The Marshfield native and Brown graduate, who was named to his first Pro Bowl yesterday, kicked off his pro career with the Patriots as a seventh-round draft pick and practice squader in 1999. He saw limited action in New England through the 2000 season before joining the Eagles in 2001 and becoming a special teams standout.

He joined the Steelers in 2004 and won a Super Bowl a year later. He came to Arizona in 2007 when former Steelers assistant Ken Whisenhunt was named head coach. Earlier this year he experienced a career highlight by blocking a Cowboys punt in overtime that was recovered for a game-winning touchdown by former Patriots linebacker Monty Beisel.

``He has had a nice career as a special teams player,'' Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of Morey. ``He is a tough kid and plays hard. He gives you a lot of effort. He shows up in all the different phases of the kicking game.''

Morey has never reached the end zone, though one of his 11 career receptions went for 62 yards. He also owns kickoff returns of 40 and 76 yards.

Warner's back

Belichick is impressed with the play of Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner, the NFC's Pro Bowl starter who ranks second to Drew Brees in passing yards with 4,290 and has had an MVP-caliber season at age 37.

``He looks pretty much the same,'' Belichick said. ``He can make all the throws. He gets rid of the ball quickly and reads defenses very well. He knows where blitzes are coming from and is able to redirect the protections and make adjustments.

``He doesn't make too many mistakes on the line of scrimmage, like throwing into coverage or that kind of thing. Just like any team that throws the ball, not every pass is complete. But he doesn't make very many mistakes.''

Warner's 26 touchdowns rank third in the NFL.

'Weather shines

Since Rodney Harrison went down against the Broncos, safety Brandon Meriweather has seen his playing time increase dramatically, and he has answered the call.

``I think every area of Brandon's game continues to get better,'' Belichick said. ``He's played a little bit more down closer to the line of scrimmage than he has in the past in sub situations or when he was in there with Rodney.

``He has shown to be a good tackler, good in run support and good around the line of scrimmage. He has done a good job in the deep part of the field and in some man-to-man coverage situations that he has been asked to play.''

Meriweather will have his hands full helping defend Pro Bowlers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, the best 1-2 receiver punch in the NFL with 177 receptions.

``They're probably one of the best teams that we're going to play, as far as throwing the ball around,'' Meriweather said. ``They've got great receivers.''

Read the Patriots Point After at bostonherald.com.