately he’s got the job for a reason. He’s the best qualified guy and of course he’s won championships…Ultimately every move that he makes, he always tells us, it’s going to be in the best interest of the team. It may not be in the best interests of the team immediately, but if you look at the long-term effects, it may help. The guy has had a lot of success, so it’s hard to question him.”

“As far as the effect in the locker room, most guys understand that this is a business. If you don’t know that it’s a business, you do now…That’s part of the National Football League. No team ever stays the same. So that’s part of it. If you make a lot of money, and you’re a veteran player, eventually you’re going to get whacked. San Diego whacked me, I’ve seen a bunch of good players get whacked, and I just happened to retire before I got whacked. It’s all part of the deal.”

Q: What do you expect from Brady this year?

“I think the best thing that could have happened to Tom was for him to get sacked, to get knocked down, to get beat up a little bit in the preseason. I thought that was the best possible thing for Tom and not reinjure his knee for him because what it does is it give him confidence each and every week every time he goes down on that knee and jumps right back up and says you know what its strong enough I believe its strong enough…And he continues to rehab and gain more confidence as the games go on.”

“When I came back, for that first month, I was kind of afraid. I was scared because you don’t ever want to experience that pain that you experience initially hurting your leg. It was so mental that after the fourth or fifth week, after a couple receivers came and cut block me, I started gaining that confidence. Tom Brady is going to have a spectacular year. As the weeks go on your going to see him improve. I look for Tom to be possibly the MVP of this league this year – he and Philip Rivers.”

Q: Do you think James Sanders is ready to step up and be one of the leaders on this team?

“I think James can definitely be that glue in that secondary. He’s not as emotional as I am, as loud, or as talkative as I am but he has great leadership qualities. He’s very consistent the guy works hard. He’s the type of young guy you want leading your team.”

“And I think along with guys like Jerod Mayo, Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren…They have some guys who have to step up that leadership role and pull it together.”

Q: How do you make for all the departures?

“With youth and speed. The mentality of our team, back when I played and even now, you realize guys get injured and when a guy retires and when a guy gets injured…the mentality is the next guy in line has to come in and do his job. Anyone can get hurt on any given day but having all those guys with all those years of experience now missing definitely effects your team but at the same time those young guys are more than prepared. They’ll be fine. At the end of the day, it’s football. They just have to step their games up. They just have to understand that they’re the new leaders, and the old leaders are gone.”

Q: Who’s the best team in the AFC?

“I would say the best two teams are the Patriots and Steelers. I like the Patriots because I know they’re hungry, they have a lot of pride and they’ve got their ace back. I like Pittsburgh because that defense, Ben Roethlisberger, not a lot of turnover as far as their personnel and great coaching as far as Mike Tomlin.”

The Patriots just announced they have elected five captains for the 2009 season. Here’s the press release from the team:

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots announced their 2009 captains today. Quarterback Tom Brady and WR Randy Moss will serve as offensive captains. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork and LB Jerod Mayo will serve as defensive captains. Wide receiver Sam Aiken will serve as special teams captain. The Patriots’ 2009 captains were elected by their teammates this week.

On offense, Brady will serve as an offensive captain for the eighth straight season, having first been elected in 2002. Moss, in his third season with the Patriots after joining the team via trade in April 2007, will serve as a Patriots captain for the second straight season.

On defense, Wilfork is a captain for the second straight season, while Mayo will serve as a captain for the first time. He joined the Patriots as a first-round pick in 2008 and earned the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Aiken will serve as the Patriots’ special teams captain for the first time. A special teams standout, Aiken has accumulated 71 special teams tackles during his six NFL seasons.

FOXBOROUGH — Just got back from practice, and the only player not in uniform for the first few minutes we are allowed to watch was returner/defensive back Matthew Slater.