Taylor could be gone for awhile: Reiss

[wiggins!]

The New England Patriots are preparing for life without their leading rusher, as Fred Taylor's injured right ankle will require surgery, according to a source close to the situation.

The surgery is not expected to sideline Taylor for the season, assuming there are no complications.

Taylor injured the ankle on his final carry of Sunday's 27-21 win over the Ravens, a 3-yard rush in which he came up hobbling after charging hard into the middle of the Baltimore defense. He has been held out of practice the last two days.

The 33-year-old Taylor, who is in his first season with the Patriots after spending the first 11 years of his career with the Jaguars, has been instrumental in helping providing more balance to a New England offense that skewed heavily toward the pass the first two weeks of the season.

In a Sept. 27 win over the Falcons, he rushed for 105 yards on 21 carries, logging the team's only individual 100-yard performance of the season. In the process, he moved past John Riggins into 15th place on the NFL's all-time rushing list.

The Patriots have been rotating their backs this season, but Taylor has totaled a team-high 45 carries for 201 yards (4.5 avg.).

Laurence Maroney (27 carries), Kevin Faulk (16) and Sammy Morris (13) have also shared some of the load, while second-year player BenJarvus Green-Ellis - who has been active for just one game this season - is another option to pick up some of the slack.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

Taylor is easily our best running back not named kevin faulk. This will def. sting. If you guys think we didnt run before.............

 

[TheComeback]

Looks like we'll be seeing Law Firm a lot more. Good, I like him.

I hope Maroney snaps out of it.

 

[JackBauer]

Well, can't say I didn't see this one coming.

All aboard the LoMo train, choo choo.

 

[unoriginal]

Maroney is made of glass. Getting sick of him being injured.

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

I think the law firm will step up admirably. At least he hits the holes...

 

[JackBauer]

Maroney is made of glass. Getting sick of him being injured.

Does not compute!

I do love how everyone assumes this means we'll be seeing the Law Firm out there now, as if there aren't better backs already ahead of him on the roster. Oh, but he "hits the holes" with such authoritah.

 

[patsinthesnow]

"Please Lord Belichick, please give our young rusher in his 2nd year, BJGE, a chance. Maroney has looked lousy so far. Please?"

Amen

 

[CheerforTom]

Taylor was the only one on the roster who wasn't just running hard, he was actively breaking tackles and knocking defenders over. Maybe Law Firm was watching and knows to try that now?

 

[BTTA]

so, all you medical experts out there, what kind of ankle surgery would allow him to heal up and be back in a few weeks?

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

Does it say anywhere how long he'll be expected to be out? The schedule isn't bad the next few weeks (I'm not drinking the Denver Kool-aid) and then they have a bye. You certainly would like to be full strength when you get to NO, NYJ, and Indy.

The thought of Maroney having any significant role on this team makes me throw up in my mouth a little.

 

[patsinthesnow]

The thought of Maroney having any significant role on this team makes me throw up in my mouth a little.

A little? It makes me throw up ALOT!

27 attempts, 79 yards. 2.9 yard average. Get this joke of a runningback out of here. He is also a medicore kick returner at best....

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

Does not compute!

I do love how everyone assumes this means we'll be seeing the Law Firm out there now, as if there aren't better backs already ahead of him on the roster. Oh, but he "hits the holes" with such authoritah.

YouTube - Preseason 09 - Giants vs Patriots

 

[mfaith]

Once Maroney's contract is up in 2010 he'll be gone. That sucks about Taylor but maybe Morris gets more carries now.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

This is really bad timing due to the intermittent passing game issues we have.
Like cheer for tom said above me he was not only running hard but breaking tackles as well. I would like to see what law firm will look like against a 1st string D early in the season as well.

I do not think lawfirm is better than maroney talent wise. But maroney's head and vision maybe the problem. But we need to run the ball more and that strategy took a serious hit today.

Here's to hoping maroney can watch some of his rookie tapes!!

 

[Xplicit]

I heard he wont be out for the season, a few weeks if everything goes well.

 

[Triumph]

All aboard the LoMo train, choo choo.

hahaha Soul Train.

Disco baby!

 

[TheComeback]

Does not compute!

I do love how everyone assumes this means we'll be seeing the Law Firm out there now, as if there aren't better backs already ahead of him on the roster. Oh, but he "hits the holes" with such authoritah.

Sorry but it makes sense. I would imagine with Taylor out, they will have BenJarvus on the active roster; they have kept 4-5 runningbacks every year.

That would seem to indicate he'll get at least a few carries, as all our running backs have. Someone has to be in there to give Maroney/Morris a break, especially since Morris is used as a fullback so often. Faulk is used only sparingly, as he should be until the playoffs.

 

[DaBruinz]

Yes, the team gives the draw plays and such to guys like Taylor and Faulk, but asks Maroney to pound the ball up the middle and we wonder why his YPC isn't good.

I'd like to see how maroney does when the O-line is blocking consistently and the pats are calling the same plays they call for Taylor. I'm getting tired of seeing 2 and 3 defenders in the backfield with Maroney as he's getting the ball.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I really hope we dont see the ball in the worthless hands of Lawrence 'NFL bust dancin' Maroney

Time for Faulk and Morris to step up and BJGE to become a factor as well...let Maroney in only when we are up by 20 or keep him in on short out passes where he does not have to touch any defender,thats all he is good for from what I see