Patriots lack star quality in finale

FOXBOROUGH -- Something odd happened when Pat Patriot led the squad onto the field to the roar of the half-full stadium. Less than two-thirds of the squad followed the mascot through the large inflatable helmet in the northwest corner of Gillette Stadium.

No. 12 was missing, as was No. 37, and No. 83, and Nos. 72, 82, 87, and . . . well just about every Patriots star player.

Aside from the tree-shaking music blaring though the loudspeakers, this did not have the look of an NFL game. At least not a game the Patriots were taking seriously.

New England closed its preseason in familiar fashion last night -- with the majority of its front-line players on the sideline in shorts and the remainder of its roster getting trampled by the New York Giants, 27-3, before a late-arriving, sellout crowd.

A year ago, Jacksonville spanked the Patriots, or the group of men masquerading as the Patriots, 31-0, in the final exhibition game at Gillette. That meant little, as the Patriots reeled off a 14-2 record en route to a second consecutive Super Bowl title.

As was the case then, last night's score wasn't important for the Patriots, who finished the exhibition season 2-2. But the game was quite significant to the future of a number of players.

Linebacker Eric Alexander may have had the best performance of any Patriot, leading the way with 11 tackles and three passes defended. Alexander, inactive for most of the 2004 season and very much on the bubble entering the game, may have earned a spot, and certainly warrants a look by another team should the Patriots release him.

Among the more difficult roster decisions the Patriots' coaching staff faces is at wide receiver, where eight players are vying for perhaps six spots, and the team continues to inquire about adding more wideouts. On Wednesday, the Patriots hosted Peerless Price, recently released by the Atlanta Falcons.

Coach Bill Belichick said before the game that he planned to go mostly with three-receiver sets ''to see what these receivers can do."

He saw plenty.

''I'm tired, but I feel good because you can't complain about opportunity when you're trying to make the team," said P.K. Sam, who finished with two catches for 19 yards. ''You always want to catch every pass, but the reality is that's not going to happen. But I think I did some good things and followed my assignments and showed what I can do."

Starters Deion Branch and David Givens, and reserves Troy Brown and Tim Dwight sat out, an indication Belichick already likes what they can do.

Andre Davis would seem to be a safe bet to make the squad as well, but he hasn't exactly been spectacular in his time with the team. He had no receptions in the win over Green Bay last week, just four days after his arrival via trade from Cleveland.

He was off to a good start against the Giants, with two receptions for 10 yards, before being injured in the second quarter. He did not return.

But none among his competition distinguished himself statistically.

After sitting out the entire training camp rehabbing a leg injury, Bethel Johnson made his first appearance this summer and ran well. The speedy Johnson went deep a couple of times, but couldn't haul in either throw. He did make his first catch late in the third quarter, a 10-yard connection with Matt Cassel, and finished with two receptions for 17 yards.

''I can only do what I can do," Johnson said. ''Whatever happens, happens. I had to go out and do my job, but it's up to the coaching staff to do what they have to do."

David Terrell (3 catches, 21 yards) had his moments, though he shouldn't feel comfortable about making the final cut, which is due by 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Terrell said he feels much better now than he did last week when he played against the Packers (and didn't make a catch), coming off an injury that had slowed him for about three weeks.

''I haven't worn my welcome out yet," he said. ''I was just happy, man. I was just like a little kid out there. Because the way everything's been going down. I just went out there, played, and basically had fun.

''I think I did a good job. A week ago, I couldn't do nothing, I was hurt."

Terrell said he isn't particularly nervous about being waived.

''What do I have to be nervous about? There are 31 other teams," he said.

The decision rests with Belichick.

''Well, it wasn't our biggest night passing (only 114 yards), but there were a lot of factors there," Belichick said. ''They made some catches. They made some plays. There were some other ones that maybe we could have come up with and routes that could have been run crisper, but that's always the way it is.

''We will take a good look at that on the tape. That is a position we all know is going to have some competition."

The Giants (2-2), playing without injured starting quarterback Eli Manning, had many of their regular starters in the lineup.

With the aforementioned No. 12 -- quarterback Tom Brady -- not seen on the premises, and Rohan Davey released earlier in the week, Doug Flutie started at quarterback for the Patriots.

He wasn't exactly crisp (8 for 13, 69 yards), and didn't put any points on the board.

Third-stringer Cassel led the Patriots to their only points, a 30-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal, but he had a horrid night, completing 6 of 21 passes for just 45 yards, with an interception that was returned for a touchdown.

Overall, the Patriots managed just 184 yards to the Giants' 268 with just 11 first downs, but Belichick isn't concerned. Play time is over, Oakland and the regular-season opener is next week.

''Right now, we've got seven days to get ready, and that's where we're looking," he said. ''I don't think this point is really a time to look back."