"They have met this season at least once a week. Nothing formal. Just a casual, one-on-one sitdown. Patriots coach Bill Belichick and running back Laurence Maroney.

"We watch film and talk a lot about the running game, his running style, reads, and so forth,'' Belichick said.

They try to meet every Saturday. "Or Friday, depending on the time of the game on Sunday,'' Maroney said.

Seldom, if ever, does Maroney feel it isn't time well spent."