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Roster breakdown

A look at the Patriots roster breakdown by position:

Quarterback (3)
Tom Brady
Matt Cassel
Matt Gutierrez
Quick hit: Gutierrez, a rookie free agent, showed too much to not earn a roster spot. Vinny Testaverde is cut.

Running back (4)
Laurence Maroney
Sammy Morris
Kevin Faulk
Heath Evans
Quick hit: Quinton Smith the lone cut

Wide receiver (6)
Randy Moss
Donte' Stallworth
Wes Welker
Jabar Gaffney
Kelley Washington
Reche Caldwell
Quick hit: Chris Dunlap, C.J. Jones, Bam Childress and Kelvin Kight the cuts. Troy Brown and Chad Jackson are on the reserve/PUP list.

Tight end (3)
Benjamin Watson
Kyle Brady
David Thomas
Quick hit: Marcellus Rivers, Garrett Mills and Brian Jones the cuts. David Thomas comes off PUP.

Offensive line (9)
Matt Light
Logan Mankins
Dan Koppen
Stephen Neal
Nick Kaczur
Ryan O'Callaghan
Wesley Britt
Billy Yates
Russ Hochstein
Quick hit: Rookies Clint Oldenburg, Corey Hilliard and Mike Elgin are cut, as is veteran Gene Mruczkowski

Defensive line (6)
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Jarvis Green
Mike Wright
Le Kevin Smith
Kareem Brown
Quick hit: Richard Seymour to reserve/PUP, while Rashad Moore, Zach West and Santonio Thomas are the cuts.

Inside linebacker (5)
Adalius Thomas
Tedy Bruschi
Junior Seau
Eric Alexander
Larry Izzo
Quick hit: Rookie Oscar Lua to injured reserve. Corey Mays is cut.

Outside linebacker (3)
Mike Vrabel
Rosevelt Colvin
Pierre Woods
Quick hit: Rookie Justin Rogers is cut.

Cornerback (5)
Ellis Hobbs
Randall Gay
Brandon Meriweather
Tory James
Asante Samuel*
Quick hit: Dante Wesley and Larry Anam the cuts. Team has an exemption for Asante Samuel through Sept. 10 or until he is activated.

Safety (6)
Eugene Wilson
James Sanders
Willie Andrews
Mel Mitchell
Rashad Baker
Rodney Harrison*
Quick hit: Rodney Harrison doesn't count against the 53-man limit.

Specialists (3)
Kicker -- Stephen Gostkowski
Punter -- Chris Hanson
Long snapper -- Lonie Paxton

ANALYSIS: The Patriots have some flexibility to bring in another player, as Rodney Harrison doesn't count against the 53-man roster limit and the team still has its exemption with Asante Samuel. So at this point, there are only 51 active players. The biggest news is Seymour landing on reserve/PUP. In terms of the roster, no big surprises. Rookie Matt Gutierrez is the big winner, as the quarterback showed too much in the preseason to risk losing him. He beats out Vinny Testaverde.