Moss, Maroney top list of inactives

TAMPA -- The Patriots held 10 players back in last night's preseason opener, with receiver Randy Moss, as expected, part of the group.

Moss, who pulled up in practice Aug. 1 on a long pass from quarterback Tom Brady, has yet to practice in a full-contact workout.

Fellow receiver Donte' Stallworth, who came off the physically-unable-to-perform list Monday, also was held back.

Others not suiting up were inside linebacker Eric Alexander, tight end Kyle Brady, safety Artrell Hawkins, running back Laurence Maroney, inside linebacker Junior Seau, outside linebacker Pierre Woods, guard/center Billy Yates, and tight end Benjamin Watson.

Maroney, who projects as the team's starting running back, has worn a red noncontact jersey through the first 18 practices of training camp as the team manages his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery.

All of the other players not in uniform -- with the exception of Woods -- have been held out or limited in recent practices because of health issues.

The 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound Woods is a candidate to elevate to the top backup spot at outside linebacker previously occupied by Tully Banta-Cain, who signed with the 49ers.

In Woods's absence, veteran Chad Brown and rookies Justin Rogers (sixth round, SMU) and Kyle Bissinger (free agent, Alabama-Birmingham) were the backups to Rosevelt Colvin and Mike Vrabel last night.

In addition to the 10 players not suited up, the Patriots still have five players on the PUP list: receivers Chad Jackson and Troy Brown; defensive lineman Richard Seymour; cornerback Eddie Jackson; and tight end David Thomas.

Coach Bill Belichick elected to have youngsters Danny Baugher and Tom Malone rotate as the punters, as they push veteran Josh Miller for the job. Baugher, who had three punts for a 44.3-yard average and 33.3-yard net, had the better night.

Baugher got the first crack in the first quarter, punting from the New England 34. He delivered a low 42-yarder that was returned 6 yards. In the second quarter, with the ball on the New England 35, Baugher hit a high 43-yarder that was returned 9 yards. Baugher had another solid effort in the fourth quarter, striking a high 48-yard punt from the Patriots' 42.

Malone was called upon for an inside-the-20 punt in the first quarter, but with the ball on the Tampa Bay 39, his attempt carried into the end zone for a touchback. In the third quarter, on another inside-the-20 attempt from the New England 46, Malone cranked another punt into the end zone.

With Miller not punting, the team planned to have backup quarterback Matt Cassel hold field goals and extra points. In his excitement after directing a touchdown march in the second quarter, Cassel initially retreated to the sideline before being reminded about his holding chores.

The top defensive unit stayed in for 17 plays, although end Ty Warren was replaced by Mike Wright (4 tackles, 1 sack) for the final 15 plays of that stretch. Warren remained on the sideline during the first half, but was not spotted during the second half. Warren left the locker room before the media entered, walking to the team bus under his own power . . . As expected, Adalius Thomas started at inside linebacker next to Tedy Bruschi . . . Nose tackle Vince Wilfork wasn't happy with the way the defense played the run on the Buccaneers' third drive, when the team surrendered 49 rushing yards, leading to a 36-yard Mark Bryant field goal. "They basically did what they wanted to do to us running the football," he said. "That's one thing we pride ourselves on around here, to stop the run." . . . Randall Gay and Ellis Hobbs started at cornerback, with rookie first-rounder Brandon Meriweather and Tory James playing with the second unit . . . Backup nose tackle Le Kevin Smith was credited with a forced fumble . . . Second-year players Gemara Williams and Willie Andrews were the top kickoff returners, while Bam Childress was the first punt returner.

In a near duplicate to the 2006 preseason opener, Brady suited up for 13 snaps, although unlike last year's opener in Atlanta, he did not lead a scoring drive. Brady directed a 13-play scoring drive (field goal) in '06. He finished 5 of 7 for 34 yards last night.

Like Brady, the first-unit offensive line of Matt Light, left guard Logan Mankins, center Dan Koppen, right guard Stephen Neal, and right tackle Nick Kaczur played the first 13 snaps.

Meanwhile, Cassel finished 4 of 7 for 32 yards, leading the team on its lone touchdown drive, a 13-play march that extended from the end of the first quarter into the second. Cassel played two full series (he was sacked and then took a knee to close out the first half) before rookie free agent Matt Gutierrez (6 of 10, 66 yards) went the rest of the way.

"You feel a little more comfortable being in the system for three years, so obviously you evolve," Cassel said. "Hopefully that continues."

Referee Walt Coleman, who officiated the 2001 Snow Bowl against Jon Gruden's Raiders and made the "tuck rule" call that kept the Patriots' chances alive, was in charge last night. It marked the first time that a Belichick-coached team faced a Gruden-coached team with Coleman as the referee since the Snow Bowl . . . Nineteen NFL teams were represented by scouts at last night's game . . . Former Brown University standout Chas Gessner, a first-year receiver, is vying for a spot with the Buccaneers . . . Former Boston College tackle Jeremy Trueblood, a 2006 second-round draft choice of the Buccaneers, started at right tackle . . . Because players don't start collecting their base salaries until the season begins, they are paid a set figure during the preseason. Rookies earn $800 per week, while veterans earn $1,100. Veterans also receive an additional $200 per week for all exhibition game weeks . . . On travel days during the preseason, players are reimbursed $17 for breakfast, $25 for lunch, and $43 for dinner . . . Quarterbacks wore green dots on the back of their helmets, indicating to officials that they had a communication device in their helmets . . . NFL clubs must trim their rosters to 75 players by Aug. 28. The final cutdown to 53 players is Sept. 1 . . . Belichick will hold a conference call with the media today at 4 p.m.

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.