Ben Watson: The Other Ben, Where Dropping The Football Happens!

Since No. 87 left Foxboro, the Patriots have been struggling to find his replacement.  Names like Christian Fauria, Daniel Graham, and Ben Watson have tried and have struggled.  Graham and Watson were not part of the same draft class, though I thought that Graham was the better of the two the Patriots elected to keep Watson.

Watson has had an enigmatic career at best; his statistics are misleading. When he is needed to make the tough catches, he hasn't been able to deliver.  He has hands of stone, and he has had a fumble for every year he has been in the league except his rookie season. 

And that was only because he was injured. 

In 2006, he fumbled the ball three times.  He has lost 50 percent of the balls he has fumbled.

He has trouble protecting Brady's backside, also.  He has never been challenged in training camp by another tight end, so he has gotten by on his talent alone.

This offseason, the Patriots decided to get some cover for themselves, executing a trade for Alex Smith from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.   Now, Watson has to man-up or be relegated to second string.

Watson's 2008 totals: 22 Rec, 209 YRDs, 9.5 Receiving yards, two touchdowns, one fumble

Alex Smith: 21 Receptions, 250 yards, 11.9 avg, three touchdowns, one fumble. 

Here are the other tight ends in competition for the spot:

Chris Baker—eight year vet, did not have a touchdown last year.

Tyson Dyvree—last year was his rookie season, and he did not play. He has been cut and resigned by the team and now is looking to make the competition interesting. His final year in college he had 37 receptions, 402 yards, eight touchdowns, and zero fumbles.

Rookie Brad Listori rounds out the group.

The main candidates will be Watson, Smith, and Dyvree.  Watsons' days are numbered in a Patriots uniform if he doesn't hold on to the football.