[
]()The Patriots fell to the New Orleans Saints last night in preseason play to the score of 37-27 at Gillette Stadium. Tom Brady started the Patriots opening drive with an interception but recovered nicely on the next drive with a 45-yard bomb to wide receiver Tim Dwight. Jerome Solomon of the Boston Globe, Michael Felger of the Boston Herald, *Mark Farinella of the Sun Chronicle * and Tom Curran of the Providence Journal all offer a recap of the game.
Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe offers a story on rookie cornerback Ellis Hobbs who had quite a night for himself with 7 tackles and 1 sack on defense and 4 kickoff returns for 111 yards including a 53-yard kickoff return. "It's the same mentality and the same method I bring to everything else, regardless of whether I was out there on defense or special teams -- I just want to make big plays. And, obviously, when you're on special teams and kickoff return, the ball is coming right to you, so you have a direct opportunity. I just always tell myself when I go out there, 'Don't let my team down. Catch the ball, secure it, and get up the field,' " said Hobbs. Robert Lee of the Providence Journal also offers a similar story on Ellis Hobbs.
Rodney Harrison also had an impressive night on defense intercepting an Aaron Brooks pass that had bounced off of Saints wide receiver Joe Horn. Ron Indrisano of the Boston Globe writes that Harrison was clearly disappointed overall in how the Pats defense faired againts the Saints. "We have problems in a lot of areas. We definitely need to improve. It's not any one thing, it's a lot of things. There was no area in which we played well. We lost," said Harrison.
With tight ends Benjamin Watson and Daniel Graham expected to be locks on the roster, Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe writes that Christian Fauria is in fierce competition with Jed Weaver for the third tight end spot. It seems unlikely that the Patriots keep four tight ends. "I'd like to think there's room for all of us, to be honest with you. I have a tremendous amount of respect for these guys. They're good friends. Lifelong friends. I know it. I don't know what's going to happen. Everyone's playing really well," said Fauria.
Doug Flutie made his debut in Foxborough last night and in his first three snaps engineered two scoring drives reports Tony Massarotti of the Boston Herald. "I was excited. I was. I was excited about getting the opportunity to play, being home, all of that," said Flutie. Alan Greenberg of the Hartford Courant also offers a similar report.
Tim Dwight showcased why Belichick and Pioli brought him in as a free agent. Michael Felger of the Boston Herald writes that Dwight was one of the most productive players on the field for the Pats, catching three passes for 69 yards while also showing a good burst in returning a punt 19 yards in the Pats' 37-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium.
Tom Curran of the Providence Journal offers his daily Patriots blog with notes and commentary.
