It's easy enough to make fun of preseason games or bitch about paying full price without getting to see the stars play, but that's missing the point. You'd have to be batshiat crazy to want to see Brady or Moss in a game like last night's. Last year Moss didn't take a snap in preseason and in Week 1 came out and had 140+ yards. What are any of the core players going to show you that you haven't already seen? It's like going to Ft. Myers hoping to see Tim Wakefield pitch; why wouldn't you rather get a look at the Justin Masterson types?

Besides, this year there are too many new faces and too many jobs up for grabs not to enjoy the exhibition season for what it is. While I confess I and the guys I was with were paying equal parts of attention to our beer, ribs and cigars as to the football, here are a few impression of last night's game:

Matt Cassell- Cassell the whole game with his helmet against his ear because it's like a seashell. Only instead of hearing the ocean, he was hearing "Coach wants to see you. Bring your playbook." A lot of people are panicking on him, but you'd think by now Boston fans would be used to a guy with "Cassell" on the back of his jersey who can't pass and keeps turning the ball over. Honestly though, it's hard to gauge him in these little exhibition appearances vs. what they see in practice all season long. I mean, based on what fans saw in 2000, Michael Bishop was destined for Canton, Brady for a job at the San Mateo Circuit City and Bledsoe for early retirement at his lakeside house in Idaho. (Wait. That came true.) But it's hard to see where the coaches can find positives from this performance.

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