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Pats' Running Game Eats Up Yards

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By JIMMY GOLEN, The Associated Press

Published: January 21, 2008

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Laurence Maroney mostly stood by and watched while the New England offense kept setting records during the regular season. The weather was warm and the Patriots were hot - especially the connection from Tom Brady to Randy Moss.

As the New England winter set in, though, Maroney has been a key part of the Patriots' offense.

"Laurence has really made that offense really go, especially toward the end of this year," Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said. "You can't come out and just pass the ball 40 times and always expect for Tom to throw for 400 yards. Some days he's going to struggle. ... Laurence was tough; he ran hard."

The second-year back ran for 122 yards on 25 carries to help the Patriots beat the San Diego Chargers 21-12 in a chilly AFC Championship Game on Sunday - his fourth 100-yard effort in the last five games. He ran for a 1-yard touchdown in the first half and carried the ball 19 times for 106 yards in the second to help New England milk the clock.

"You're just happy for Laurence, taking a lot of criticism through the media and he just showed what kind of back he is," linebacker Mike Vrabel said. "Running hard, tough yards, big runs. He just gave us a spark defensively, watching him run the ball, cutting back and running with a lot of enthusiasm."

With the game starting in 23-degree temperatures and gusting winds that knocked Brady out of whack, Maroney scored for the fifth straight game. Running back Kevin Faulk also helped, catching eight passes for 82 yards out of the backfield to help the Patriots establish the short-passing game that helped them go unbeaten in the regular season.

Now they have a chance to make it 19-0 and win their fourth Super Bowl in seven years.

"We heard the questions about how we didn't have a running game," Faulk said. "All I told Laurence was: Be patient, your time is going to come and your opportunity is going to come to move this team forward. That's what he's been doing in the last couple of games in the playoffs and that's what we have to continue."

PAYTON AWARD: Hines Ward, Jason Taylor, Jason Witten and Brian Waters were selected as finalists for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

The winner will be announced at the Super Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 3. The award named for Hall of Famer Walter Payton is the only league award that recognizes community involvement and service, as well as on-field performance.

Ward, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver for the Steelers, established a foundation in 2006 to assist biracial children in South Korea who face discrimination.

Taylor, Miami's leader in career sacks, launched a reading room through his foundation, to address illiteracy among inner-city youth.

Waters, an offensive lineman for Kansas City, has volunteered regularly at a youth homeless shelter in Dallas and started a foundation to help children in his hometown of Waxahachie, Texas, as well as Kansas City.

Witten led Dallas in receptions this season and is headed to his fourth straight Pro Bowl. His foundation provides support and assistance to people affected by domestic violence, and has an annual free football camp in his hometown, Elizabethton, Tenn. He has also starred in public-service announcements for the NFL's Play 60 program, which stresses the importance of getting children active.

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