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Crowded backfield for Pats

They appear to be just as shifty off the field as they are between the hash marks.

Conventional wisdom suggests the New England Patriots will keep five running backs this season in an attempt to supplement the lack of depth at wide receiver and – to a lesser extent – the offensive line, but the way veterans Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan talk, you’d think they’re fringe players in jeopardy of missing the final cut.

If they are, in fact, guaranteed a roster spot, they do a pretty good job of hiding it from the general public.

“I’ve said it from Day 1 – I’m just trying to make this ball club,” said Jordan, a seven-year veteran who signed with the Patriots at the start of training camp. “Once they make final cuts, hopefully I’m here, and once that happens it’s just a matter of getting out there and playing football.”

Likewise, Morris spoke Tuesday about looking forward to the team’s preseason finale Thursday in New York – a game generally tailored toward the bubble players looking to make a final impression, not the established veterans with a roster spot all but guaranteed.

“A lot is said about how the preseason doesn’t necessarily count, but in a sense it does, not in a matter of wins and losses but in preparation,” Morris said. “This is our last game to get preparation against an actual opponent. It’s big for us and, like I said, it’s another opportunity to gain consistency within the offensive unit.”