Cassel looks out for No. 2
FOXBOROUGH - With yesterday being the second day of the Patriots' four-day passing camp, it was only fitting that one of the areas of intrigue was quarterback, where there will be a battle to back up Tom Brady.
The team had four quarterbacks participating yesterday, including Brady. But the focus was on incumbent backup Matt Cassel, who is entering the last year of his contract and will have to compete with second-year player Matt Gutierrez and rookie Kevin O'Connell.
Undaunted by the team's decision to draft O'Connell in the third round, Cassel said he's ready for the competition.
"You figure they're going to bring people in, and it was one of those things where I just accepted it and said there's a little bit more competition here and you just have to go out and do your job," said Cassel.
This is a crucial year for Cassel. His progress was stunted last season, but a rebound during training camp and the preseason could lead to interest around the NFL and eventually a shot to be a starter. Still, Cassel dismissed talk of a make-or-break season.
"I don't put any added pressure on myself," he said. "I go out and I try to play to the best of my abilities. I try to get better each and every day and show that I'm the second-best quarterback on this team behind Tom and prove that to the coaches and to my teammates."
Out of the loop
In light of Matt Walsh's contention that a former Patriots quarterback was told to memorize defensive signals from the tape Walsh shot during a 2000 preseason game against Tampa Bay and then decipher them and turn them over to then-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis during the teams' regular-season meeting, Cassel was asked if he ever had to do something like that. "Not at all," said Cassel. "I don't even know what went on in the past or really what went on with the whole 'Spygate' thing other than what's been said in the media."
Sit this one out
In addition to Hobbs, right guard Stephen Neal, wide receiver Wes Welker, tight ends Benjamin Watson and David Thomas, and defensive linemen Jarvis Green and Mike Wright did not participate. Neal injured his right knee in the Super Bowl loss. Watson had ankle surgery during the offseason. Thomas and Wright are both coming back from season-ending foot injuries . . . Former Jets linebacker Victor Hobson was pragmatic about switching sides in the Patriots-Jets "Border War." "There are very few people who stay with one team forever nowadays," he said. "It's part of the business; everybody understands that." . . . Wide receiver Randy Moss was present and accounted for and looked to be in great shape.
