FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Laurence Maroney knows the perception is out there that he’s an underachiever who keeps getting hurt.

So the Patriots running back seen by some as a wasted first-round pick asked a reporter Tuesday for his own view. The answer: productive when healthy.

“OK,” Maroney said with a smile. “See, I like that.”

If only he were healthy more often.

Since being taken with the 21st choice of the 2006 draft from Minnesota as a potential long-term fixture in New England’s backfield, Maroney has been hit by injuries. He missed two games in 2006 with a rib problem, three in 2007 with a groin injury, and the last 13 in 2008 with a broken bone in his left shoulder.

“Everybody wants to say, ‘hurt this, and hurt that, fragile this,’ ” he said. “People are going to say what they want to say. So all I can do is go out and play.”

That’s what he’s done for all 28 practices of a grueling training camp that ended officially with Tuesday afternoon’s 19th session in pads as coach Bill Belichick prepared the Patriots for Thursday night’s home exhibition game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“A little rough one, but you need it,” Maroney said of camp.

The Patriots wrapped up camp on a sunny day when the temperature reached 90 degrees. Working hard in such conditions makes them more confident they can handle fatigue that sets in late in games, center Dan Koppen said.

“Since I’ve been here, this is probably the toughest one,” said Koppen, entering his seventh season. “Bill told us early on to get ready for it and he usually doesn’t lie to us.”

Koppen anchors a veteran offensive line that opens holes. Maroney might get more playing time if he hit those holes more quickly rather than darting to the side in the backfield before charging forward.

He may be healthy, but his role is uncertain in a deep group that includes Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, Fred Taylor and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who began last season on the practice squad and ended with five touchdowns rushing.

“The only thing competition does for me is make me better,” Maroney said. “It’s going to make everybody around us at our position better because you’re always competing against the next guy.”

As a rookie, he rushed for 745 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games. In 2007, he ran for 835 yards on 185 carries with another six touchdowns. Then he rushed for 122 yards in each of the first two postseason games, but managed just 36 in the Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.

Last season, he was limited to 93 yards on 28 attempts. But for his career, Maroney is averaging 4.3 yards per run.

Maroney was hurt in the second game last season, sat out the next one, then returned for the fourth game. He missed the fifth game and went on injured reserve the day of the sixth.

Being sidelined made him appreciate the sport more.

“It just really let me know that fast that your career can be over, so you’ve just got to make the best of it while you’re here,” he said. “I’m still young. I’ve still got time.”

After getting healthy, the 24-year-old Maroney started making progress.

“I think Laurence has had a real good offseason,” Belichick said. “Unfortunately, he got an early start to it and rehabbed during the latter part of the season last year and was an early participant in the offseason program. He’s worked very hard in the passing game.”

Maroney also is listed as the second kickoff returner on the depth chart.

In last Thursday’s 27-25 exhibition win at Philadelphia, he started at running back and gained 14 yards on six carries. He said he didn’t think about his shoulder.

“Everybody has their own perspective about me,” Maroney said. “I was just going out there trying to play hard, hopefully change people’s outlook on me.”

The person whose outlook matters most is Belichick. On Tuesday, the coach praised the fourth-year running back who is still waiting for his breakout season.

“I think he’s had a productive camp,” Belichick said. “I think he’s ready to go.”

Notes: The Patriots signed free agent safety Roderick Rogers, who was released by the Minnesota Vikings on June 1. … The team had a morning walkthrough in T-shirts and shorts.