Thomas, the former prized free agent acquisition, inked a five-year, $35 million contract in 2007. But he has failed to live up to expectations, making just 28 tackles in 11 games this season.

The way he reacted to the discipline didn't help.

``That's one thing about Mother Nature, you can't control that,'' Thomas said Thursday. ``There is nothing to really apologize about. I didn't try to be late. Cars sitting in the road, you're sitting there, what do you do? It's not the Jetsons. I can't jump up and just fly.''

Thomas was joined by Randy Moss, Derrick Burgess and Gary Guyton as the Tardy Four. Only Thomas lashed out.

``I could have been in the ditch,'' Thomas said. ``Hey, as long as you ain't in the meeting, they really don't give a (expletive).''

Veteran leader Junior Seau was asked if Belichick's decision will serve to motivate the team.

``We're not going to rehash the past,'' Seau said, ``but we'll find out in time.''

Decision time

Nine Patriots are questionable heading into today's game, including quarterback Tom Brady. He's nursing a swollen ring finger and ailing ribs, but said Friday, ``I'm fine.''

It appears that this is the week cornerback Shawn Springs gets off the bench after being a healthy scratch for the last four games.

There is also a question of who will play right tackle: Nick Kaczur, who is battling an ankle injury, or rookie Sebastian Vollmer, who is recovering from a head injury.

And running back Fred Taylor (ankle) could make his return today.

Ready to go?

At the end of a tumultuous week, one that saw the Patriots deal with more adversity than they have in some time, the team will have to play a game today.

When the Pats host Carolina at Gillette Stadium, they will be carrying a one-game lead in the AFC East and trying to snap a string of three losses in four games. Yet thanks to the off-the-field issues, it's worth asking: Are the Patriots prepared?

``We're focused,'' Burgess said. ``We've been the whole time. We had breakdowns on the field, but as a defense, we're all focused. Focused on trying to fix what's wrong.''

Belichick described the week of preparation as ``a little bit of a cram course, like we talk about at the end of the year after teams play 12 games. There's a lot of film to look at. A lot of things that you see and have to prepare for that you know they have because they run them.''

Weather watching

The Weather Channel's gametime forecast calls for temperatures in the 30s, but snow may not necessarily enter the equation. Regardless, kicker Stephen Gostkowski is prepping for the potential of snow, anyway.

The Mississippi native. who attended school at the University of Memphis. shrugged off the effect flurries would have on his kicking.

``Being smooth, making good contact with the ball, don't try to change too much,'' Gostkowski said. ``If you got to change your cleat, change your cleat. Just got to enhance your concentration and your focus.''

Dealing with the weather has become easier because the Pats offense works out outside.

``Last year, we had a couple practices in it, then we got to the Arizona game, we dealt with it pretty well,'' said Gostkowski, who made four field goals in the snow last season.