The truth about Corey Dillon's injury status is between the running back and his coach. The rest of us will have to settle for "day-to-day." Bill Belichick, notoriously secretive about the health of his players, gave Dillon the phrase, and Dillon kept repeating it Wednesday. "I got some wording today and if you heard the wording you would understand. I'm 'day-by-day,'" Dillon said with a laugh. "The message was heard loud and clear." Dillon and third-down back Kevin Faulk appeared closer to playing again for the New England Patriots, perhaps as early as Sunday at home against the New York Jets. But Belichick was his usual cagey self when asked just how close they were. "Day-to-day," Belichick said. "I think they're closer today than they were last week. I don't know that they're at the same point. I think it's two independent situations."

Despite being listed as "questionable" on the official league injury report, New England Patriots starting tailback Corey Dillon made it clear that he is actually "out" for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Which means that the Patriots' running game, ranked No. 27 in the league, will again rely on a piecemeal approach at tailback, splitting carries among Heath Evans, Michael Cloud and Patrick Pass. "It makes no sense to be hopping around, and not playing the way you can," said Dillon, who is pointing toward a return for the Dec. 4 game against the New York Jets. "I've rested up. I'm going to be close to 100 percent when I get out there again, and that's what I'm looking to do."

Running back Corey Dillon was one of four starters among the New England Patriots' inactive players for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. Dillon suffered a calf injury on the Patriots' first play from scrimmage in their previous game, a 23-16 win at Miami, and didn't return. He also missed one game with an ankle injury and has rushed for 441 yards after gaining more than 1,000 in seven of his other eight seasons. Wide receiver David Givens and right tackle Tom Ashworth were inactive for the second straight game. Left tackle Matt Light, upgraded from out to doubtful last week, was inactive for the seventh consecutive game. Tight end Ernie Conwell, with a knee injury, was the only New Orleans starter inactive for the game.

With six defensive backs on injured reserve, the Patriots will give more playing time to wide receiver Troy Brown on defense. Brown received praise last year for his solid work as a cornerback.

With their defense reeling, the defending champion Patriots took a beating on Monday Night, losing at home to the undefeated Colts, and falling all the way to #14. Our top six teams held their position, while the Jags, Panthers, and Cowboys moved into the Top 10. Several teams have divisional games this weekend, including the Broncos at Oakland, the Cowboys at Philly, and the Rams visiting Seattle. This Week (Last Week) 1. (1.) Indianapolis Colts (8-0): Peyton and the Colts were in command from the get-go, winning big in Foxboro vs. the Pats. The Colts return home to face the Texans (1-7). Don't expect any letdown. 2. (2.) Denver Broncos (6-2): The Broncos have had an extra week to prepare for a divisional game at Oakland. Can Anderson and Bell run on the Raiders as they did against Philly two weeks ago? 3. (3.) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): The tough Steelers continue to win on the road and return home this week, hosting the Browns. 4. (4.) Atlanta Falcons (6-2): Atlanta defeated an improved Dolphins team on Sunday, and play host to the hapless Packers this week. 5. (5.) New York Giants (6-2): The Giants played just good enough in SF to defeat the punchless 49ers. They host the Vikings in the Meadowlands this weekend.

Liverpool have held talks with the U.S.-based Kraft family over the funding of their proposed new ground, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. The Kraft family were understood to be the main backers behind the L4 consortium which had looked into buying a stake in the European champions earlier this year. That deal did not materialise but Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry visited the United States last weekend on an invitation from the Krafts. He watched the two clubs they own -- the MLS team New England Revolution and NFL's New England Patriots -- playing at the Gillette Stadium. "It certainly wasn't a secret visit, having attended two games with a combined attendance of over 100,000 people," Parry told the Liverpool website. "I've actually known the Kraft family since meeting them in Boston back in 2001 and have had a longstanding invitation to visit the Gillette stadium, which is one of the very few privately funded stadia in the USA. "They were keen for me to see at close hand how the match-day operation ran...(and) it also gave us the opportunity to discuss the way in which they had funded the construction of the ground."

Shy of healthy running backs, the Patriots have reached a contract accord with veteran free agent fullback Heath Evans, released by the Miami Dolphins last week. Evans is expected to sign a one-year contract. The fifth-year veteran started all three games this year in which Miami used a formation that included a fullback. A former third-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks (2001), Evans played his first four seasons in Seattle before departing for Miami in free agency. Corey Dillon, the Patriots' starting tailback, is nursing a sore ankle. Backups Patrick Pass (hamstring) and Amos Zereoue (thigh) also are ailing. Kevin Faulk, the Pats' standout third-down tailback, has missed been out more than a month with a foot injury.