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."