Their pick no bush leaguer

FOXBOROUGH -- One NFC assistant coach said his team had Laurence Maroney, the Patriots' first-round pick (21st overall) in yesterday's draft, rated above every running back available except Reggie Bush, who was taken second overall by New Orleans.

''You look at the guy's numbers and how he did against defenses like Ohio State, and you know he's not worried about competition," the coach said. ''You give him the ball, he just runs and doesn't get tired. We loved him, we just didn't need him."

Maroney was a workhorse at the University of Minnesota. He rushed 46 times for 234 yards against Purdue and 43 times for 262 yards against Wisconsin, and in 660 college carries, he says he fumbled only four times.

Maroney, a former high school track star in Missouri, returned kickoffs for the Golden Gophers, averaging 25.8 yards per return as a freshman and 24 yards last year.

''If he's good enough he'll have an opportunity to [return kicks]," coach Bill Belichick said. ''It comes down to, just like everybody else, however well they perform and whatever role they can create for themselves. That's what every new player would have."

Belichick opened his press conference yesterday by announcing that he had not talked to nor seen Javon Walker.

Several media outlets reported that Walker was in Boston Friday night to meet with the Patriots, but the visit never happened.

The disgruntled Packers wide receiver was traded to the Broncos yesterday for a second-round pick. The Patriots moved one slot above that Denver pick, thanks to a trade with Green Bay, to nab Florida receiver Chad Jackson.

There was speculation that the Broncos might take Jackson in the first round. The Patriots' move, which cost them the 52d and 75th picks, was in anticipation of Denver taking Jackson. The Denver-Green Bay trade wasn't announced until after the Patriots' swap with the Packers, who then traded the 37th pick to Atlanta.

The Patriots got a player who was listed as the best receiver on some teams' boards, the Broncos got a solid No. 2 wideout, and the Packers added three picks.

Belichick said the Patriots could very well come away with the best remaining player on their board when the fourth round begins today.

The Patriots have the ninth (106th overall) and 21st (118th overall) picks in the fourth round, meaning they could easily trade up to target a player.

''There may be some movement on those picks," Belichick said. ''You have a lot better chance in the fourth round of getting the guy that you want than when you're sitting in the middle of the first round."

Belichick said teams typically make moves to acquire fourth-round picks. The Patriots have seven picks today, but almost certainly will not use them all. The team's final two of three sixth-round picks are compensatory selections and can't be traded.