12:36 PM EST on Tuesday, November 23, 2004

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Patriots got by just fine without Deion Branch for six-and-a-half games. But that doesn't mean they weren't happy to get him back last night.

The waterbug quick third-year receiver was terrific in his first game back from injury, catching six passes for 105 yards and a scintillating 26-yard touchdown.

"You never know who's going to have a big game," said Branch, who got hurt in the season's second game against Arizona. "It does [get frustrating]. You see the guys playing and I'm in the training room. Not being with my teammates was the only frustration I had."

Branch's catches weren't only frequent, they were big. He helped set up the Patriots first touchdown with a diving catch on third-and-15.

On the touchdown, Branch said, "I wasn't thinking about [cutting it back] I just reacted."

He had no flash of worry about his injured ankle either.

"Around here, our coaches don't let us get back on the field unless we're ready," said Branch. "I was ready to go out and play. They let you work your way back in and get on the field at your pace."

Suffice to say, Branch was ready.

Listen up, one and all

Clearly, coach Bill Belichick doesn't like discussing injuries large or small. He's so quick to dismiss questions regarding a player's status that, after four seasons of it, many go unasked. Which is fine with him.

But Belichick has rarely been as forthcoming about why he doesn't talk as he was last week. When asked why he doesn't give even minor information, he explained, "If I were to say anything and answer one question, then that would bring 50 more. It would never stop with, 'Oh, thanks coach. I really appreciate that information. Let's go on and talk about something else.' That would never happen. If we get into one thing, then there are 50 more. 'Oh, why did that happen? Did that ever happen before? Well, what about tomorrow? Did we have a big diagnosis on it? Which tendon is it?' I wouldn't be able to give a full explanation, anyway. That would just lead to more speculation."

For decades, knowledge of injuries at all levels of football has been used against the damaged player. When Joe Namath was a New York Jet, his knees were often targeted. Belichick, who's been a part of organized football all his life, believes injury information beyond what the league demands is aiding the opponent.

"Competitively, you use whatever information you have," he said. "You have to gauge its accuracy or inaccuracy. Whatever you get, whether it is your research, somebody else's input or what have you. You take that information and you decide how accurate you think it is and then utilize it competitively."

Clearly, Belichick doesn't wrestle with any inner need to be more forthcoming than required. But, for what it's worth, he said he appreciated the interest.

"We have great fans out there that follow the Patriots that live and die with us," he said. "We want to provide information for them and we want the information to be accurate. If it is something that is accurate that we can give you, then we will tell you. If it is something that could go eight different ways or it is not clear-cut, then to put out a bunch of speculation of, 'All of these different things could happen, we don't really know. It isn't determined at this point. Why don't we have everybody do a poll on it and see what they think?' I don't really see where that is all that beneficial."

As for those yearning for more info? Belichick said, "We have plenty of fans out there watching (training camp). Knock yourself out. Come early and stay late. You want to follow the team and watch them? There are plenty of seats on the hill or seats in the stands. There is soda. There are hotdogs. There are T-shirts. Come out and watch the team."

How they stack up

Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil , who took the Philadelphia Eagles to the 1980 Super Bowl and dueled some of the storied teams of the 1970s and '80s, was asked what he thought of the Patriots compared to some of those clubs.

"I don't know if they are as dominating as some of the earlier years' outstanding teams, but they are every bit as efficient and productive. You look where they are ranked offensively in all the stats and defensively in all the stats and special teams in all the stats -- when you put all those numbers together it is a good football team. We are a No. 1 team in total offense. We are No. 1 in rushing. [We are] No. 5 in passing [and] No. 3 in scoring. We have all those great numbers, but we have only won three games because our defense isn't on par and there have been times when we have turned the ball over offensively and it has prevented us from scoring.

"What are [the Patriots] not consistently doing?" Vermeil asked. "They do everything well. Maybe not overpowering in any one category except winning."

Squib kicks

Last night, the Patriots were favored by three points, marking the first time Kansas City had been a home underdog since it hosted Denver last September. . . . Justin Kurpeikis was signed to the Pats' active roster from the practice squad. The team released running back Rabih Abdullah to clear room for Kurpeikis, a linebacker. . . . Flashing on the Arrowhead Stadium scoreboard throughout the pregame last night were the words, "The Loudest Stadium in the NFL." . . . The Patriots were 0-3 at Arrowhead entering last night's game. The last time the Pats lost in Arrowhead was in 1999, when Adam Vinatieri missed two field goals, the second one with nine seconds left.