On Law, no news probably isn't good news

"I don't know," said Belichick. "I don't really have any update on his situation. If I did, I would give it to you. I might not have it until Wednesday. I will give it to you on Wednesday."

In all likelihood, Law was having an MRI, but it remained unclear exactly how he hurt himself as he was trying to cover Hines Ward in the first quarter. Law has had a sore foot all season, and he also suffers from chronic turf toe, but this injury appeared worse.

Law did leave the field under his own power but was placed in a mobile cast after the game.

Meanwhile, Belichick did say that the decision to keep running back Corey Dillon (foot/thigh injury) out of the lineup was made at game time, which indicates that he likely will play against St. Louis Sunday, barring further setbacks. Dillon received treatment at the Patriots facility yesterday.

Early shift
Making his first NFL start, Brandon Gorin found himself at right tackle, replacing the injured Tom Ashworth, but shifted to left tackle in the fourth quarter when Matt Light (Gorin's former teammate at Purdue) had the wind knocked out of him. Light didn't seem to be feeling well yesterday as he walked around with a faraway look on his face, but Gorin was thrilled to see his first playing time of the season though disappointed with the outcome. "We had a tough game and I thought I had a pretty rough game," Gorin said. "Obviously, when you lose, you think you can play better and it's hard to see a lot of positives." Gorin, 26, listed at 6 feet 6 inches, 308 pounds, said he didn't feel overwhelmed by shifting from right to left. At Purdue, he was the right tackle opposite Light. "It was actually good to play," he said. "I hadn't been out there in a game since preseason." . . . Bethel Johnson said he slipped and fell on the play that resulted in a 39-yard intereception return for a touchdown by Deshea Townsend with 22 seconds remaining in the first quarter. But he wasn't about to complain about the Heinz turf, which has been notoriously poor since the new stadium went up three years ago. "It's the same for both teams," he said. When it was suggested that the Steelers have an advantage because it's their home turf, Johnson said, "Look at our field," a reference to some of the treacherous areas at Gillette Stadium. Johnson thinks the Patriots' problems will be short-lived. "Guys are working hard in the weight room today because they know what has to be done," Johnson said. "They're not hiding from you guys. The only reason you caught me here is because I was on my way to the weight room."

Grievance dropped
Third-round pick Guss Scott, who is on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending knee injury in an exhibition loss to Cincinnati, dropped a grievance that was filed in an attempt to recoup the contract he rejected prior to his injury. Scott and agent Drew Rosenhaus had agreed to a five-year deal that included a $625,000 signing bonus, and it was actually signed July 30th. But the NFL Management Council nixed the deal because of language issues. The sides tried to resolve the language, and the Patriots felt they had, but Rosenhaus didn't accept the deal as restructured and decided to take a one-year qualifying offer of $230,000. The Management Council set up a special expedited hearing, but Scott apparently had a change of heart . . . Add guard Joe Andruzzi to Adam Vinatieri on the Patriots' wish list for players they hope to have extended before next week. The pro-rated signing bonuses could be tacked on to this season's salary cap . . . Belichick pretty much said that Kevin Faulk is the No. 1 punt returner, over Troy Brown, for the time being . . . Look for the Patriots to bring in some veteran defensive backs this week for tryouts. Belichick said the team would take a day to "try to take stock of where you are and not overreact to anything. Make sure you have the information, get a clear head."