"The players around linebacker Jerod Mayo keep changing.

One week, it's Tracy White. Another week, Gary Guyton. Before he was put on injured reserve, it was Jeff Tarpinian.

Only Rob Ninkovich is the constant along with Mayo at the linebacker position. Despite the rotating door, Mayo has taken it in stride.

"Injuries are part of football and sometimes, it changes," Mayo said yesterday. "It gets hard sometimes, but these guys work, and everyone who's stepped in always had that next-guy-up attitude. It's been working well for us these last couple weeks."

In fact, despite the constant flux, the Patriots have improved defensively the past three weeks. Starting middle linebacker Brandon Spikes (knee, doubtful) has missed three games, and backup Dane Fletcher (thumb, questionable) has been out since the bye.

That has led to some adjustments.

"The communication is still the same," Mayo said. "Still have to be sharp on that. Just turning and talking to a different person in general is going to be more difficult, but we get the job done.""