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Pats' Sammy Morris keeps on trucking
By Tom E. Curran, CSNNE.comMarch 30, 2010
On a perfect morning for sleep (aren't they all?), Patriots running back Sammy Morris sat in the Gillette Stadium media room, his gray, longsleeve T-shirt soaked in sweat.
"Days like this it's a little tougher to get going," the soon-to-be-33-year-old admitted. "We have three running groups [for offseason workouts] and days like this it's easy to hit the snooze bar and get with the next run group instead. But this morning, Sam Aiken and BenJarvus [Green-Ellis] were helping me get along and I helped other guys. That's part of the team where we help pick each other up."
The team-building that goes on in the weight room during dreary days in March is critical, but for this year's Patriots the team building being planned in the front office is even more important. With four picks in the first 53 selections in next month's draft, the Patriots are set up to add significant talent.
One of those spots could be running back. The depth chart there consists of aged Fred Taylor, Morris and the maddeningly inconsistent Laurence Maroney. Green-Ellis and third-down back Kevin Faulk round out the group.
It's realistic to think New England will be in the market for a back on draft weekend (they've already kicked tires on a few guys). And it's also realistic to think they'll cull the herd a bit at that position. Maroney seems a likely candidate given his utter lack of improvement. But Morris, who's entering the final year of his deal is annually dinged up. Meanwhile, Taylor -- making $2 million in 2010 -- is on the books for more than Morris and Maroney combined [$900K and $825K].
For his part, Morris just keeps punching the clock. This will be his fourth season here, his longest stay anywhere since spending four seasons in Buffalo to start his career.
When he's available, he's productive. He's averaged 4.3, 4.5, 4.7 and 4.4 yards per carry each of the past four years but he's also played in just 45 of a possible 64 games.
"We've been here plugging away and trying to do the same things we always do," Morris said of the running back group.
Who will be here plugging away in September is a subplot to this offseason.
"Days like this it's a little tougher to get going," the soon-to-be-33-year-old admitted. "We have three running groups [for offseason workouts] and days like this it's easy to hit the snooze bar and get with the next run group instead. But this morning, Sam Aiken and BenJarvus [Green-Ellis] were helping me get along and I helped other guys. That's part of the team where we help pick each other up."
The team-building that goes on in the weight room during dreary days in March is critical, but for this year's Patriots the team building being planned in the front office is even more important. With four picks in the first 53 selections in next month's draft, the Patriots are set up to add significant talent.
One of those spots could be running back. The depth chart there consists of aged Fred Taylor, Morris and the maddeningly inconsistent Laurence Maroney. Green-Ellis and third-down back Kevin Faulk round out the group.
It's realistic to think New England will be in the market for a back on draft weekend (they've already kicked tires on a few guys). And it's also realistic to think they'll cull the herd a bit at that position. Maroney seems a likely candidate given his utter lack of improvement. But Morris, who's entering the final year of his deal is annually dinged up. Meanwhile, Taylor -- making $2 million in 2010 -- is on the books for more than Morris and Maroney combined [$900K and $825K].
For his part, Morris just keeps punching the clock. This will be his fourth season here, his longest stay anywhere since spending four seasons in Buffalo to start his career.
When he's available, he's productive. He's averaged 4.3, 4.5, 4.7 and 4.4 yards per carry each of the past four years but he's also played in just 45 of a possible 64 games.
"We've been here plugging away and trying to do the same things we always do," Morris said of the running back group.
Who will be here plugging away in September is a subplot to this offseason.