FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – If Doug Flutie hasn’t already locked up the backup quarterback job on the New England Patriots, this week should do the trick.

The Patriots will be taking advantage of an extra practice day to work on some of the less traditional plays in the game plan – things like the onside kick, the goal-line stand and Fluties specialty: the last-second, desperation heave.

“We all know how one play at the end of the game, the game can be decided on things like that,” New England coach Bill Belichick said Friday, a day after the Patriots lost 37-27 to the New Orleans Saints in an exhibition game.

“Things like the end of the game, the Hail Mary-type play – those are the kind of things where you want to make sure that the first time it happens it isn’t in a game situation. We’ll be doing all those things in addition to the normal things.”

The Patriots have an extra day of practice between Thursday night’s preseason home opener against New Orleans and their next game, against the Green Bay Packers on Friday night. For Belichick, a fanatic about making the most of practice time, it’s a good opportunity to work on some things that haven’t come up yet.

Flutie, of course, needs no introduction to the end-of-game dramatics. He is best known for a last-second launch to help Boston College beat Miami in 1984, the year he won the Heisman Trophy.

That was a long time ago, and Flutie has traveled to the USFL, the CFL and four NFL teams before returning to the Patriots for a second stint. Now 42, he signed this offseason to back up Tom Brady, a two-time Super Bowl MVP.

“That’s a long way to go. I’m trying to make it to next week,” Brady said when asked if he thought he would play as long as Flutie.

“He has great energy in what he does, and it wears off on everyone else,” Brady said. “Any time a quarterback can bring that, it really motivates the other guys. And that’s not even to mention the way he performs. He can go out there and perform as well as just about anybody I’ve seen.”

Flutie entered Thursday night’s game in the second quarter with the Patriots on the Saints 3 after Rodney Harrison’s interception. He handed off to Kyle Eckel for the touchdown, then threw passes for 12 and 29 yards on the next drive to make it 24-13.

“I was excited to get out on the field and play,” Flutie said. “It is fun for me to get with the young guys and see the look in their eyes. That is part of where the enthusiasm comes from. I still enjoy playing.”

In all, he was in for just nine plays over three series that resulted in two touchdowns and a field goal. He went 3-for-4 for 52 yards and a touchdown.

With Flutie backing up Brady, the No. 3 quarterback job is up for grabs between rookie Matt Cassel and fourth-year Rohan Davey. Davey did not play, and Cassel was 7-for-11 for 69 yards; he was also sacked three times.

“I’ve seen a lot better; I’ve seen a lot worse,” Belichick said. “I don’t think it was anything spectacular, but there are worse performances I’ve seen.

“Those were good learning experiences for him. I don’t know how much more (playing time) we’re going to be able to give him. He needs to take advantage of the time that he gets.”

AP-ES-08-19-05 1914EDT


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