"Without the time, the plays or the ball Thursday night, the Patriots offense couldn't explore many options against the Rams in their 36-35 loss.

As a result, some players, most notably running back Laurence Maroney, didn't get to play, according to Patriots coach Bill Belichick. For the second consecutive week, Maroney didn't have a carry in an exhibition game. That was not by design, just a lack of opportunity, Belichick said.

Maroney is entering his fifth NFL season and from all the coach has seen from the 25-year-old in practice, he is a player who can "absolutely'' help the Patriots in the regular season.

At the end of last season, Maroney's carries lessened after he fumbled four times in seven games. They were the most fumbles in his career and he paid for the mistakes. Maroney, who had five carries for 22 yards against Jacksonville in Week 16, was inactive in the final regular-season game against Houston. He only had one carry in the wild-card loss to Baltimore.

Since then, Maroney has attributed his fumble troubles to mental laziness and declared he would do everything to fix that. But he hasn't been seen much in the exhibition games. Belichick publicly supports Maroney. Last week, he said Maroney continues to work hard and is in good condition. And he has "improved daily because he's been out there and he's been able to get to work.''"