Maroney talks about 'issues'

what in the world is wrong with him? its got to be the shoulder.

that doesn't sound very reassuring. i like lawrence and would like to see him get it going, but it sounds like he's pretty hurt.

Not hard to tell that ol' Bill is his coach! All he had to add was, "I'm focusing on the Chargers right now."

he's obviously hurt....

Yeah, seems like he's hinting at an injury, which I would say is his other shoulder. Maybe after the surgery (which is bound to be announced after the season) he'll have two durable shoulders to lower into opposing defenders...maybe...

Until he comes out and runs the ball with some authority, besides the few games at the end of the last year he will get the "Soft" tag. Even if he is hurt then maybe he should take himself out.

Maybe its best that he preserves his health--there are different ways to give 100%. Sometimes its not running with abandon. I just hope when he is healthy he will hit holes with confidence. This is why there's 4 running backs seeing the field each game.

Did his dog die?

if it's not the shoulder, than it's a lack of intelligence..and that would be more serious..i think.

gotta feel somewhat bad...injured and cannot talk about it. Good news is Sammy Morris is pretty much as good as Dickerson so we're set.

Laurence what ever the issues is this fan is pulling for ya!

It sure doesn't sounds promising. He is taking in morse code because he is not supposed to talk about injuries. I am curious why the heck he is not on the injury report!!!
I wonder if the Ben-Jarvis Green can step in and run a little ...

can we please trade him? Always injured, always nicked up, never able to go even a full game without something happening. He is a BUST!

Does'nt sound like he is hurt. If he was hurt, he would sit until he is healthy enough to play. Why risk him?. They have enough backs. Plus he does'nt sound too happy. He doesn't care what the fans think, what the media thinks... This looks like the guy is unhapy about something.

Maroney = B-U-S-T. The boy is afraid to run between the tackles and shows no toughness when running, I mean pitter-pattering with the ball.

He's playing hurt. No doubt thats his issue. He's also blaming the "lack of the extra yard(s)" on the injury. Because of the Belichic team montra of not talking about injuries....he is talking about it without talking about it.
The only other option is guessing that he's not giving it his all and purposely not going for the extra yards because he's protesting his role or something. I don't believe that. I take my first guess.

I think the signing of Jordan did not sit well with Maroney. That was a no confidence vote for him.

He is definitely a BUST. I don't think he will be around here next year.

Maybe he did better last year because the Pats were taping the pre-game defense and now that they can't he's never dealt with it so he forgot how to run. By the way are the Pats done building the cheater hall of fame? I will have to make sure I get my gasoline out.

If he was hurt, he wouldn't be played - not with other solid contributors. A shoulder is a pretty big thing to risk with a heavy contact position like RB. It sounds to me like he needs to see a sports psychologist. Not joking - I hear many athletes/sports people talk about "seeing" their performance before they do it, and then committing themselves to it. Golfers say it all the time - I even heard an interview with Brady where he said the same. At the end of last year, he looked SO decisive! That's where he needs to get to again.

Cheers,

DAvo

I like the multiple running back thing. It provides fresh legs late into the game. Who cares if there's not a 100-yard back. If the team averages 140-160 rushing yards a game then they're getting the job done and that's all they (and we) should care about. I just want to make sure all the backs are healthy. Unfortunately, Maroney has not been able to stay healthy. I don't think its a skill issue because when he is healthy, he runs very well. Just get him healthy Bill!!

GO PATS!!

Maroney is human just like all of us, even HATER BOY (I think). The guy is coming off of a chemical dependency issue that gratuitously and Belichick-ian-like "is in the past" and he's now trying to move forward. Injuries affect players in different ways. Maroney's been working through the pain while being medicated. He's now trying to become less dependent on the medication and is feeling all the bumps and bruises of the game. Is he 100%? Of course not. Then again, who is? Especially when it's almost halfway through the season. All anyone can really say is Stay Tuned, especially Sunday Night!

Maroney has never had a chemical dependence issue Mr Anonymous are you an idiot? Maroney didn't carry the load at Minnesotta and he definitely can not do it in the pro's. He is unwilling and unable to run through the tackles and is just soft thats all. He unfortunately is a first round bust for the Patriots hopefully when they dont make the playoffs they can get a good draft pick.

I was going to guess some sort of mental illness...but anonymous might have hit the nail on the head with the chemical dependency.

I really don't give a crap if he's hurt. He's always had issues. His issues have to do w/ the fact that the's not a tough runner. He does not hit the hole, he does not get the tough yards, he does not like contact.

Dancing With the Stars is not what was advertised in a First Round Pick.
Why couldn't we have gotten the better Minnesota RB.
Barber would be amazing on this team.
He won't be on the team much longer so who cares. When the contract runs out he'll be gone.

I love it! He says nothing and folks think he is saying something... maybe he is... or maybe (with all the smiling) he isn't

On Ivan Fears: "I don’t know what he was saying. I really don’t remember."

Seems a tad disrespectful to me, whether he is injured or not. What I take from this interview is, whatever may be wrong with his shoulder, there is definitely something wrong in his head.

Sounds like he's got a case of Vince Young-itis to me (head case!)

I'm sorry. I want to feel sympathetic for the guy, but every yr. since he's entered the league he's had issues.

Patriots need to use a high draft pick on a starting running back and cut this guy loose.

I am a fan not a physciatrist....Whatever his problems physical or mental he should not be on the field of play untill he is one hundred percent !! He is paid to perform at the highest level and that is what the fan expects....He is hesitent at the line of scrimmage ....he is AFRAID to get hit in the open field ...He's a damn running back ....whats next ......he's allergic to grass???? He hasn't an illness that has prevented him from picking up his check !!

Like the man said its nothing or perhaps more.. hum we shall see ..it is what it is i think...sound like a smoke screen..Hey he is not running all that well so it has to be something wrong...we have other backs that can pick it up...we will be fine with or without....

Come on!!!!!!! Within the first two yards he's a nobody. Sure in the open field he piles up yards! Can you say "remember last year?". All his big games came with good holes and defensive mistakes. Not "hey watch me blow through the defense an with an illusive second step. He can't make the burst through the pressure. Am I alone on this ? Absolutely not a big time RB. a little obvious no?

Maybe he should try some ExtenZe... ;^)

He's probably got a bad case of jock itch and would just rather not talk about it with reporters...

I hate to pull this card, but my neighbor is a player & there is NO confidence in this guy amongst his teammates.

Whatever his issues, I hope he's able to clear them up. At this point though, Maroney has not performed to expectations and should be cut once his low cap contract expires unless he suddenly becomes a PATRIOT type player... namely a hard nosed winner.

The Pats need to look for a 2nd or 3rd round guy next year. They'll keep him until his contract is up to see if he develops, but that's highly unlikely. Reminds me of Gagne.

His attitude in the interview was, sadly, the same as his attitude on the field.

Some say problem with shoulder.
Some say problem in head.
I say the same problem we've seen hints of all along.
No heart.

Maroney is defenitely hurting, you could see hes not finishing his runs. When he healthy hes actually a pretty agressive runner. When hes not, he tends to try and juke defenders which is very hard to do in the nfl. Hes better off getting healthy than playing with a messed up shoulder.

Bottom Line: Pats have 2 better backs in Morris and Jordan. He should give Maroney the 3 spot until he gets over or heals up from his "issues": end of story.

He's got one more year on his contract, so there is still some time for Maroney to get his game established. It would be crazy to cut him now because the team would take a salary cap hit for the last year of his signing bonus, pro-rated. However, the prospects of him re-signing at anything about the league minimum do not look great, unless he proves otherwise.

You gotta feel sorry for him because he seems to be a player that gives what he can.

Someone suggested using a high draft pick next year. That sounds crazy. Look at the value they have acquired in years past with Morris, Jordan, and Dillon. This year there was a number of second hand backs available that the pats could have picked up on the cheap if they wanted to use a roster spot.

I think STEVE hit it on the head re his 'issue'! But really, another year, another positive Maroney 'vibe' coming into camp, another dismal result accompanied by a litany of 'nicks' and 'dings' that 'prevent him from going 100%'. Somebody change the record, please. I think the 'new issue' is that he's been dropped down the depth chart. He's not the no.1 probably for the first time in his football life and he's pouting. His attitude in his answers sounded defiant and antagonistic -- not like the usual Patriot 'warrior' response along the lines of 'we all have problems, there's no excuses.' Last year Morris was badly outrunning him early, as well, but then Sammy took a serious injury and ended up on IR. That forced the load back on Maroney and made him the de facto no.1, so he finally got it in gear. I don't think Maroney likes to share, or be outperformed. Unfortunately his response is not to get ticked off and play out of his mind to 'show 'em all', but to sulk. Morris is once again outrunning him, and now so is Jordan, so pretty soon Maroney is going to play his way on to the bench - or onto the IR w/ some mysterious season-ending injury to open a roster spot when Bill gets fed up with him.

HE LACKS NFL IQ and genuine humility. I'm still surprised Bill picked him up. He simply isn't sharp enough for the Pats, and it's broken his spirit. He should have gone to a team with less demand on IQ and humility.

Laurence Maroney is as soft as a roll of charmin. He never hits the hole he likes to tip tow around like he is Fred Flinstone bowling. I am one of the biggest Patriots fans there is but I dont like how Laurence plays the game. This is not the first season that he has done this so everyone please stop blaming any sort of injury.

His issues are all in his head. This guy is afraid to get hurt and no longer runs like an NFL runningback. The Patriots need to toughen this kid up.

I couldn't care less about what his issues are. He stinks. He fails to run vertical and dances away from contact (but doesn't add yards). If he doesn't play I don't think the Pats are any worse off.

What's so weird about this exchange? You want the big translation:

I'm hurt. I'm not allowed to tell you I'm hurt, but I am. That's the reason why I couldn't lunge for first downs and I'm shying away from contact. If I say that, BB will kill me. So I have to shutup and listen to everyone's crap and I can't defend myself because I can't admit it. There. Happy?

It's not like the guy is an All-Pro RB. Obviously, the Pats aren't sold on him. What has he really done that's so great? Right now, the team has to carry extra RB's because he basically can't perform, again.

Maroney, I wish you the best against the chargers.

I think STEVE hit it on the head re his 'issue'! But really, another year, another positive Maroney 'vibe' coming into camp, another dismal result accompanied by a litany of 'nicks' and 'dings' that 'prevent him from going 100%'. Somebody change the record, please. I think the 'new issue' is that he's been dropped down the depth chart. He's not the no.1 probably for the first time in his football life and he's pouting. His attitude in his answers sounded defiant and antagonistic -- not like the usual Patriot 'warrior' response along the lines of 'we all have problems, there's no excuses.' Last year Morris was badly outrunning him early, as well, but then Sammy took a serious injury and ended up on IR. That forced the load back on Maroney and made him the de facto no.1, so he finally got it in gear. I don't think Maroney likes to share, or be outperformed. Unfortunately his response is not to get ticked off and play out of his mind to 'show 'em all', but to sulk. Morris is once again outrunning him, and now so is Jordan, so pretty soon Maroney is going to play his way on to the bench - or onto the IR w/ some mysterious season-ending injury to open a roster spot when Bill gets fed up with him.

Maroney is a weirdo.

Its very simple. He is hurt and is being forced/urged to play by the coaching staff. He takes a great deal of pride in his play and it kills him to not be able to let people know that his sub par performance is the result of injury. This is one of those instances where the overbearing Boston media, and the opinions of fans who aren't sure which end of a jock strap is front, alienate players to no end.

He may not be hurt.....but he's certainly nuts.

Should we call him Ricky Williams Jr.?

JJ, I think most folks understand the translation. The problem is that it's not a valid excuse. Either you play a little hurt like so many NFL players do, or you're too injured and you're not on the field.

In another news yesterday where Seymour and Belichick were praising Philip Rivers for playing Hurt last year.

What do you think Maroney's teammates think of a player who goes on the filed to carry the ball, but won't take an easy first down because he's afraid he might get touched?

There are thousands of kids out there with more heart than this guy, and they just wish they had his natural ability. What a waste...

Injury isn't the deal here - he's running just as poorly now as when he was 100%..
time to put some more diapers in his locker, then trade him while we MIGHT still be able to get decent compensation.
He's a #1 pick BUST, doesn't have what it takes to get the job done & never will.
Man, oh man - why didn't we grab Addai instead? We'd have been set for the duration.
Cmon Bill & Scott - cut this guy loose & free up a roster spot for a player we could actually use. Morris, Faulk & Jordan will get the job done just fine - especially when they don't need to put out extra effort, to "cover" Maroney's lack of contribution.
Sad thing for a Patriot Fan to say about a Patriot Player, I know - but the truth of the matter is...Maroney isn't Patriot material & that's that!

you guys seem to forget maroney going over 125 vs both the jags and the chargers last year. maroney will get gelling again at the end of the year. no way in hell do patriots get rid of maroney now that would be stupid.

Peter, nobody is forgetting his 100 yard days. They are so infrequent that they are indeed very memorable.

If you want to talk about 100-yard games in his first two regular seasons, this #1 pick has:
4 100-yard rushing games
5 games missed due to injury
11 games with less than 40 yards rushing

For a long time, I hated it when people compared Maroney to Addai. But I'm done wanting to defend Maroney, so let's look at those same numbers for Addai, a lower pick, in his first two regualr seasons:
6 100-yard rushing games
0 games missed due to injury
6 games with less than 40 yards rushing

"Soft" and "Running Back" do not belong together. If he can't get it together by the end of the season, he's a failure. Please stop drafting offensive players in the first round, Patriots!