The Boston Globe's Mike Reiss reports on multi-man Troy Brown's series at quarterback in Thursday's game. Why was Brown, a veteran wideout, put in at quarterback? "To develop his legend," deadpanned Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who is not known for jokes in his postgame press conferences.
*The Boston Globe's* Patriots Notebook offers a story on Tom Brady taking the Giants game off. Apparently he didn't travel to Giants Stadium with the rest of the team. Included are short updates on Barry Gardner, Stephen Gostkowski and Laurence Maroney.
Kevin Armstrong of The Boston Globe offers a game story on Matt Cassel's game last night. Cassel completed 15 of 28 passes and totaled 196 yards with one interception and no touchdowns.
*The Globe* also reports that today is the last day for Deion Branch to seek a trade. The sides have been mum for the past week, since the team announced Branch would be given until today at 4 p.m. to work out a trade acceptable to New England at a pay level acceptable to Branch. According to the story, several league sources said late last night that Branch had found a suitable team to go to.
Boston Herald writer John Tomase reports that Brady may have voluntarily missed Thursday's game, but running back Laurence Maroney didn't play due to injury. According to Tomase, he's suffered a knee injury.
The *Herald's *Tomase also offers a story on the game, with focus on the players who were there, though a number of star Patriots missed the game.
The *Boston Herald's* Patriots Notebook includes short updates on Stephen Gostkowski's perfect preseason play, Troy Brown, Barry Gardner and Rosevelt Colvin.
Boston Herald General Economics Reporter Jay Fitsgerald reports that the Patriots are now more valuable than the Cowboys. Forbes magazine places the Patriots in second place for it's $1.17 billion value. The Redskins came in first with a value assessed at $1.42 billion.
The Providence Journal's Shalise Manza Young explains that the final roster cuts must be made soon. A few players took advantage of their opportunity to display their value to the team in the game. But who's in and who's out?
*The Providence Journal's* Patriots Notebook offers stories on Brown, Gardner and the heafty lefty - Giant's backup Jared Lorenzen.
Hartford Courant writer Alan Greenberg explains that the Giant's game was not taken too seriously as based on the number of starters who spent much of the game on the sidelines. When Tom Brady is healthy but doesn't come to the game, and Troy Brown takes two snaps at quarterback, it's hard to take the result seriously.
John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant reports that the Patriots walked away from the game with some positives. Intensity was one of them. It was a street brawl well into the first half. There was pushing and shoving and enough hard-hitting to almost make you think it mattered.
For a different slant on the game, check out *Worcester Telegram & Gazette* writer Tom Canavan's game story. He explains that beating the New England Patriots to cap an unblemished preseason was the perfect present for New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin on his 60th birthday.
Eric McHugh of *The Patriot Ledger *reports on what a few ESPN comentators had to say about Branch's holdout.
McHugh of *The Ledger* also has a piece suggesting that Branch may fire his agent, Jason Chayute. The precedent would be tight end Benjamin Watson's failed holdout as a rookie in 2004.
The Sun Chronicle's Mark Farinella offers his game story and a feature on rookie kicker Stephen Gostkowski, pronounced Gos-Tao-ski.
Also don't forget to check out The Boston Globe's Patriots Blog, Reiss' Pieces.
