Running back Laurence Maroney, right, attempts to strip the ball away from Patriot teammate Sammy Morris during a ball control drill yesterday in Foxboro.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

FOXBORO — For some teams, deciding which defensive player will wear the radio receiver in his helmet is an easy decision. Clubs like Baltimore or Chicago, which have middle linebackers that are on the field for virtually every snap, know that Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, respectively, will take that duty.

But for a team like the New England Patriots, where defensive personnel changes come on almost every snap, it’s not so easy.

Earlier this season, NFL teams passed a rule allowing one defensive player to wear a radio in his helmet just as quarterbacks do. The player will be given plays from the defensive coordinator via the receiver, and he can pass them on to teammates, essentially eliminating or limiting the need for hand signals.

The Patriots, however, are still preparing to use the old fashioned method of getting plays in. They haven’t yet figured out which players will be the two designees each game to have the special helmet, though a starting defensive back, like Rodney Harrison, likely is on the field for the highest percentage of plays.

And even then there are complications, as only one player with the radio helmet (designated by a neon green dot) can be on the field at any time. So if Harrison and Tedy Bruschi, for example, are to be on the field at the same time in one formation, one of those players would have to take off his radio helmet and put on a standard one.

Are you confused yet?

If he didn’t seem nearly impossible to flummox, one might think Bill Belichick is, too.

“We’re not going to deal with the headset issue until next week,” Belichick said. “We have enough to do to try to get ourselves straightened out with our normal stuff before we tackle something new. I’m sure there are going to be times where we are not going to be able to use the [radio system] for various reasons. We’re going to have to operate without it anyway so we want to make sure we have that system down.

“In a defensive system like ours, I don’t even know who would be the best player to wear that. We might need to experiment with it a little bit. We will just have to see where it goes. That right now is low priority. If we get to it next week, we get to it next week.”

Competition at cornerback

There was a high number of cornerbacks among New England’s free-agent signees, including Fernando Bryant, Jason Webster and Lewis Sanders. Belichick said all three are having a good camp so far, and are part of a tight competition at the position.

“I think they are all coming along well. I think we have a good competitive situation there with the veteran players we brought in, with some of the younger players we have, like Ellis (Hobbs) when he is out there and (Mike) Richardson,” Belichick said. “We will see how it all shapes up but it seems like a very competitive group right now. Everyone is right in the mix, which isn’t always the case.”

Hobbs is currently on the PUP list rehabbing from offseason surgery.

Tippett off to the Hall

Before he leaves for Canton, Ohio, on Thursday morning, Andre Tippett will be at the Patriots’ training camp session tomorrow afternoon, where fans can send the former All-Pro linebacker to his Hall of Fame induction ceremony with their best wishes.

Tippett, who recorded a franchise record 100 sacks in his career, is one of six players in the Class of 2008 who will be inducted in ceremonies Saturday evening. He is just the fourth player to wear a Pats uniform in the Hall, joining John Hannah, Nick Buoniconti and Mike Haynes. Hannah and Tippett spent their entire careers with New England.

Missed practices

After missing Sunday’s practices, DE Richard Seymour and TE Marcus Pollard returned to the field yesterday. However, LT Matt Light, LB Vince Redd and Webster missed a second consecutive day of practice. Veterans LB Bruschi and WR Randy Moss also were not on the field for the afternoon practice. It is conceivable that Bruschi and Moss were simply given the day off to rest. … Belichick took a moment to praise close friend Jon Bon Jovi, whose Arena Football League team, the Philadelphia Soul, won its first Arena Bowl title on Sunday. … The Pats will have two practice sessions today. There is a chance of rain, so check patriots.com or call (508) 549-0001 for updates.

smanza@projo.com