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Video: Reaction roundup

Email|Link|Comments (6) Posted by Chris Forsberg, Boston.com Staff September 4, 2009 01:06 AM

The Globe's Bob Ryan and Mike Reiss provide insight and analysis following the Patriots' 38-27 triumph over the New York Giants Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.

Ryan finds some areas of interest in what's typically the dullest of the preseason games, including the emergence of undrafted Brian Hoyer as a potential NFL quarterback, BenJarvus Green-Ellis making a case to make the roster, and the Patriots rallying from a three-touchdown, first-quarter deficit.

Reiss details the uncertain future of tight end Benjamin Watson, who played alongside the second-teamers Thursday night and may be at risk for not making the roster, especially given the fact that Chris Baker and David Thomas appear to be locks to make the team.

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6 comments so far...

If I'm filling out the roster my two easiest cuts are Dan Shaughnessy and Bob Ryan.

Posted by Lou September 4, 09 06:47 AM

I'm not sure you are correct about Watson. Alex Smith has been far worse, so why would he stay over Watson?

Also, it makes sense that Watson was on the field tonight seeing as how he hadn't played much all preseason due to injury. He needed some rust-removing reps

Posted by Justin September 4, 09 09:38 AM

Watson will probably make the team over Smith although I think Mike certainly has a case. Watson played most of last night's game which was against 2nd and 3rd stringers and, as someone with such great speed and much experience starting with the first team, this was a golden oppurtunity for Watson to make some big plays against the lesser competition. But he didn't. He was basically invisible the entire game (to be fair I wasn't paying much attention to his blocking, did anyone notice if he did a good job there?) The point is, Watson, with his skills, should have been able to get a number of receptions but he didn't and if he can't produce against the scrubs what can BB expect from him during the regular season?

Posted by Adam September 4, 09 09:57 AM

They may have wanted to be certain Watson's health was indeed evident, if so he'd be preferable to Smith, if not...Re: two easiest cuts - I'm down with the Shaughnessy choice, but Ryan isn't that bad; he's often amusing and sometimes insightful, and he does treat the players with respect (NOT deference), which they deserve. Massarotti now, never misses a cheap shot at somebody down, or a snide comment whenever he can think of one (which is more often than it ought to be.) I read the sports pages because I follow the teams because I'm a fan, I'm interested in the games and the players, not the reporters; what part of that don't they get?

Posted by vinobop September 4, 09 12:13 PM

I really enjoyed some of the performance out of Rob Ninkovich at OLB, i.e. standing up Brandon Jacobs up high shoulder to shoulder and powering him behind the line of scrimmage, and seems to stay pretty squared-up and in on close coverage when breaking back into coverage. With the OLB spots being seemingly filled for the 53 man roster (sort of untested for the most part), do you see this kid making the practice squad at all?

Posted by Brian Hough September 4, 09 01:58 PM

Watson was blocking including on of the Firm's touchdowns

Posted by blocking watson September 4, 09 08:52 PM

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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