"While practicing at San Jose State with the team on the West Coast, Laurence Maroney talked about having “issues.” He talked about having “reasons” for his less than enthusiastic start to the 2008 season.

Maroney wouldn’t say for certain that it was the shoulder injury that plagued him since Week 2, but it seems that is the case now as the Patriots placed the running back on season-ending injured reserve yesterday.

While Maroney initially injured the shoulder against the Jets and missed the following week against Miami, he returned to play in San Francisco before sitting out at San Diego. In all, he played in three of the first five games, totaling 28 carries for 93 yards.

One play that raised eyebrows about either his health or level of determination occurred during the 49ers game when he slipped out of bounds a yard short of a first down.

“You’re going to get criticism because . . . people really don’t know what it is, and they don’t know what you’re dealing with,” Maroney said earlier. “All they’re going to know is what you put out there on TV. So, you’re going to get criticism until they find out exactly what’s going on, and what’s the problem.”

Yesterday, that problem became quite evident. The injury-prone back has played in 30 games since being taken in the first round (21st overall) in the 2006 NFL draft. Last season, Maroney had 835 yards on 185 carries and six touchdowns. He ran for 100 or more yards in four of his final six games, including two playoff contests.

Calls and e-mails to Vance Malinovic, who represents the Pats running back, were not returned."