If I was a Patriots season ticket holder Thursday night, I probably would have had mixed emotions. New England coach Bill Belichick did the right thing, he did not allow any starters to play.Not wanting to tempt fate even the slightest he held out all his bread and butter players from risking injury. It was a meaning less pre-season game, and it wasn’t like there were any jockeying for position going on. As a sound football move Bill Belichick did the best thing he could, avoid a situation that could effect them for the season for absolutely nothing. However as I said if I have Patriots season tickets, I’d be at least a little ticked off. As a season ticket holder, you have to buy tickets for the four pre-season games it is not an option it is part of the deal.Now, as I have previously written, there is a formula to the pre-season games. Games one and two are for experimentation, game three is your dress rehearsal for the regular season, and the priority for game four is not getting hurt. Belichick made sure that number four would be a certainty, and as I have stated he made the right football move. But if I paid for that game I would want to see the starters for one series at least. That’s not Belichick’s problem though New England has a Public Relations Department to handle any repercussions. The only injury that could have any effect on the team rookie linebacker Oscar Lua left the game early in the first with an injury to his right knee.

As for the game itself, very nice performances from all three of the reserve quarterbacks as the Patriots defeated the New York Giants 27-20 to end the pre-season at 2-2. Matt Cassell got the starting assignment and went 10-14 for 99 yards. New England scored 10 points with Cassell at the helm a 37 yard field goal by Steven Gotkowski in the first and a touchdown on his final drive as Heath Evans did a swan dive into the endzone. The ageless wonder Vinny Testaverde looks like he has nailed down a position as he went 7-11 also for 99 yards but he did throw a pick. But no Testaverde appearance is ever complete without at least one interception. Matt Gutierrez showed some skills going 7-9 for 48 yards including a touchdown.

New York starting quarterback Eli Manning was in the game, although very briefly. he played one series going 5-8 for 58 yards, and the Giants scored as Brandon Jacobs popped in from the one yard line. The Giants did get to within four at 17-13, but New England scored 10 unanswered points, until the G-Men scored a touchdown in the waning moments. Now it gets serious as September 9, is right around the corner, and former Belichick protege Eric Mangini and the New York Jets will be on the other side of the ball.

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