FOXBORO - Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Hartford Courant reporter Alan Greenberg had some interesting back and forth on the Patriots run defense so far this preseason.

The exchange was prompted by questions from an ESPN reporter on the Pats inside linebackers Chad Brown and Monty Beisel.

At issue was the perception that the Pats run defense is poor right now.

"Do you have any idea what the average is now?" Belichick asked Greenberg.

"In the exhibition season? I don't pay attention to the stats in the exhibition season," Greenberg answered.

"I'm just trying to keep it in perspective for you," said Belichick. Just take a look at it."

(The Pats allowed 98.3 yards per game on the ground last year, 3.8 per carry. This preseason, they've allowed 150 yards per game, 4.4 per carry).

"I think I have perspective on it," said Greenberg.

"Well, I'm not really understanding where you're coming from. You make it sound like last year our run defense was at one point and right now -- I think what you're trying to say -- is that it's at another point. And what I'm saying is that -- from a production standpoint -- it's really been about the same."

"I'm not trying to say that," said Greenberg. "All I'm doing is saying if you're goign to have different people from other teams come in and you're going to plug them in at inside linebacker this year, I'm just saying, can you expect the same level....isn't it unreal to expect that as well as Monty and Chad can play that they're not going to be able to play to that level of performance."

"I don't know but neither of those players has been around long enough to fully evaluate them."

We'll examine the seeping hysteria surrounding the Pats run defense tomorrow.

*****

Wide receivers David Terrell and P.K. Sam were both dressed for practice yesterday. Mike Vrabel and Bethel Johnson weren't seen; neither was left tackle Matt Light who was reportedly in a light cast Monday using crutches to get around.

Tackle Tom Ashworth would be the likely candidate to move to the left side in place of Light.

We'll check back in after practice tomorrow around 2 p.m.

T