And Laurence Maroney better take notice.
Taylor rushed 11 times for 35 yards — all in the final quarter and final Patriots drive in Sunday's 35-7 win over the visiting Jaguars, Taylor's former team.
"I thought Fred ran hard again," Belichick said on Monday. "He was running in tough conditions. It was the end of the game, they obviously knew we were running the ball, we were in a lot of closed formations and all that, but I thought he ran hard."
It may not have been the most exciting and rewarding showing against his former mates, but Taylor did get some positive reps in.
"He hit the holes, he got what was there and a few yards more at times," added Belichick. "I think that first time back for a player, after being out for as long as he has, it’s good to get over that hump for his confidence — not that he didn’t have confidence — but still until you actually go out there and do it competitively."
Taylor had churned out a franchise-record 11,271 rushing yards in 11 seasons with Jacksonville. Since joining the Patriots in February, Taylor has played in just five games due to an right ankle injury he suffered in Week 4 against the Ravens.
The 33-year-old has 236 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 56 carries this season to increase his career numbers to 64 rushing TDs and 11,507 yards.
"I think I was glad we had the opportunity [to let him play]," Belichick said. "I’m glad he got some carries and got hit, got tackled and all that. I think next week it will probably be better than it was this week, just like it was with Sammy. He came back a couple weeks ago and I think it’s progressively gotten better in the last couple weeks. I don’t think that’s uncommon, so we’ll just see how it goes. It’s good to have him back out there."
With the return of Taylor and a big game by Sammy Morris — who had 95 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries — it may spell trouble for Maroney, who fumbled his fourth ball of the season at the Jags' 1-yard line in the Pats' opening drive. That fumble was Maroney's last touch of the game as he finished with 22 yards on five carries.
Maroney entered the year with just one lost fumble to his name but has four in his last seven games, including one at the Colts' 2-yard line. His other two fumbles came against AFC East foe Jets and the red-hot New Orleans Saints.
