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FOXBORO - Bill Belichick never likes to tip his hand about anything, including how many players he will keep from any position group on his regular-season roster.

That decision is still a long way away - the first cut to 75 players is two weeks in the future, and that will be a snap - so when the topic was raised at his Tuesday press conference about whether he'd keep five running backs or just four, he was understandably noncommittal.

"If we kept four quarterbacks (in 2000), then we could keep five running backs," he said.

Presumably, the five runners most likely to remain in Patriot uniforms after Labor Day are tailbacks Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan and fullback Heath Evans.

"They've all been productive with the ball in their hands," Belichick said. "But we'll keep the players who will help the football team the most." Belichick, however, offered another round of praise for Jordan, the former Raider picked up as a free agent early in camp, who carried 19 times for 76 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 16-15, preseason-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

"LaMont has got a good skill set," he said. "He's not a track guy, but he's got competitive speed, good quickness and can get through the holes. He's got some things going for him."

Jordan's primary competition would be Morris, who suffered a sternum-clavicle separation against Dallas last year and missed the rest of the season. Morris is reportedly ready to play, but did not see action in Thursday's game.

Belichick didn't say if Morris would play in Sunday night's game in Tampa against the Buccaneers (8 p.m.; NFL Network, Ch. 4), but he also didn't say Morris wouldn't.

"Is he healthy? The doctors think so," said Belichick. "He's done everything we've asked him to do in camp."

No Britt bashing

Belichick gave a moderate endorsement to the efforts of offensive lineman Wesley Britt, in his third year out of Alabama, who started Thursday's game at right tackle.

"He's developed a lot," the coach said. "He's one of the hardest working guys on the team. He's got a big frame and has some position flexibility, having played both the right and the left sides ... he has done nothing but gotten better since he got here.

"When he's had the opportunity to play, I'd say he's played very competitively," Belichick added.

The Patriots' offensive line is still missing left tackle Matt Light for undisclosed reasons, and right guard Stephen Neal and backup tackle Oliver Ross, both on the PUP list. Specialist surveillance

It's tough to gauge the kicking competition because there is none. Placekicker Stephen Gostkowski, punter Chris Hanson and long-snapper Lonie Paxton have no competitors in camp, so it's natural to wonder what kind of attention is paid to their efforts during training camp.

Belichick said they are monitored closely, and would be even more so if any of them showed signs of injury or a performance drop-off.

Besides, he added, the specialists know that while there may not be competition in this camp, it's not tough to find it.

"They know there's always other people out there," Belichick said. "I'm not saying that as a threatening thing ... Chris came in here late last year, so he knows that."