01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, July 29, 2004

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

As far as the Patriots were concerned, first-round pick Benjamin Watson said all the right things in the days after he was drafted.

Now? If the Georgia tight end doesn't say four little words -- "Where do I sign?" -- some time this morning, he'll miss the first day of training camp.

As Patriots head coach Bill Belichick would say, that's not what he's looking for. Also unsigned last night were third-round safety Guss Scott and running back Cedric Cobbs.

Their agent, Drew Rosenhaus, again declined comment on the negotiations to get those players into camp, opting to describe the dealings as "ongoing."

Meanwhile, the Pats signed veteran offensive tackle James "Big Cat" Williams. The 6-foot-7, 332-pounder was out of football last year after being released by the Bears following the 2002 season. Williams, 36, had a string of 134 consecutive starts.

Also, the Patriots signed free-agent defensive lineman Dwight Johnson yesterday. Johnson, 27, is entering his third NFL season. He played for the Giants in 2002 and with the Eagles in 2000. In his two professional campaigns, he has played in 14 regular-season games, making two starts. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound native of Waco, Texas, has recorded 14 career tackles (10 solo). He was originally signed by Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent out of Baylor University on April 19, 2000.