I thought I'd heard most everything in a professional sports locker room over 30-plus years of covering the NFL, but today was the first time I've ever heard a player reference a Japanese anime cartoon to describe a position group.
Holding court by his locker, Laurence Maroney invoked the name of Voltron during Friday's media availability period.
"We're just missing Fred (Taylor), and I’m not going to feel complete until Fred gets back on the field," Maroney told reporters. "Slowly but surely, we’re reconnecting like Voltron."
Voltron is a cartoon robot that splits into five pieces and reconnects to fight evil and save the universe. It hasn’t been established as yet which of the Patriots’ five running backs — Maroney, Taylor, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis — are the head, arms, legs and torso of their version of Voltron, or if there might be a few screws loose in that assembly.
Maroney's mention of Voltron was probably prompted by the expectation that Morris may return to action Sunday, after a three-game injury (knee) layoff, when the Patriots entertain the New York Jets (4:15 p.m.; Ch. 4, 12). Taylor, who had ankle surgery after he was injured Oct. 4 against Baltimore, is expected back later in the season.
Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick didn’t admit to being a Voltron fan during his daily press conference, but he did say that getting the injured running backs back on the field couldn’t be anything but good, especially since worsening weather usually demands that teams be able to run the ball with confidence.
“It’s hard to go into the season without depth at that position,” Belichick said. “I have confidence in all of our running backs, but only one guy can carry the ball at any one time. They can all be successful in what we ask of them.”
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