Battling the injury bug?

FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots keep on rolling, although the team’s most recent victory, a 34-17 decision over the Cleveland Browns, has some fans concerned.

Two topics seemed to stand out in this week’s mailbag:

1) Injuries. The Patriots had a few key players miss some time in Sunday’s win and one of them, running back Kevin Faulk, never returned.

2) Laurence Maroney. Some fans seem to be growing impatient with the second-year running back, wondering why he can’t stay on the field.

In what looks like the top game on the NFL schedule this week, the Patriots (5-0) visit the Cowboys (5-0). Should be an exciting time leading up to kickoff.

On to the questions:

What is the injury situation from Sunday? Is Kevin Faulk the most serious? How did the others (Adalius Thomas, Asante Samuel, Mel Mitchell) look in the locker room? How close is Laurence Maroney?
Jim Curley, Seminole, Fla.

A: I would say that Faulk is the most serious. When you come out of the game with a right leg injury in the second quarter and don’t return, that’s not a good sign. I did see Faulk walk out of the locker room under his own power after the game, but I would caution from reading too much into that. I’d put Adalius Thomas (ankle) into the same category as Dan Koppen from the week before – while he returned to action in the game in which he was injured, he’s not out of the woods yet. Mitchell, too. I think Samuel is OK. As for Maroney, I don’t know how close he is to returning.

Maroney’s durability seems to be a big question mark, don't you think?
Mark Zinan, Sunderland

A: I would agree it’s a concern with Maroney. Only in his second year, he’s already missed four of 24 possible games, and hardly played in a fifth – against the Lions last year -- when he hurt his ribs. He had offseason shoulder surgery. It’s not exactly the way you want to start your career. On the other side of the equation, I also think that the Patriots’ current decision-making with Maroney – holding him out the last two games – is partially dictated by the time of year. If this were the end of the season, or the playoffs, I think he might be playing right now.

I just want to temper the rampant enthusiasm surrounding the Patriots’ victories this year. They have dominated five teams with losing records. I love watching the team and would love to see them hoist another Lombardi, but let’s be real.
Paul Bachman, Boston

A: I look at things differently. In today’s NFL, I believe that records don’t matter as much as the specific matchup between the teams. Also, it is crucial to look at when you play a team. Look at last night’s Bills-Cowboys game as an example. Based on the record alone, the Cowboys should have cruised. But the Bills, in a frenzied environment on a Monday night, gave them all they could handle. Also look at the Patriots’ Week 2 win over the Chargers. At the time, the Chargers were 1-0, so now that they’re 2-3, do we look at that win differently? I just don’t buy it. I personally feel that it is hard to win in the NFL, and the Patriots are almost victims of their success because they sometimes make it look easy.

Why was Cleveland trying to score at the end of the game? It was obvious the game was over especially since the Pats basically took the air out of the ball on their last possession.
Steve O'Brien, Randolph

A: I don’t think it was anything personal. I think Romeo Crennel is from the Bill Belichick School of Coaching, and that means every time you are on the field, it is an opportunity to get better. That was a chance to have his young quarterback, Derek Anderson, operate the two-minute offense in a live situation. It’s something you can’t simulate in practice. I had no problem with it.

How much better is Seymour than Green and Warren? What will his presence, when healthy, allow them to do that they can’t right now? They’re all, in my opinion, tier-one defensive linemen, but there’s a reason Seymour has been to 5 Pro Bowls, right? And when is Wilfork going to start being talked about as the best 3-4 nose tackles in the game?
Sco Mac, Colorado

A: While I thought Warren had a better year than Seymour in 2006, I would still say that Seymour is the better player. I would also put Seymour ahead of Green. What I noticed in Sunday’s game against the Browns is that Cleveland seemed more inclined to run to the left, in the direction of Jarvis Green and outside linebacker Rosevelt Colvin. So when Seymour comes back, assuming he is on track to do so, I think that obviously will change the thinking of opponents who are running in that direction. Teams that run at Seymour generally don’t gain much yardage. As for Wilfork, I agree that he looks like a premier nose tackle to me. I haven’t seen one better this year.

What are your thoughts on Ty Warren’s play this year? I have not really heard his name talked about that often.
JJ Redington, Burlington, Vt.

A: Warren is rock solid. He is very strong at the line of scrimmage and remains on an ascending track. The performance of defensive linemen in the Patriots’ 3-4 scheme isn’t always best reflected by tackles and sacks, but by how well the players control the line of scrimmage while playing two-gap techniques. Warren does it very well.

Cleveland seemed to run at Colvin and throw at Hobbs and Gay. The strategy appeared to work well. Your thoughts? On another subject that is becoming tiresome, the party line may be "he is doing what we asked him to do.'' Then perhaps punter Chris Hanson is not being asked to do enough. Six punts for a 35 yards average, with a net of 30, is poor. Doesn't this have to change?
Paul Lynn, Missoula, Mont.

A: I agree that the Browns seemed to run left, in the direction of Colvin and defensive end Jarvis Green. Colvin missed a couple of tackles and sometimes struggled to set the edge in the running game. It was not his best performance. I also felt the Browns threw more in the direction of Hobbs and Gay. As for Hanson, that was a poor performance and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots start exploring other options if we see another performance like that Sunday in Dallas. As of Monday night, I don’t think the Patriots will make a move at punter before Sunday’s game.

My question is maybe a bit off the beaten path. What was the deal with Vrabel going after the Cleveland lineman on the spike play towards the end of the game that caused a bit of a tussle? No one really commented on it or asked. Vrabel always struck me as a clean player, and I'm wondering if the lineman did something during the game to make Vrabel take a shot at him in that situation.
Geoff McAuley, Lynn

A: It will be interesting to hear what Vrabel has to say about that play, as he declined to comment in the team’s locker room Monday. We already know what Browns guard Eric Steinbach thinks about it, as he told the Associated Press that he believes Vrabel should be fined.

I saw where you rated cornerback Randall Gay in the “down” category on your blog. I thought he was better than Hobbs against Cleveland. I thought Hobbs was much too soft against the WRs. Going further, if you are Dallas wouldn't you try and create matchups with Owens to go after Hobbs? I just thought that Gay was making some good open field tackles while Hobbs was off and even that apparent good play in the end zone -- he missed and the WR had a real chance to catch the TD. I like Hobbs against the smaller WR, but big WRs are a potential problem for the Pats and I would move Hobbs to the slot in that case, or give him a light load. Your thoughts?
Jared, Winchester

A: I put Gay in the “down” category because he was a step behind in coverage on two touchdown passes. I felt Hobbs had a solid day in coverage – specifically in the end zone against Joe Jurevicius in the first quarter (I saw the play as Hobbs having solid coverage and Jurevicius playing the role of the defender), and on a long attempt over the middle to Tim Carter in the first quarter. On the flip side, I would agree that Gay was better in the tackling department than Hobbs was. Hobbs missed an obvious tackle in the first quarter on a Braylon Edwards 12-yard catch-and-run. In terms of moving Hobbs to the slot, that would mean Gay is on the outside. I like Hobbs’ speed on the outside better, as I would worry about Gay’s ability to win a foot race on the outside.

I am interested that no one asked Bill Belichick about the number of out-of-bounds kicks in the 3rd quarter. He indicated earlier that he had Hanson kick 2 out of bounds during the Buffalo game, and I would expect that this is more of the same, but now it includes Stephen Gostkowski on kickoffs. I expect that this had something to do with the fact that Josh Cribbs had been so successful, but could it also have to do with the fact that Mel Mitchell got nicked up at the end of the 2nd quarter?
Dave, Lunenburg

A: Unlike the situation with punter Chris Hanson, the Patriots did not want Gostkowski to kick the ball out of bounds on kickoffs. Gostkowski mis-hit the ball on that attempt.

How good or bad are the chances that the Pats may be able to bring back Stallworth and Moss next year?
Mike, Pembroke Pines, Fla.

A: As I’ve said before, I think both players realize that they are in a great spot, having the chance to catch passes from Tom Brady in a dynamic offense. The Patriots have more leverage with Stallworth in that they can retain him by paying a large option bonus as part of his contract. Moss’s contract, on the other hand, expires after the season. I think Moss is happy here and that puts the Patriots in a lead position, assuming that the sides are in the same ballpark with what they are asking for/offering. Because Moss renegotiated his contract to come to New England, he cannot have another renegotiation – assuming it increases his salary and cap number – until after the league year ends, per the collective bargaining agreement. So really, we won’t know the true chances of his return – assuming he would be looking for an increased salary – until after the year.

Do you think the Pats will still have their hands full with the Colts offense? I do unless we change our approach. I just don’t see them being able to stop the Colts receivers. We have only added Thomas and Meriweather (rookie). To date, the rest of the NFL can’t stop the Colts either. When will teams wake up and start playing physical, like the 2003/2004 Pats playoff against the Colts? That was a proven successful tactic. Hit them hard on every play. As I recall, the 2001 Rams didn’t like being hit either. I don’t think I have seen Manning get hit once in 3 years. His receivers are never hit either. Until this changes, the Colts may not be beaten. If the Pats' plan is to outscore the Colts then I am of the belief the Pats will lose that battle. Please let’s get physical and make a statement to the Colts.
Terry McCarthy, Upton

A: Without a doubt, the Patriots will have their hands full with the Colts. I feel the Colts have the best offense in the NFL, hands down. In theory, the idea of playing physical is sound, but the problem is that you are leaving yourself vulnerable to the big play. What if the cornerback fails to execute the jam? You could be looking at a quick 6 points on a big play. So it’s risk-reward, because jamming receivers is a difficult skill to master. After watching the Colts two weekends ago against Denver, I feel that the Patriots will be best playing their sub defense against the Colts – the base 3-4 isn’t going to get it done. They need more speed on the field to keep up with that attack.

Asante Samuel has stepped in after missing camp and played quite nicely so far with a couple of picks already. If he has another good year, can we finally put him in the upper class of CB's in the league? The corner position is one that is fairly tough to fill in with a lack of free agents and draft pick taking a year or two to completely learn the system. With Asante's effectiveness and knowledge of the system, what are the chances that the Pats will sit down and try to iron out a deal that will keep this quality player here for a few more years. In my opinion, other positions are a bit easier to replace than a quality cornerback.
Jeff Gagnon, Portland, Maine

A: Samuel looked exceptional to me on Sunday against the Browns, and if he plays like that the rest of the way, I think he will have officially entered that upper class of cornerbacks. Yet I still don’t believe that will lead the sides to an agreement this offseason. I feel as if the sides made their intentions clear this offseason – Samuel is looking for a top end, Nate Clements-type deal, and the Patriots aren’t going there. While the Patriots might be willing to increase their offer a bit if Samuel continues to ascend, I think they will ultimately decide to invest those resources in someone like nose tackle Vince Wilfork instead.

I don't know if it's me, but I sense a dropoff in the last 2 games. Knowing this team, though, I expect that they bring the A game to Texas this week. So is this going to be an old-fashioned shoot-out or can this defense hold TO and company in check and get win number 6?
Cynthia Pleach, Canton

A: I don’t think there is any question that the Browns game was the Patriots’ worst performance of the year. I didn’t think the Bengals game was in the same category. As for this Sunday against the Cowboys, I would expect some points but wouldn’t go as far as to say an old-fashioned shoot-out. I like a game in the 20s, with the Patriots winning. I think they are the better team than the Cowboys.

In the first couple games, we saw Maroney with the bulk of the carries, and Morris coming in on the goal line. Now with Maroney out, we are seeing Morris with the bulk of the carries, and seeing Evans and Eckel with the goal-line carries. Is this a philosophical decision on the part of the Patriots? Some reason they don't want the "featured" back to carry the ball inside the 10?
Chris Cenotti, Franklin

A: I don’t think the issue has to do with having Maroney, the so-called feature back, avoiding contact on the goal-line. I think the Patriots feel Morris’s running style is the best fit on the goal-line, and that is the basis for the decision. They did use Evans in the Bengals’ game, but the results were not good and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots avoid that in the future, going strictly to Morris.

I don't understand why everyone was saying Matt Light was not a top talent at his position, even though he went to the Pro Bowl. I think that he has played the best on the O-line, maybe the best in the league at his position. I think this has been the biggest surprise of most fans that follow the Patriots. The O-line is setting the standard. Your thoughts?
Mike O'Brien, Round Rock, Texas

A: I think part of the reason fans said that about Light is that he was an alternate choice and a handful of left tackles before him could not attend the Pro Bowl. I saw Light miss a few blocks in the running game against the Browns, one of which came in the red zone as the Patriots’ first drive stalled. I also saw Bengals defensive end Justin Smith give him a few problems. But overall, I would say Light has been solid, which has been reflective of the overall play of the line. The line has allowed just three sacks this season.

I am not wise to the ways of an NFL budget. Marcellus Rivers signed a two-year, $1.2 million contract earlier in the week. A couple days later, he was released to make room for the return of Rodney Harrison. Rivers might come back in a few days, as the team is down to two TEs. What happens to the contract that Rivers signed a couple days ago? Is it not void? Will he sign a new contract next week? Was he made aware of the possibility of being released hours after signing the contract? Sometimes, the contract situation in the NFL really puzzles me.
Tom Donovan, Hooksett, N.H.

A: That contract becomes void. The key thing to look at in any contract is the signing bonus, because that money is paid up front and is usually the only part that is guaranteed to the player. Rivers received no signing bonus as part of the two-year deal he signed last week. I believe Rivers will sign a new contract this week, possibly as early as today. Rivers’s locker remains intact in the team’s locker room.

What is the status of Troy Brown, Richard Seymour, and Chad Jackson? How are their rehabilitations going? Will they be coming back?
Mark, Cambridge

A: Brown spent a few moments speaking with reporters on Monday at Gillette Stadium. He said he was hopeful that he would return to action at some point. He just wasn’t sure when. ESPN.com recently reported that Seymour is likely to return in nearly November, which is something I have not independently confirmed. I tend to think Jackson is a bit further away, and am projecting that we might not see him until 2008.

Any idea why Randy Moss has not spoken to the media? Sure would be good to hear his perspective on his early success with the Pats and what he thinks of the team moving ahead.
John Dunham, Nashua

A: According to two of Moss’s former coaches – from college and high school – Moss has had some unpleasant experiences speaking with the media. Bob Pruett, the former Marshall University coach who had Moss on his team in 1996 and 1997, said: “Like anybody else, if you stick your finger in the fire and get burned, you’re going to stay away from the fire.” Like you, I find it disappointing, because every time Moss has spoken, I’ve found him to be intelligent, enlightening, and entertaining.

I'm curious about the physically unable to perform list and the rule about a player placed on the list prior to the start of the regular season. Does a player on this list such as Richard Seymour become eligible to come off the list after week 6 of the season or a team's 6th game? If the rule is week 6, then wouldn't a team with a bye prior to week 6 gain a significant advantage by having a player potentially miss only 5 games versus the 6 that Seymour will miss?
Paul Lucy, Bristow, Va.

A: The rule, as I understand it, is that the player is not cleared to practice until after the sixth week of the season, not the sixth game. I suppose that could yield an advantage to a team with an early bye, but I’ve always thought the early bye, in and of itself, is a disadvantage.

We often hear of Richard Seymour, Troy Brown, and Chad Jackson as PUPers, but what of the corner Eddie Jackson. What is his status and is he likely to see any playing time this year? Who is he?
Alan Bernstein, Arlington

A: Eddie Jackson signed a two-year contract with the Patriots, as the team figured that since he was recovering from a torn ACL, he projected more to 2008 than 2007. Jackson is cut in the mold of Chad Scott, as a sturdier corner who checks in at 6 feet, 200 pounds. If the Patriots remain healthy in the secondary this year, I wouldn’t expect to see Jackson on the field until next year. If there are injuries, perhaps Jackson could make a return toward the latter part of the current season. He is more of a nickel-type corner, not a starter, but someone with extensive special teams experience.

I'm a lifelong Patriots' fan and a one-year breast cancer survivor. While watching the game yesterday, I didn't notice any of the Patriots' coaches wearing the pink NFL ribbons. Romeo and the Browns' coaches were wearing them, as were the announcers. Was I missing something? I was a little disheartened not seeing them on Coach Bill and his staff.
Ann, Cambridge

A: Continued health to you, Ann, and I wish the best to you and your family. I asked a Patriots official about this and was told that some Patriots were wearing the pins, and some of the team’s personnel wore them while others didn’t. It was optional attire.

I couldn't help but notice how bleak the Carolina QB situation has become. Any chance they'd be willing to part with a nice ransom (maybe a second-round pick) to grab Cassel with the thought that he could help them salvage this season and has the potential to be the QB of the future? I'd love to see the Pats turn Cassel into a second rounder, but up until now I've thought it was unlikely given his limited playing opportunities. But with Carolina desperate do you think it’s a possibility? Would the Pats make such a move or would it leave them to vulnerable at QB? My thinking was Vinny would come back and provide the team with an acceptable veteran backup.
Jeff Strom, Charlestown

A: I like your thinking, Jeff, but I don’t think Cassel has done enough to yield a second-round pick. But the interesting part about this is that Carolina’s offensive coordinator, Jeff Davidson, is a former Patriots assistant under Bill Belichick. So Davidson certainly would put a value on how the Patriots coach up their players. But I still think it’s too rich for Cassel. If they would give up a third, I could see it happening, assuming there would be some level of interest. This question ties into a few questions from the past weeks on why the Patriots have four quarterbacks (Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, and Matt Gutierrez on the roster; David Greene on the practice squad), and I would reiterate that I think it’s good business to develop quarterbacks. The Cardinals are another team seeking a backup signal-caller right now.

As you blogged, Justise Hairston signed with Indy's practice squad after being put on IR by the Patriots, then released. If the Colts were to release him, and we were to sign him again, would he have to go on our IR list, even if he is not necessarily on IR for the Colts?
Heath, Bolton

A: Hairston would not be on the Patriots’ injured reserve list, as the Patriots had released him by reaching an injury settlement.

Since it is looking like a lock that the Patriots make the playoffs, has it been decided which first-round pick they would lose as a result of Spygate?
Bryan, Huntsville, Ala.

A: The Patriots will lose their own pick, and not the selection acquired from the 49ers.