"With each question he received, Laurence Maroney gave one back just as quickly. The responses came in rapid fire, which is how the Patriots running back wants it.

"Have you improved from last season?" he was asked.

"Do you think I've improved?" Maroney responded.

And then, "Do you want to change the perception some fans have of you?"

"What's your perception of me?" he tossed back. "Let me hear it."

The three-year veteran manhandled a wide-ranging interview yesterday, sending back queries he didn't like and defusing any awkwardness with a joke.

"I think I'm the funniest guy, to be honest about it," Maroney said.

He wants to take that act on the field.

The former first-round draft pick judges his performance not on his yards but on how much ground he gains after contact. Maroney wants to reject would-be tacklers like he rejects questions. Swiftly, with power, and in a way that leaves you shaking your head.

That's why his numbers from the six-carry, 14-yard game against the Eagles last Thursday aren't as meaningful as how the rushes developed.

"When the line opens up (with) good blocks, I feel like you could put any back there," he said, before looking at a diminutive reporter. "You could probably run and score. It's what do I do after first contact?"

Maroney entered the NFL after a star-studded career at Minnesota that had analysts praising him as a power back. And when he led the team in rushing seven times in 2006 it appeared that would continue."