I don't know if I agree with that analysis. The reason I am not concerned about their RB situation is that they have proved they can go into other positional groupings and still do well. I suspect they might do that, if Maroney were to miss time again.

Question: Do you think some of the late throws to Moss are because he is doubled all day and they are just trying to get him some stats after the game is decided and it is worth the risk of throwing into tighter coverage?

Adam Schefter of NFL Network commented on this...that it could be Corey Dillion coming back...WOW! I think that would give us a huge lift to have someone as experienced as him in the backfield and his punishing style Awesome!!..no slight to Kyle , but it is what it is......GO PATS

Will they call Ricky Williams to see if he wants to reinvent himself al a Randy Moss?

Nothing wrong with having a hammer like Corey to bring in during third and 1 and goal line situation similar to what the Bus did for the Steelers. Maroney and faulk aren't really great in those situations and Eckel isn't proven. Evans is really more of a fullback, no? Don't know if it will happen but they have an opening on the roster now and why fill it with another receiver like Jackson who can't stay on the field?

For the first time in a long time, I really disagree with Reiss on this. Even an aging Corey Dillon that doesn't play ST is much better than having a small slow kid like Eckle on the roster. If they need the special teams help, get it from starters or someone on the practice squad. Eckle is awful (and Evans doesn't look much better). I would see how healthy and fast Dillon is and if he's willing get him on a plane to Foxborough for the bye week.

i could see corey coming back if the pats beat the colts. he is only interested in coming back if he is guarenteed a ring. he said something like 'the only way i come back is if it is 4th and goal on the 1 with seconds left and the score is tied in the superbowl'.

hey - maybe I can pull a junior seau and unretire for a shot at the ring that i never got with "man-dumbell" and the jets!

I'm not really worried about goal line until someone stops Vrabel. I think I'd be interested in seeing Barlow more than Dillon. I don't think Dillon has the endurance to burn the entire 4Q, which is more than likely why the Pats are still throwing it. If we still had Morris, I doubt we'd be throwing as much in 4Q. Maroney may not be healthy enough for that kind of beating yet. And I get the feeling he runs to high to be that 4Q punishing back to close the game. More of a between the 10s gamebreaker earlier in the game. Morris was perfect for that.

C'mon Mike. You really think Kyle Eckel would be more valuable to this team than say Corey Dillon, a guy who is a monster around the goalline and can change the pace from Maroney like last year. Can't they find someone else on the roster to handle the special teams work?

Maroney doesn't exactly have a nose for the endzone. Half way through the season he still has zero TD's. In the season of no fooling around, it's obvious the Pats will bring Dillon back. Eckel and Evans are nice to plug in for garbage time, but not with a game on the line. Faulk is a great change of pace back right now. Dillon would be the TD machine.

Mike I agree with you all the time. One of the best sportswriters on the scene. I'm in San Diego and I always spread your info around. Reading your pieces is like I'm sitting at Donohue's talking sports with my homies.

But Eckel better then Dillon? If Dillon can keep his trap shut he's the better back for this team. I have Maroney on my fantasy team and Dillon might hurt my chances but he'll help the Pats!!!

Who the hell is kyle eckel. why you giving him so much credit. wow you suck as a sports writer, please quit you job. its like asking would rather have Corey Dillon or Kyle eckel?

Mike reis would rather have a running back that runs a 40 in 8 second then a proven guy like corey dillion.

sorry, I think the loss of Sammy Morris is BIG...have folks forgotten already what he did in the first few weeks??...he was running better and more consistently than Maroney...more yards per carry and he was the goal line guy...if you needed 2-3 yards for a first down, he was the man....I like Faulk and he's great at protecting Brady and receiving, but he's not a smash-mouth guy....Morris and Maroney together were a great 1-2 combo...now that Morris is gone, it's Maroney and the other guys (and Maroney has been a health risk)....Evans and Eckel have heart and are tough, but they haven't proven they can get the tough yards when necessary....I don't know if Dillon is the answer, but they need to get someone to replace Morris....even though our receivers are great, you can't have the defenses know that it's gonna be pass, pass, pass...they would key on that....just my opinion...

Is Corey Dillon even in shape? It may take him a month to get into game shape. 30 + year old running backs with a lot of miles on them who retire, retire for a reason - they can't play anymore. It wouldn't surprise me though if Belichek told him to be on stand-by should something like this happen, ala Vinny T.

Put Chad Jackson in the backfield. Probably he's played some before ... . He's 217 lbs. Ultra- athletic. He'd be a great double threat, and plays special teams! Gary

How can Dillon contribute at this point? Is he even in any condition?

I have to agree with Mike. At this point, Corey Dillon has not played football. He is at least a couple of weeks away from playing. Secondly, he won't help out that much. Heath Evans is a fine power runner and Kyle Eckle gives us Special Teams help. Remember that special teams can help both the offense and defense with their job. Finally, we have no idea how good he'll be. Will he really be that much better than Eckle and Evans? He is at the age where HBs only get worse. Also, with all the points we're putting up early (42 points in a half!!!) we don't need the pound it out guy like Corey.

watching the pats-colts last game on nfl network recently, it came to me how well dillon played in that game.on his final carry a delay off tackle he put a move on i believe it was bethea that allowed himself to walk into the endzone. maroney has never been great in short yardage because of his tendency to try and bounce everything. i say if corey's game let him come back in morris' role.

Yea dillon dosent have it any more he only rushed for over 800 yds splitting time.yea he probably would have rushed for 1400-1600 yds if he did it alone.yea he is washed up.Get A Grip!

Hey guys, while I appreciate a number of suggestions on who can fill the void left by the Morris IR, my suggestion would be to suit up one of the chearleaders and put her in the backfield......or perhaps not to suit her up at all!

With such a distraction, Brady could quarterback sneak 90 yards on each play!

Dillon won't come back. To be honest, I don't think Belichick wants him back. Even if he did, Dillon has already said he doesn't want to return...either to football or the Patriots. So Dillon is as much an option as bringing in John Riggins.
I don't think the Patriots will do anything right away. They are trying to make room for the PUP players.
Somebody will get injured and placed on the IR in late November or early December (opening up a roster spot) and at that point the Patriots will call a running back to help provide depth through the stretch. Who? Who knows! Not Dillon. Somebody Belichick likes, that's who. We'll just have to wait and see.

I do think there was definitely something more to the Dillon releasing than what was reported. I dont believe that Dillon just asked the team to release him and Belichick went, "Sure, whatever you want Corey." There must have been an incident and both sides just decided to keep quiet.

Regardless, if Dillon is willing to come back and Belichick is willing to take him back, then sign him immediately.

Eckel seems to be one of these small school projects, undrafted and with some tools but few skills, who was worth little last year but got better.

Dillon has no upside. If his current abilities are down to average, he's worth nothing much to the Pats.

BB seems to believe in an experienced, well-drafted, athletic and smart O-line, often beefed up by two huge and strong tight ends, and then any free agent, Heath Evans, Kyle Eckel or Mike Reiss (in his dreams), can run behind that line.

Any chance that the Patriots take advantage of the versatility of their players again and use Stallworth for a few snaps at running back? He is by far their best playmaker after the catch according to Brady, and it seems like they love to give him the ball on screens and quick hits to let him do his damage. Could they take advantage of his skills and use him on a few sweeps or pitch-outs?