FOXBORO -- When asked about Richard Seymour, Hue Jackson doesn’t mince words.

“He’s been tremendous to our staff because he is a leader of men, and he understands what it takes to get this job done, week-in-and-week-out,” Jackson said this week when asked about the former Patriots’ defensive lineman. “He has been unbelievable for the organization.

“Richard Seymour is everything we thought he would be ... and a little bit more.”

Strong words from the Oakland coach, but hardly a surprise -- in eight seasons in New England before a sudden trade to the Raiders prior to the start of the 2009 season for the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2011, the former Patriots defensive lineman built a rep as a quality individual, both on and off the field. He has brought that to Oakland, where he’s become the acknowledged leader of a young, aggressive defense that will try and slow down the Patriots’ offense on Sunday.

“Obviously he came from [New England] and has done a great job here of one: being a pro. Number two: mentoring our players and making them understand what it takes to be the best they can be,” Jackson said. “Obviously, he is still playing [well]. I tell everybody he was our first round draft pick this past year. I’m very happy about, you know, what happened as far as the trade to here. He is playing well for us.”

“He was a great player here for us [and] a good friend of mine, and he’s still playing well,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady of the six-time Pro Bowler. “He’s obviously a leader in that defensive front there and when he gets going, they all get going. That’s the thing, they really rally around him. When he makes his plays, then they all start making plays. So it’s got to be important for us to try to figure out ways to slow him down.”

“This is the first time outside of the thousands of practices that we’ve run into each other,” said Patriots offensive tackle Matt Light, a fellow member of New England’s 2001 draft class. “I think it’s going to be a dogfight. He knows a lot about the guys that we have up front, so I’m sure he’s looking forward to it as well.”

Seymour was in the final year of his contract when he was dealt to Oakland, and it was an eventful start to his Bay Area career -- he initially balked at reporting to the Raiders, but in the time since, has come to embrace the Oakland mystique in the same way he once wrapped himself in the Patriot Way. That includes working with younger players in the same way that veteran defensive linemen like Anthony Pleasant did for him when he was in New England.

“I think in life you grow [and] you learn from different situations,” Seymour said, reflecting on how he’s changed since leaving New England. “I’ve experienced a lot over the course of my career; I’ve learned a lot from a lot of different players and I’ve tried to incorporate that into my game. Out here, I’m the veteran guy around a bunch of young guys, so they keep me young and rejuvenated as well. It’s been a good mixture for me.”

And while he clearly still has physical and emotional ties to the area -- he was in attendance for the recent funeral of Myra Kraft -- he doesn’t sit around wondering what might have been if he had stayed in New England.

“That was three years ago. All my attention is focused on getting my team out here a lot better,” Seymour said. “That chapter is closed and over and done with. You kind of reflect when your career is over. I definitely understand I’m on the back nine right now, but I’m looking to finish strong.”

Despite being on the “back nine,” Seymour remains a force. The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder has 12 sacks in 32 games with Oakland, including 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks through three games this season.

In New England, he was utilized primarily as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. With the Raiders, he’s been shuffled around a bit, but has appeared to settle nicely into defensive tackle in Oakland’s 4-3 defense, so much so that his work has drawn raves from Patriots guard Brian Waters, and sparked some speculation about what might have been if he was in a 4-3 for his entire career.

“If he had played in a 4-3 system his entire career,” Waters said, “we’d probably be talking about” Seymour being one of the best defensive lineman ever.

“I think he is one of the best defensive tackles ever,” Jackson said. “This guy is as good as there is in football. I’m just so excited he’s here playing for us and we don’t have to play against him.”

“When they speak of 3-4 defensive ends, I want my name to come up. When they speak of 4-3 defensive tackles, I’m trying to make my mark there as well,” said Seymour. “I think wherever I’m at, I just want to be the best at doing what I do. That’s just competing.”

The 31-year-old (he’ll turn 32 next week) signed a two-year, $30 million contract extension in February, and believes there’s no reason he can’t continue to terrorize opposing offenses for the foreseeable future as ling as he stays healthy and motivated.

“As long as I’m still playing at a high level and your body feels good and you have a desire to be the best, you still go out and do it,” he said. “Like I said, I still have that competitive edge and I learned from a lot of great guys. You never take anything for granted. Like I said, I still have the desire to play hard and help the team get where it needs to go.”