League may suspend Faulk for one game

Quarterback Kevin O'Connell got a leg up with a 5-yard touchdown run against the Giants. (Bill Kostroun/Associated Press)

Patriots running back Kevin Faulk could be facing punishment from the NFL for being detained with marijuana on his person in his home state of Louisiana in February.

The NFL is considering a one-game suspension, Adam Schefter of the NFL Network reported Thursday night.

Faulk was charged with marijuana possession after he was found with four hand-rolled cigars filled with the substance while attending a Lil Wayne concert in Lafayette, La., Feb. 22, according to police. In July, Faulk, who was not arrested, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor possession of marijuana, had his five-month jail term suspended, and was placed on probation for a year.

The Patriots' all-time leader in receptions by a running back with 323, the 32-year-old Faulk is the team's top option out of the backfield in passing situations and in third-down sets. He had 47 catches for 383 yards and a touchdown last season and added 62 rushes for 265 yards.

Faulk's situation also raises the question of whether offensive tackle Nick Kaczur might also be in the league's crosshairs for a suspension.

Kaczur was arrested in New York in April on a charge of illegal possession of prescription painkillers, then secretly cooperated with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in a sting operation that led to the arrest of his alleged supplier. In July, Kaczur paid a $355 fine for speeding, and court officials said his misdemeanor drug charge of possessing 202 OxyContin pills would be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for six months.

Lynch wants in
While it may have been a bad omen for Patriots linebacker Victor Hobson that he was still on the field for the final possession of the preseason, as the Giants ran out the clock in a 19-14 win Thursday, safety John Lynch asked to be out there in the fourth quarter.

The nine-time Pro Bowler, who has been a Patriot for only three weeks, figured he needed all the repetitions he could get to get up to speed prior to the regular season. So there Lynch was, with players fighting for their NFL lives.

"I feel like I'm that kind of player where I've got to know things and then my instincts can take over," said the 36-year-old Lynch, who finished with eight tackles and a tackle for a loss. "I asked to play a lot. It's been a long time since I've played a lot in the fourth preseason game. It was fun. I asked for it, and I'm thankful that they gave me that opportunity. I played just bits of the first two games. I felt like I needed some action, so it was good to be out there."

Coach Bill Belichick said Lynch had an opportunity to test his knowledge of the Patriots' calls and adjustments by playing longer against the Giants.

"That is kind of what we were looking for. That was one of the things we wanted to get out of the game - was to give not only younger but newer guys experience," Belichick said. "Let them play in our system and let them work through the problems and the communication that comes up."

Even for a 16-year veteran such as Lynch, the Patriots playbook can be difficult to assimilate. But he said he felt a lot better after this week.

"I'm finding out this playbook is pretty extensive . . . and things will pop up," he said. "But I think as you get into game-planning, you kind of narrow your focus and you know what you're going to do that particular week. But I feel like I'm getting a good grasp on things. It's not all the way there. It's always a work in progress, but I feel a lot better."

Call waiting
The Patriots are still tinkering with the defensive coach-to-designated player communication system. Belichick said yesterday they didn't do much with it against the Giants, and they haven't figured out how or if it will be utilized during the regular season.

"The only decision I could say is just we will do what is best for the defense," said Belichick. "It might be using it in one way, A. It might be B, using it a different way. It might be C, only using it in no-huddle situations. It might be D, switching players from one game to another. Right now it is not that high of a priority. There are a lot of other things that are a high priority.

"So, when we feel we've got that down, we have our substitutions, we know the pace of the game - who is in the game, when they are in, and when they are out - maybe we will feel better about whatever decision it is we make. It is really hard to be giving information to somebody and you don't even know if they are in the game or not. Then other people rely on that information, so that is really the bottom line. It is just a question of how to most efficiently use it. Until we really can get a good comfort level with what we are doing and how it should flow smoothly, I don't think it is really in our best interest."

He knows the drill
Running back LaMont Jordan said Thursday was the first time he got to run the Patriots' two-minute drill, including in practice. Jordan was on the field when the Patriots got the ball at their 27 with 2:01 left in the first half and drove to the New York 2 before an interception ended the drive.

Jordan had the longest play on the drive, a 23-yard screen pass. He also had two rushes for 18 yards. The former Raiders running back said even though injuries forced him to miss some time, he kept up with his mental repetitions to stay ready.

"When we were doing two-minute [drills] during the course of practice, I would always stand there and try to get the call, so that if I was ever thrown into that situation, I'd be prepared for it," he said.

Good footwork
The most exciting part of rookie quarterback Kevin O'Connell's game may be his ability to create plays with his legs. O'Connell rushed seven times for 46 yards and a touchdown, a 5-yarder against the Giants, during the preseason. He had two rushes for 15 yards against the Giants.

The Patriots put in designed runs for him and used them twice on their second touchdown drive, including the TD run.

"We put in a little draw there and ran it a couple of times," said O'Connell. "The line, I don't know whether they caught a second wind or not, but we were really getting off the ball and BenJarvus [Green-Ellis] was running the ball really well, and I sprinkled in a couple of passes there. More importantly, we had good field position to work with and were able to get a couple of scores on the board."

So, which does O'Connell prefer, passing it in or running it in? That's no contest for the QB, who quickly answered, "Throwing."