Morris regroups after injury

Rejoining team buoys his spirits

FOXBOROUGH - After his season-ending chest injury in mid-October, there were times when running back Sammy Morris didn't feel he was part of the Patriots.

He was always polite when someone approached him and said "good game" or "keep it going" during the team's remarkable 18-1 campaign, but deep inside, he felt somewhat detached.

So, in some ways, yesterday marked a new beginning for him. When players convened for the first official day of the team's voluntary offseason program, Morris was right there with them, having flown in from Dallas late Sunday.

"It's always a good time, you have a lot of the high-fiving and everybody is catching up," Morris said. "I think the spirits are high, and you get a chance to meet all the new guys as well, and kind of seeing how they're going to fit in.

"Obviously, the first day, everyone is real excited. I think we have some good energy going."

Morris, who turned 31 Sunday, also feels he has some momentum on his side as he recovers from a sternum clavicle separation.

"I'm really pleased with my progress," said Morris, noting that he began lifting weights about six weeks ago. "The doctors say everything looks good and that it was a freak injury, but that guys bounce back from it.

"More importantly, the way I feel, physically, just being able to do stuff and that I can push myself - at the same time not overdoing it - I feel optimistic about being able to contribute this year."

Morris's return would bolster a running back group that includes leading rusher Laurence Maroney, do-it-all threat Kevin Faulk, fullback Heath Evans, and second-year man Kyle Eckel.

Morris was off to a strong start in 2007 before suffering the injury in the third quarter of the Oct. 14 win at Dallas.

He had posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing efforts and was the team's leading rusher (85 carries for 384 yards and 3 TDs) when he went down.

He first realized he was on the road to recovery this offseason when he could pick up his son, Sammy IV.

"He's pretty rough, so that was the big key," joked Morris, before turning serious when asked about how he'll feel upon returning to the field.

"That's the thing about the injury; it's so rare that the only way to really find out if you are 100 percent is to start taking the hits," he said.

"The thing that eases my anxiety about it is that it wasn't actually from a hit, it was from people falling on me. Again, it was kind of a rare deal."

Morris said he actually feels further ahead this offseason than last year, when he was recovering from shoulder surgery.

"I think I have a lot of incentive stored in the back of my mind, remembering how I felt on the sidelines," he said. "That still feels pretty new - the pain or even torment being out there and not being able to contribute. It's still in the back of my mind and I think that's going to help me push myself that much harder in the offseason."

Groves gets look

The Patriots held a private on-campus workout with Auburn defensive end/outside linebacker Quentin Groves March 13. The 6-foot-3-inch, 259-pound Groves is a classic speed rusher - he's been clocked at 4.53 in the 40-yard dash - and tied the Auburn career record for sacks with 26.

Groves projects to be an outside linebacker/edge rusher for a team, like the Patriots, that runs a 3-4 scheme. At the Scouting Combine in February, Groves said he started two games at outside linebacker in Auburn's 4-3 scheme his senior season and indicated he was open to becoming a 3-4 linebacker at the NFL level - a question several teams posed to him.

"I think all nine asked me, 'Would you go to outside linebacker?' " said Groves in February. "I told them, 'Without a doubt, if you need me to play it, I'll play it.' "

Sean Kiernan, the agent for Groves, said his client also had a private workout with the Jets, who pick sixth, one spot ahead of the Patriots. Kiernan said Groves had visits scheduled with six other teams as well.

Groves generally is projected to be a first-round pick but is not considered a top 10 selection, like another hybrid pass rusher the Patriots held a private workout with, Ohio State's Vernon Gholston. Private workouts generally indicate that a team is seeking more information on a prospect as it puts together its draft board.

No interest in Jones

When Pacman Jones's agent said last week that Jones would be interested in joining the Patriots, the words were construed by some as the team having interest in Jones. That is not the case. According to a league source, the Patriots will not pursue Jones . . . Defensive lineman Richard Seymour was among the players working out yesterday . . . According to his diary on the NFL Players Association website, Nebraska cornerback Zack Bowman had a private sit-down and film session with the Patriots March 13, prior to his Pro Day workout the next day. The 6-1, 197-pound Bowman is considered a late-round pick because of medical concerns. He was a medical redshirt in 2006 after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. He ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee before the 2007 season but recovered in time to start the season. Despite the injuries, Bowman has been clocked under 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash.