Up and running - BostonHerald.com
FOXBORO - Naturally, Patriots [team stats] coach Bill Belichick wouldn’t tip his hand. He wouldn’t say for sure if running back Laurence Maroney [stats] would be available for tomorrow’s showdown with the Cowboys.
Uttering the words “getting closer,” “making progress” and “gametime decision” was Belichick’s way of keeping Maroney’s status a mystery, although the smart money says Maroney will be ready to go for this battle of unbeatens.
The lead back has missed the past two games because of a groin injury. The back story that has most people concerned is that this is his fourth injury (knee, rib and shoulder were the previous problems) in less than two seasons. Suddenly, there are durability questions and issues.
Or maybe, in this case, Belichick and the Patriots are just being overly cautious with the fleet-footed, second-year player. They’re taking the careful route with Maroney because they can. Officially, he’s listed on the injury report as “questionable.”
“(Belichick) said it’s a gametime decision? Then it’s a gametime decision. There we go,” an evasive, yet playful Maroney said in the locker room, before heading to the Dana-Farber Field House, where the Pats practiced indoors yesterday.
Typically, Maroney doesn’t talk the weeks he doesn’t play. And while the above wasn’t exactly talking, it seemed like he had just offered up a lecture given his silence the previous few weeks.
The more important clue with regard to his availability tomorrow is this one: How does he look?
Answer: Ready to go.
He seemed fine yesterday running out and catching short passes during the brief window the media is allowed to view practice. There is no noticeable limp when he walks or runs. He doesn’t favor either leg or side.
Maroney has also been much more noticeable in the locker room, joking around with teammates. Injured players who don’t play, or whose status is up in the air, tend to stay out of sight. Yesterday, Maroney was front and center, although still shy about communicating for publication.
During the past few weeks, it’s hard to say if he’s really been missed. There hasn’t been all that much angst or despair voiced in Patriot Nation over his absence since the team has been winning, and Sammy Morris keeps piling up 100-yard games.
Counting Maroney’s 103-yard performance against Buffalo, which was the last game he played, that’s three straight games with individual 100-yard rushers, as Morris has hit the magic mark the past two weeks against Cincinnati and Cleveland.
Maroney good to go?****UPDATE - Source: Maroney OUT
Maroney good to go?****UPDATE - Source: Maroney OUT
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