Running back Laurence Maroney (groin) and starting center Dan Koppen (ankle), both with limited practice time this week have been declared out for today's game. Also inactive for the Patriots are safety Rashad Baker, tackle Wesley Britt, defensive linemen Santonio Thomas and Kareem Brown, and linebacker Chad Brown. In other words, the usual suspects. Matt Gutierrez was designated as the third quarterback. Maroney now will have to wait at least a week to record 1,000 rushing yards for his career, as he's three yards away.

As for the Browns, old friend Ted Washington (DL) heads the inactive list, which also included punter Dave Zastudil, DB Gary Baxter, running back Jerome Harrison, offensive linemen Issac Sowells and Nat Dorsey, plus wideout Travis Wilson. Ken Dorsey was the emergency third QB.

Meanwhile, there was a Marcellus Rivers sighting here at Gillette, as he is in the building, giving strength to the speculation that the tight end, recently signed but then released off the roster to make room for Rodney Harrison, will be brought back in a few days.

FYI: If he competes at least 75 percent of his passes today, Tom Brady would become the first player in NFL history, according to the Patriots media relations department, to complete at least 75 percent of his passes in five consecutive games. That might be tough to do on a drizzly day against a head coach (the Browns' Romeo Crennel) who knows his tendencies. Also, if he throws at least three TD passes, Brady would tie Steve Young's mark of three or more TDs in the first five games. Young set that record in 1998..

-- Tom King