Vince Young has a short memory. Keith Bulluck has a long one.

Young is trying to forget last week’s exhibition opener, when he was benched for spending the night before the game at home instead of the Titans’ hotel. Bulluck is still miffed about last year’s season finale, when the New England Patriots ended Tennessee’s playoff hopes.

“Anytime we go against them guys, it’s always going to be payback,” Bulluck said this week as the Titans prepared for tonight’s exhibition game at New England. “There was a lot of fighting going on out there, a lot of penalties going on. We’re looking forward to going down there and playing some ball and let the best team win.”

They still had a chance to make the playoffs when they took the field against New England last Dec. 31, but their hopes disappeared when they lost 40-23. The Patriots scored a late touchdown on a pass from 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde that gave him an NFL-record 20 consecutive years with a TD pass.

Bulluck said he hoped to have a chance to play against Testaverde, but most of his venom was directed at Patriots receiver Reche Caldwell.

“The way they were acting after the game kind of irked me a bit. A couple of guys on the team weren’t being too professional,” the Tennessee linebacker said.

“The game was over, they had won the game. We’re talking about the same guy in the Colts game who dropped three passes that cost them the game. He might be on the line as to whether he makes the team or not. But he just needs to keep his head on a swivel.”

None of the Patriots’ name players was available for comment after Wednesday’s practice, and the there was no media availability on Thursday. Coach Bill Belichick was asked twice about Bulluck’s comments and said both times, “We’re going to concentrate on what we have to do.”

Young is expected to start against the Patriots, less than a week after he was benched for spending the night at home instead of the team hotel. The 2006 Offensive Rookie of the Year apologized to his teammates but said he was moving on.

“I’m looking forward to it, getting out there,” Young said this week. “I really feel like I’m having an all right camp. I want to go out here and get some action with it as well to see how I really am. From what’s going on in practice, I feel like it’s real good. But I want to see against another opponent.”

Without Young, the first-string offense managed just one field goal in last week’s 14-6 loss to Washington. But Young will get a chance on Friday to work with new receivers Eric Moulds and Justin Gage, who were brought in after Drew Bennett and Bobby Wade left as free agents.

It could also be a first for running back LenDale White, the second-round draft pick in 2006 who has yet to start an NFL game of any type. White he had a mild ankle sprain and did not practice Monday or Tuesday afternoon; on Wednesday, he ran on the side and did not practice.

The Patriots said playing a mobile quarterback like Young in the preseason will give them some practice for those they face in the regular season.

“It’s going to help us work on our outside rushes, keeping containment on a guy like that,” said safety Willie Andrews, who played against Young in college.

“We’ll see more mobile quarterbacks, and you can’t see too many more mobile than Vince Young. It’s a good look for the preseason.”