FOXBORO – A frustrated Adalius Thomas spoke for the first time since being a non-injury scratch on Sunday and said he was told of his inactive status by his position coach, not head coach Bill Belichick. “Yeah, I was surprised,” Thomas said. “Ask Bill. He has all the answers.”

[For must-listen to audio, see the links below]

“It was a surprise to me, too. I’m doing fine. I found out when you guys found out. I come to work every day, be a professional and do my job and do what I’m asked to do. That’s the only thing I can do.”

“I don’t need something like this to fire me up. You just go out and do your job. This is not Kindergarten. I don’t play mental games.”

“You come here, do your job. It’s bigger than me. We went out we had a good game. We won as a team. A great performance as a team, our best game so far, so we’re moving onto Tampa.”

“I just do what I’m told. So, that’s how things are. He just [says] who plays, he makes all the personnel decisions. I think you all probably want to huddle up with him and find out. When you all find out, I find out.”

“That’s over with. Last Sunday is done. Let’s move on to Tampa. It’s bigger than me. These guys had a great game. We’re trying to overshadow it by what happened to one person. No one person is bigger than the game. No one person is bigger than the team. I don’t want to make it seem it’s about me because it’s not about me. Bill makes the decision. It is what it is. Whether you like it or not, that’s what it is. I live with it. I’m a professional. I come here, do my job and then go home. That’s basically it.”

“It’s not about me. You all keep wanting to make this about me. It’s bigger than me. It’s about us playing Tampa. Our team versus their team. So, it’s not about me and Bill. We’re fine. It seems like you all have a bigger problem with it than I do. I’m fine, I’m fine. I come to work, do what I’m asked to do. And whatever decision that Bill makes, I respect that from a player’s standpoint to a coach. Whether I agree with it or not, is something totally different. But it’s not about me. It’s about the Patriots versus Tampa right now. It’s not about me.”

“That’ll be defined on Sunday. Every week, everybody’s role changes. And so whatever it is you’re asked to do, whatever that may be, you go out and do it. Big, small, whatever it is.”

Here’s an audio sample of what the WEEI microphone picked up on Wednesday from AD.

Thomas said he found out when the media found out on Sunday.

Thomas said this isn’t Kindergarten.

Thomas said he was surprised like everyone else.

Thomas said he is moving on.

Thomas said he does what he’s told.

Thomas on whether he needs motivation.

Thomas said he is fine with Belichick.