by By IAN R. RAPOPORT , The Boston Herald

Mayo didn't hesitate when asked which scheme is the bigger challenge.

``What we're gearing up for Sunday, by far,'' said Mayo, whose team held the Razorbacks to 158 yards rushing in a 34-13 win on Nov. 10, 2007.

He's not sure how much his previous preparation helps.

``Arkansas ran it a lot,'' Mayo said. ``They were the first ones to really do that. But anytime you put a guy like Ronnie Brown lining up at quarterback, it's difficult. Miami has taken it to a new level now.''

Morris on way

Running back Sammy Morris could be back in two weeks, the Herald has learned.

The veteran suffered a torn MCL on his first carry against the Titans Oct. 18 and is close to returning. He'll miss the Dolphins game and likely the visit to the Colts. That means he could be back by the Jets game Nov. 22.

Morris was one of six players to miss practice, including CB Jonathan Wilhite, who is sick. . . .

The Dolphins feature two rookie cornerbacks in Sean Smith and Vontae Davis, yet Wes Welker doesn't view them as an avenue to exploit. Instead, the Pats receiver said the 6-foot-3 Smith and the 5-11, 200-pound Davis are enough to ``keep our hands full.''

``They're big guys and they're hungry,'' Welker said. ``If you watch them on film, they're gaining a lot of confidence as the year goes on.''

Friendly rivals

When Jason Taylor left the division prior to 2008, Tom Brady thought he'd seen the last of him.

``Then he came right back this year,'' Brady said. ``That's not very comforting.''

Brady and the playmaking defensive end will meet again Sunday in the continuation of what has become a friendly rivalry.

``We've been friends for a while,'' Taylor told the Miami media.

Taylor has had 12 sacks against the Patriots in 22 games, yet he downplayed his experience.

``He changes so much,'' Taylor said of Brady, ``and makes it difficult.''

Porter at it again

Saying he has a ``natural hate'' for the Patriots wasn't enough for Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter. On the NFL Network, Porter was asked if Brady has his own set of rules.

``No question,'' Porter said. ``When a guy can tell a ref when to throw a flag, and he gets it, he's got his own rules. They made the rule that you don't go at the legs for Tom, so when he feels that someone is going at his legs, he just points to the ref and he gets a flag.''

Told of Porter's prior anti- Patriots comments, Mayo shrugged and said, ``We're preparing the same way this week as we did last week.''

Just a rumor

Pats linebacker Adalius Thomas shot down a report on the Web site profootballtalk.com discussing a potential players strike during the playoffs.

``It's stupid,'' Thomas said. ``I don't know any other way to put it. You've worked all this time to get somewhere and you get to (the playoffs) and then you're not going to play? I don't know who put it out there but it was a lie.'' . . .

Belichick was adamant that he simply doesn't understand the way the new wedge rule (a ban on three players, shoulder-to-shoulder) on kickoffs is being judged. He questioned why Bucs returner Sammie Stroughter's 97-yard touchdown return against the Panthers wasn't a penalty.

``It's hard for me to understand why that wasn't called,'' he said. ``I think you would have to get an explanation from the league as to why that return was legal. Those three guys looked like they were shoulder to shoulder to me.'' The league office would not respond directly to that play. But according to the rule, a penalty should have been called.

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