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2 New England Patriots
Paul Zimmerman
September 04, 2006
Jangled nerves in Foxborough? Hardly obvious on first look--but closer inspection reveals some trouble in football paradise
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September 04, 2006

2 New England Patriots

Jangled nerves in Foxborough? Hardly obvious on first look--but closer inspection reveals some trouble in football paradise

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> They'll be in the playoffs. Their defense will get them there.

They have to figure out how to get No. 1 pick Laurence Maroney into the open field, so he can use his speed.

BREAKOUT PLAYER

Ben Watson

TIGHT END

He isn't quite sure what his best 40 time was. "Something like 4.38 at our Pro Day in college," says the third-year man out of Georgia. "At the combine I think it was around 4.5." Which is about as fast as you'll see a 255-pound tight end run. As a part-time starter in '05 he caught 29 passes and averaged 15.2 yards, highest of any tight end in the NFL. "Don't be surprised if you see him lining up outside as a wide receiver," says Tom Brady. "We want to do anything we can to get him the ball in space."

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

WITH 2005 STATISTICS

COACH BILL BELICHICK (99-77 in NFL), seventh season with New England

OFFENSE

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