Watson doesn't feel crowded

However, Watson said yesterday that he can't take the moves personally.

"That's something that you learn," he said. "[Bill ] Belichick even says, 'Don't take stuff personally,' although it's hard sometimes because we're all human beings. We all have emotions. You just realize that it's part of the business and guys come in all the time.

"If you look back over the past however many seasons, guys have come and gone at every

position. Tight end isn't the only position to ever have new guys come in.

"It's just about doing what I can do, coming in every day and practicing, and then the coaches, they make those personnel decisions. I can't worry about that."

Watson, who like Vince Wilfork is entering the sixth season of his rookie deal, said he didn't consider sitting out organized team activities, but acknowledged that this offseason has been a little different.

"There is a different feel because I know it is the last year. The future is uncertain," said Watson.

"Again, every year is different and this year is important in and of itself. The only thing I have to worry about is playing ball every day this year."

Watson, who became a father during the offseason, said he'd like to continue his career with the Patriots.

He is coming off a season in which he recorded his lowest numbers in catches (22), receiving yards (209), and touchdowns (2) since his rookie season of 2004, when he was put on injured reserve with a knee injury after just one game. In five seasons, Watson has yet to make it through all 16 games; he played 14 last year.

Staying in the lineup is Watson's top priority.

"No. 1 is something that I can't control, but that's to be out there as much as I can as far as staying healthy," said Watson. "That's something that just with football you get hurt sometimes and you can't control it.

"That's what I'm hoping for this year, definitely that's the base. That's what starts it off."

Pass, who wore No. 32 - his customary No. 35 is now in the custody of cornerback Mike Richardson - said he was the one who initiated the comeback after spending the 2008 season out of football and living in North Providence, R.I.

"I always knew that I could still play this game, despite my age," said the 31-year-old Pass. "I made one phone call and just asked if I could come up and have a workout, and it worked out well."

Pass, who was signed last Thursday, said the offense was coming back to him pretty quickly. He's ready to reprise his role as a fullback, running back, and special teams performer.

Pass dismissed the idea his signing was a favor by Belichick.

"I have a great deal of respect for Bill," said Pass. "I think we have a good coach-player friendship. I wanted to get his opinion and think about some of the things I wanted to do.

"If he thought I couldn't play this game, he wouldn't have given me a shot."

Patriots spokesman Stacey James said the decision was not tied to any concern about the structural integrity of the steel-framed, fabric-membrane field house, which was constructed by the same company, Summit Structures, responsible for building the Dallas Cowboys' indoor practice facility that collapsed last month.

James said the team has used the facility since the Cowboys' tragedy.

"When you have 90 or 85 guys, the indoor facility makes it much harder to conduct a practice," said James. "Only under the worst-case scenario do you move inside. By the end of practice, it wasn't that bad. If it was thunderstorms or lightning, the plan was to move inside."

The players said that playing in the elements was good practice when it came to maintaining footing and catching the ball.

"As you know in New England, a lot of times we play in who knows what the heck kind of weather it's going to be," said Watson.

"It's always good to get out there and have a shot practicing it before game time."

Mike Reiss of the Globe staff contributed to this report; Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com;