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How Patriots Key Starter Feels About Possible Benching Vs. Dolphins

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo likes to preach "ball security is job security."

Rhamondre Stevenson sure hasn't followed that key Patriots tenet this season.

The fourth-year running back fumbled four times in as many games and Mayo said Wednesday it's a very real possibility Stevenson loses his starting status to Antonio Gibson for Sunday's matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

Stevenson addressed his possible benching with MassLive's Mark Daniels after Mayo's comments and the bruising back seems to accept the situation that he's in.

"I mean, it's just written already. I've put the ball on the ground too many times," Stevenson told MassLive's Mark Daniels. "Whatever they plan to do, I'm ready to roll with it. I'm just going to show up to practice, do what I always do."

Stevenson, who signed a four-year, $36 million contract extension prior to the start of the season, is the only true focal point in a dismal New England offense. He carried the ball 25 times for 120 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' only win of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals.

He followed that up with an 81-yard showing on the ground in an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but those two performances didn't come without fumbling miscues. Stevenson fumbled the ball twice, including down by the goal line against the Seahawks, in those contests, but was bailed out each time with the Patriots recovering the ball.

That wasn't the case against the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers with Stevenson's fumbles hurting a Patriots offense which already struggles to consistently move the ball.

Stevenson already tied his career high in fumbles this season after only coughing up the ball once last year. The usually sure-handed back is "frustrated" by his turnovers by believes he can kick his fumbling habit.

"I'm very confident," Stevenson said. "I know what I can do with the ball in my hands. It's just about building that confidence with the coaches and my teammates again."

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