Tight ends holding the line

FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots have drafted seven tight ends in Bill Belichick's tenure and are the only team in the NFL since 2000 to draft two tight ends in the first round -- Daniel Graham (2002) and Benjamin Watson (2004).

It's a sign of how much the team values the position. The idea is to pair two big, physical, athletic tight ends to create mismatches for the defense.

Yet through four games, production from the tight end spot remains an area of need. Watson has five catches (no touchdowns) and Graham just two, one of which was a touchdown.

Last year, Graham had seven catches in the season opener, and 12 catches and five touchdowns through four games.

So what gives?

''That's a question a lot of people wonder, we wonder, and it's a question we don't have the answer to as tight ends," Watson said. ''Our job is to run the routes, block whoever we're supposed to block, and it's on the quarterbacks and coaches to decide who they want to throw the ball to -- it depends on who is open at that time and who will give us the best chance to win games."

A breakdown of the first half of last Sunday's loss to the Chargers provides a snapshot of how the Patriots are using their tight ends.

By unofficial count, Graham was in for 22 first-half plays and stayed in to block on 20 1/2 of them. On one play, he hesitated at the line to block, then was an outlet receiver. On the only other play, he went out for a pass, and the Chargers registered a sack in the area he vacated.

Watson also was in for 22 plays and blocked 10 times. Only once did Watson and Graham release in pass patterns at the same time.

''I haven't seen that much of a difference in the plays we have in, where the tight end stays in to block," said Watson, who missed most of his rookie season after injuring his knee. ''A lot of times it just depends on the team we play, what kind of blitzes they bring, and what kind of talent they have at the end, or at [strongside] linebacker whether we're going to stay in or not.

''Usually, half the time we're blocking, half the time we're out."

That's about right for Watson, who was a fixture against the Chargers when the team went to its four-wide set.

But certainly not Graham. In many ways, he's been a third offensive tackle, which explains his drop in production in the passing game.

Safe approach
Safety Rodney Harrison is waiting to undergo surgery on his injured knee and is in high spirits, according to his agent Steve Feldman.

''Rodney is doing fantastic; he's thinking maybe this is a life lesson," said Feldman.

According to Feldman, the plan is to delay surgery until the swelling in Harrison's knee subsides, which is likely ''3-4 weeks." Feldman met with the Patriots' brass earlier this week and he said the team is ''receptive to doing whatever Rodney wants to do" on a comeback.

Feldman also represents rookie safety James Sanders (ankle), whom he estimates might be another week away from returning.

Nothing afoot
Talks are quiet on a contract for kicker Adam Vinatieri, and the issue will likely to be addressed in the offseason. Vinatieri is playing under a one-year, $2.5 million contract . . . Receiver Andre' Davis, cut by the Patriots last week, is still at least two weeks from being able to run on his injured foot. Despite high player turnover, Davis's locker at Gillette Stadium hasn't been given to another player. . . . The Colts' Bill Polian said Kory Chapman, signed off the Patriots' practice squad last month, has ''performed well on special teams and shows some promise." . . . NFL owners are scheduled to meet in Detroit tomorrow and Friday, but don't expect much progress toward a new collective bargaining agreement. Owners are planning to discuss sponsorships and international business, with the idea of clearing those items off the agenda so CBA issues can be front and center at another meeting in late October.

Slow turnover
The Patriots have forced three turnovers and have a turnover ratio of minus-5, tied for 28th in the league. Last year at this point, the Patriots were plus-2 . . . Nine teams have run the ball more than passing it, with the Patriots' opponent this week -- the Falcons -- having the greatest discrepancy (145 rushing attempts and 92 passing attempts) . . . The Patriots have relied on the pass, with 159 passing attempts and just 95 rushes. Only the Eagles (105 more passes than rushes), Rams (91), Cardinals (88) and Packers (68) rely on the pass more than the Patriots . . . The Patriots haven't lost back-to-back regular-season games since the 2002 season -- a 24-7 loss at Tennessee Dec. 16, 2002, and a 30-14 home loss to the Jets Dec. 22. That's the longest streak in the NFL . . . Michael Vick hasn't started against the Patriots. The last time the Patriots and Falcons met was Nov. 4, 2001 -- a 24-10 Patriots' win -- and Chris Chandler was relieved by rookie Vick, who finished 2 of 9 passing for 56 yards . . . The Patriots are 10-2 in domes under Belichick, with eight straight wins. The last dome loss came in 2000, against the Lions on Thanksgiving.