"Running back Laurence Maroney said he's worked extremely hard this offseason in hopes of an injury-free, breakout year for the Patriots.

His appearance - leaner and more chiseled - certainly showed it.

And the fact that he's been receptive to advice from veteran running back Fred Taylor, who was signed in the offseason by the Pats, also speaks to that end.

Maroney indicated yesterday he has welcomed any words of wisdom from Taylor, whose career began in a somewhat similar fashion - injury-plagued seasons that led to durability questions.

"From his perspective, he's been through a lot," Maroney said. "He's been through his fair share of injuries, how he took it, how he made it out of it, how he kept everything positive and how he's (now) labeled as one of the greatest backs to play the game."

Maroney didn't know Taylor was called "Fragile Fred" in his early days with the Jacksonville Jaguars [team stats]. And if someone called him "Fragile Laurence," the fourth-year Patriot would use it as motivation.

"I wouldn't care if you said it. I'm still going to play my game," said Maroney, who was put on season-ending injured reserve last October with a shoulder injury. "It's football. Injuries are going to happen. It's not like I go out here every day and say, 'Ooh, I'm going to get hurt today and miss this season.' ""