FOXBORO, Mass. – Like the rest of the NFL that is trying to catch up with them, the New England Patriots are two weeks away from the first league-mandated roster cuts.
For the coaches, the next two weeks are filled with decisions, some difficult, some not so difficult.
For some players, it is a fortnight filled with uncertainty and, to some degree, a feeling of helplessness.
For the first time in his 11-year career, tight end Christian Fauria finds himself shrouded in that uncertainty, and feeling just a little bit helpless. He could be the odd-man out in what is shaping up to be a four-way battle for three tight end spots on the 53-man roster.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen,” Fauria said following Monday’s morning session at Patriots training camp. “All you can do is try to take care of your own situation and hopefully things will fall into place for you.”
Head coach Bill Belichick has not committed to a number of players his team would keep at any position, but the Patriots have traditionally carried three tight ends during his tenure. With former first round picks Daniel Graham and Ben Watson presumably locked into the first two spots, Fauria is left to do battle with seven-year veteran Jed Weaver, a mid-season addition in 2004, for the third slot.
Fauria isn’t sure whether he’s swayed Belichick toward his favor. In fact, since the Pats have five tight ends in camp (rookie Joel Jacobs is the fifth), he’s not certain he’s had enough chances to impress anybody.
“I think I could do more, but there’s been a lot of tight ends (in training camp). Your opportunities are rare, and you’ve got to make the most of them when they come up,” he said.
Yet he added that he has no complaints over sharing reps in practice or playing time in exhibitions. Fauria spoke glowingly of his competition and said he’s made friendships with them that will last beyond his playing days.
Whether Fauria has made his case for staying, it’s doubtful he could impress Belichick much more than he already has since signing with New England in 2002 as an unrestricted free agent from Seattle.
“I think he’s one of the best leaders on the team,” Belichick said. “He’s got his own leading style, but I think he’s effective and very well respected by every player, coach and probably everybody in the organization that will come into contact with him.”
Given the loss of Ty Law, Ted Johnson and Tedy Bruschi, Fauria’s ability to help fill the leadership void could work in his favor. Belichick also lauded his durability (he’s missed one game since 1997) and his versatility.
But Fauria, unlike Weaver, is not a regular contributor on special teams, and that could work against him. He also wasn’t as productive as a receiver last year (16 catches, 190 yards) as he was in 2003 (28-285).
Fauria’s days in New England may or may not be numbered, but this much is for certain – he doesn’t want to leave.
“I’ve gotten more out of football as far as experiences, in three years here than I did in seven years (in Seattle),” he said. “It’s the winning experience, I guess that goes without saying. But even my first year, we didn’t make the playoffs and I got more out of it.”
“Everybody that comes here, I hope they have the same experience that I had when I first got here,” Fauria added. “Everybody greeted me with open arms because everybody’s in this together, and everybody knew I could make a difference. Some teams, I don’t think it’s like that. I don’t think that there’s this concern for your fellow man, if you will. We’re all interested in everybody doing well.”
Comments are no longer available on this story