Maroney is ready. OH YEAH! Time to drink the Kool Aid

New England Patriots running back Laurence ‘Kool Aid’ Maroney is no longer wearing the red no-contact jersey in practice.
It was with some trepidation that Patriot Nation looked towards the beginning of the season, as the biggest question to date has been regarding the running game.
During training camp and preseason games, Maroney has basically been sidelined while still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
After a non-contact mini-camp, Maroney was optimistic about being ready for training camp, stating to the Boston Globe:

ìEverything is looking on pace to me. I donít have a projection. Iíll be out there hopefully when I get out there, but until then, Iím going to work hard every day to get better.î Laurence Maroney

Since it has taken so long to recover from the shoulder surgery,† many have wondered on Maroney’s contribution in 2007.
Maroney has never been a featured back in high school or college and last year shared time with Corey Dillon (has Dillon retired yet?) .
Maroney has shown he can carry the ball 10-12 times a game, but can he do it 20-25 times and still show the explosiveness he did as a rookie with fresh legs?
Even after the surgery and questions about his ability to be an every down back expectations are still high.
In our own recent Patriot Act poll on how will he do in 2007 the result were pretty positive. The majority of the votes expect Maroney to have 1,500 + total yards and 11 TDs.
The yards should be easily accomplished between running, catching and fielding returns. The TDs may be harder to obtain with Sammy Morris and Heath Evans in for short distance and goal line scenarios.
So not only is Patriot Nation looking for Maroney to deliver the goods, but also a few Fantasy Footballer. MVNís own Mike Whooleyís†Fantasy Football has this outlook for Maroney in 2007.

Maroney is difficult to gage due to that inconsistency and the fact that he only totaled 175 carries last year, but seeing as heíll be the primary back on a team with Tom Brady at the helm, Maroney is in a position to put up some lofty fantasy numbers. Heís a risk/reward type back, and you could go safer with some of the guys below him, but hey, no guts, no glory, right?
Projected Fantasy Value: 1300+ Rushing Yards, 250+ Receiving Yards, & 11 TDs.

I like it! But in the end, it is still too early to tell.
Once Maroney is taking hits in practice and is able to come through a preseason game with out further injuries, then we shall see what the new season brings.
For one thing Maroney is correct when he said to the Boston Globe’s Christopher Gasper,

“We still have 10 other people on this [offense] that are going to have to carry their load. I’m going to have to carry my part and we’re all going to come together and put it together as a team effort.”

Especially with new receiving toys for Brady to stretch the field and open up the box there should be more room for Maroney to run.
Thanks Laurence for a healthy return. We look forward to seeing you play soon!
IN BILL WE TRUST!