Patriots 47, Jaguars 12

I have to admit, I've never been more excited for a pre-season opener than I was last night. Maybe because just a month ago, we had no idea if this game would even be played.

Then the game started and reality sunk in. This is the first game of the pre-season and it doesn't matter much. Brady didn't play a snap, neither did Welker, Branch, Ochocinco, Wilfork, McCourty, Mayo. This was a game to evaluate other players. As Belichick said after "We didn’t rest anybody. There were players that we wanted to see play, and we looked at them and we let them play."

Some did well, some didn't. Taylor Price caught 5 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. He's been having a very good training camp and looks to have the inside track for the 4th spot on the WR depth chart.

Andover, MA native and utility man Buddy Farnham made an interception. He's listed as a receiver, but he's one of those guys that can do multiple things. Will he make the team? That might be tough, but he's definitely in that Belichick mold.

Darius Butler and Jonathan Wilhite were both heavily evaluated last night, playing deep into the 4th quarter. That's not a good sign for either guy. Neither played well, neither has played well in their tenure in Foxborough, and I wouldn't be shocked if one of these guys gets cut before the regular season started.

Aaron Hernandez caught 6 passes but wound up fumbling twice. That's not a good way for him to get playing time in the future, considering he has Gronkowski to compete with.

Overall, it was the Jaguars, it was pre-season. We already know the Patriots have a pretty good team. Some of the details have to be figured out by the coaches, such as the #4 WR spot, such as what to do with Butler and Wilhite.

But wasn't it nice to see some football, after an off-season that was more about legal proceedings than the game?

Pre-season game #2 is next Thursday night at Tampa Bay.

-The Commodore

Captain's Thoughts on Patriots' Moves

It was an interesting day for Pats fans. Albert Haynesworth in the morning, Chad Ochocinco in the evening. It's one of the most intriguing day in Patriot maneuvers since Randy Moss was traded. And the phrase to repeat over and over is "low risk, high reward."

And there is a high reward. Haynesworth was an All-Pro twice, Ochocinco received that honor 4 times. These are two extremely talented players. One has numerous on the field and off the field problems. The other was stuck in Cincinnati, where they find ways to lose even when talent falls into their laps (see: allowing Palmer to retire), and is perhaps in the twilight of his career.

Albert Haynesworth is a lazy scumbag. There, I said it. He's got a bit less than Randy Moss potential, and puts in even less effort than Moss did with Oakland. Now, if he tries, he can help the Patriots. If he tries, he'll at least be a second DT, to give relief for Wilfork, and sometimes play in a 4-3. And the Pats play more 4-3 than most people realize.

If Haynesworth tries, and still has "it," then things get fun. Wilfork can shift to DE in a 3-4, where he played a significant amount of time last year, and be free to rush upfield, using his power, and surprising speed. A line of Wilfork, Haynesworth, and Warren would present some difficult conundrums for opposing offensive lines. And that would also help out the LBs.

If Haynesworth doesn't try, the Patriots lose a 5th round pick. Would you draft a defensive lineman with his upside, but with his baggage, with a 5th round pick? I would.

Then there's Ochocino, whose problems are not effort related. This is a guy with seven 1,000 yard seasons under his belt. Thought he can't do the deep thing anymore. But the Patriots are ingenious in implementing matchups to allow guys like him to get open, and get the ball. He's not Randy Moss. His longest reception last year went for 42 yards. But he can still produce.

Ochocinco gets a slightly unfair reputation because he tweets and talks. But his effort and dedication have never been in doubt. We all thought it was silly when he kicked PATs for the Bengals in a preseason game against the Pats. But he nailed the kicks, which demonstrates that he'd been practicing them. He was the Bengals' emergency kicker because he put in that little bit of extra effort, not as part of some joke or stunt.

Ochocinco might have to cool down the tweets, or at least edit them. But he already has a tremendous rapport with Belichick. I think Ochocinco will slot in nicely with the Pats, and find himself in a Deion Branch kind of role.

One thing's for certain, and that is uncertainty. Will Haynesworth try? Will Ochocinco give bland press conferences? Suddenly, training camp and preseason games have become more interesting. And that's good. These guys CAN help. I'm pretty sure Ochocinco will help. I have no idea if Haynesworth will.

All I know for certain right now is that perennial Belichick doubter/hater Ron Borges has his doubts, which is typically a good sign.

-The Commodore