Hoping to smooth over this wrinkle

When the Dolphins surprised the Patriots, 38-13, in Week 3, they unleashed their "Wildcat" package for the first time.

With running back Ronnie Brown lined up in the shotgun at quarterback, the Dolphins had touchdown runs of 2, 5, and 62 yards, as well as a 19-yard touchdown pass. Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees later noted that the package initially caught New England off-guard.

The surprise element is no longer in play, as the Dolphins have used the Wildcat in eight games this season, and the Patriots figure to spend considerable time preparing for it this week.

"It is definitely part of their offense, they run it every week," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said yesterday. "It is still hard to stop. Not every play is an 80-yard touchdown but they consistently get production out of just about everything they are doing with that package."

On the season, the Dolphins have run 59 plays out of the package, for 420 yards (7.1-yard average) and 8 touchdowns (6 rushing, 2 passing).

Part of what makes the Wildcat a challenge is that the Dolphins have many plays out of it.

"They change it up from week to week," Belichick said. "I don't think it's going to be any surprise when Ronnie Brown lines up behind the center and takes the snap, but what the rest of the formation will be, what the blocking scheme will be, what they do out of it - that is not always the same every week. Far from it."

Brown has totaled 207 rushing yards on 34 carries (6.1-yard average) and has five touchdowns out of the formation, while adding the 19-yard touchdown pass.

Fellow running back Ricky Williams has 20 carries for 146 yards and 1 touchdown out of the Wildcat, while quarterback Chad Pennington threw a 53-yard touchdown pass out of the formation after taking a handoff from Williams, who had taken a handoff from Brown.

Often times, the Dolphins will use an unbalanced line, such as they did in New England when left tackle Jake Long moved to the opposite side and lined up next to the right tackle. That shifts the gaps in the running game, giving defenses yet another wrinkle to consider.

While Belichick believes the Dolphins' scheme is sound, he estimated that about 50 percent of their yardage out of the formation was a result of missed tackles, which is also a credit to the skill of Brown and Williams.

"It's well-coached and it's good players doing it," he said.

Wheatley goes on IR

The Patriots made three roster moves yesterday, most notably placing rookie cornerback Terrence Wheatley, a second-round draft choice out of Colorado, on season-ending injured reserve.

Wheatley fractured his left wrist in the 18-15 loss to the Colts Nov. 2. He started the game and appeared to be coming on.

"I knew exactly what happened this time because I'd done it before to the other hand," Wheatley told the Denver Post last week. "It's a tough break. The NFL is a survival test, that's for sure."

The Patriots used the open roster spot to promote rookie tight end Tyson DeVree off the practice squad. Scouts considered DeVree (6 feet 6 inches, 245 pounds) more of a pass-catcher than a blocker coming out of Colorado.

In 44 collegiate games, DeVree totaled 96 receptions for 987 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The Patriots have spent much of the season with just two tight ends on their 53-man roster, Benjamin Watson and David Thomas.

The Patriots also signed rookie outside linebacker Darrell Robertson to their practice squad and worked out rookie receiver and return man Jayson Foster, a former quarterback at Georgia Southern who won the 2007 Walter Payton Award.

Not their pal Joey

Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, who is having a stellar season (13.5 sacks), seldom has been shy about sharing his feelings, and he was at it again yesterday.

His target, predictably, was the Patriots.

Porter told South Florida reporters he felt the Patriots disrespected the Dolphins by continuing to run the ball instead of taking a knee late in last year's 28-7 victory Dec. 23.

"I don't forget things like that," Porter said. "I hope our whole defense, our whole team, doesn't forget things like that. [Belichick] had the mind-set last year where he said if he could put 50 up on you, he was going to put 50 up on you. So why should I feel sorry about anything that happens on their sideline?"

Porter also felt the Patriots' pregame warmup routine this September - he said they punted over the heads of Dolphins players while they were stretching - was disrespectful.

"I don't like them," Porter said. "It's always about respect."

A good grasp

Patriots coaches have credited rookie linebacker Jerod Mayo - the gem of what looks like a top-notch draft class produced by Scott Pioli and the scouting staff - with a team-high 94 tackles. "For a rookie, grasping all the things that we try to do, I think he's done a good job and he's continuing to improve," said Pees . . . Sam Aiken, who had a 43-yard catch-and-run Thursday against the Jets, seems to have seized the role of fourth receiver. Said offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, "Sam's worked hard. He's earned the right to be on the field." . . . Pees on the third-and-15 play in overtime last Thursday that the Jets converted on a 16-yard pass to tight end Dustin Keller: "We blew coverage and it really shouldn't have been as big a problem - it wasn't so much them presenting the problem as us presenting the problem to ourselves."