FOXBORO - The Patriots have more cutting to do before the 4 p.m. deadline tomorrow. They must get down to 73 players because they have eight roster exemptions from NFL Europe.

Cobbs -- like Davey and Reid -- was a fourth-round pick from Arkansas. He had 22 carries for the team last year, 15 in a blowout win over Cleveland. He's battled injury issues since getting to Foxboro.

"There's other players ahead of Cedric. It certainly didn't help any. We drafted him at a point where a lot of players do contribute. He never really got on the field for a consistent amount of time. Whether that would have made any difference or not, I don't know. We were just running out of time.

The emergence of first-year back Kory Chapman as a back both in Europe and in this training camp sealed Cobbs' fate.

As for Reid, Belichick said simply there were other players ahead of him. The Patriots are currently heavy in the secondary.

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As expected, the starters will see very limited time in the preseason finale Thursday against the Giants.

"The players who didn't play as much against Green Bay will play more than the ones who did play quite a bit against Green Bay," said Belichick.

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Here's a few leftover locker room tidbits from Friday's game against Green Bay that didn't find their way into stories.

On the Patriots fairly stout run defense against the Pack, Belichick said after the game, "We still got some work to do. It was at least competitive. Some of the things we had trouble with in the first two weeks I think we executed a little bit better tonight. We’ll take a look at the film and try to confirm that but it looked like our fits were a little buit better in the front seven.

Said inside linebacker Chad Brown: "It’s way to early to break my arm patting myself on the back. It was a step, a small step but it was a step in the right direction. Each time on the field, I get better at something. This was another day I got better at something. I also was exposed to things I need to work on.

"There was progress certainly. I’m nowhere near where I want to be and I don’t think I’m where this team needs me to be. I will treat it as a step and try to figure out wat’s going on around here.

Tight end Ben Watson looked very good Friday but it seems he and Tom Brady will need more live game-time to get exactly on the same page. Some of Brady's throws to Watson were a little behind the speedy, powerful tight end.

"That comes with time," said Watson. "Tom’s a great quarterback and we’ll adjust. All the time I can get with him is a plus for me. I feel pretty good. I’ve been blessed to come back.

"We still got lots to work on," said Watson. "We still have a ways to go until we’re ready for the first game. Every game I can play and part in is a plus for me. I was out for a whole year. Anytime out there gets me back in the flow of things."