"The Patriots departed Gillette Stadium at 4 p.m. yesterday in a six-bus caravan headed for Logan Airport, escorted by six State Police motorcycles, a black unmarked cruiser, and a sport utility vehicle.

But if running back Laurence Maroney had his way, Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would not have required such an elaborate travel itinerary, let alone passports.

He would have preferred to play the game stateside, not at Wembley Stadium in London. After all, it's a long way to go to haul the mail. With Fred Taylor (ankle) and Sammy Morris (knee) banged up, Maroney and fellow running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk will have to shoulder the bulk of the work."