After missing almost his entire rookie season, tight end Ben Watson is aiming to fill the role New England envisioned for him.

09:01 AM EDT on Tuesday, May 24, 2005

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO -- It wasn't going to be a lead role, but when the Patriots were drawing up their offensive script for 2004, rookie Ben Watson had a pretty big part.

Journal file photo / Mary Murphy

New England Patriots tight end Ben Watson, working out at rookie camp last year, is intent on returning from a knee injury that caused him to miss almost the entire 2004 season.

It didn't go exactly as planned. First, Watson missed most of rehearsal (training camp) during a holdout. Then he aggravated a balky knee on opening night against the Colts. Two weeks later, after having caught just two passes for 16 yards, he went onto the inactive list and under the knife. And so the curtain fell on Big Ben's brief rookie season.

This week, the Patriots are holding a passing camp at Gillette Stadium and there may be no player more excited about it than Watson.

By the time the season starts, the 6-foot-3, 253-pound tight end from Georgia that the Pats took with the 32nd overall pick in 2004 will have played in one football game in the preceding 20 months.

"I feel like I haven't played football in forever," Watson said yesterday. "As much as we groan about going to practice, it's not something I'd give up."

It's not something he could afford to, either. Despite being one of the smartest players in the Patriots' locker room, Watson quickly admits he doesn't have a hammerlock yet on what he's supposed to

be doing at all times.

"I know I'm not ready," he said. "I know I have to take stuff step by step and one day at a time. Football is a lot more than being physically ready to play. When I got to the Patriots, I realized it's more mental than physical, and mentally I'm not ready yet. And that's why this passing camp and mini-camp (in two weeks) are so important. I need this for training camp and when the live bullets start flying.

"I'm going into this year as still a rookie, but not a wide-eyed rookie that doesn't know what to expect," he added. "I can calm down now and concentrate on my assignments, and everything's not totally new to me. But I still haven't had any reps during game time."

When Watson was drafted last April, two years after New England took Daniel Graham with the 21st pick in the draft, the move appeared redundant and -- some theorized -- a vote of no-confidence in Graham's game.

What the Pats had in mind was using the complementary skills of the two tight ends -- Graham's superior blocking; Watson's jaw-dropping speed and fluid movement -- in a unique way. The plan was to use Watson in the middle of the field to give the offense a commanding presence in the 8- to-15-yard range that would occupy safeties and linebackers. Because of his 4.4 speed, Watson figured to be a nightmare matchup for most linebackers and a headache for opposing defensive coordinators.

But an unspecified injury to his left knee during camp slowed Watson. Then came the opener on Sept. 9.

"I was well enough in the Colts game to play," he said. "The initial injury happened before the game, but I was cleared to play in the game. I was medically cleared (and then they asked me), 'Benjamin, do you feel comfortable to play.' And I felt comfortable. After that game, in practices I think, the injury got worse and that's when we made the decision (for surgery)."

A lengthy holdout followed by a season-ending injury after one game? That's not the stuff that dreams are made of.

"It was very disappointing," he said. "I didn't want to be out of camp. I didn't want the guys to think I was arrogant. When I got here I wanted to show I wanted to be part of the team and work as hard as I could. But to get hurt and have something you can't control keep you out? And then for it to be so long? That was really hard."

The plan, Watson says, is for him to be fully ready for mini-camp June 9-11. And the same for training camp. But he also knows that the decision isn't his alone. Trainer Jim Whelan, who Watson credited for helping his long rehab go well, is the voice that matters.

"I feel pretty good, but it's still a day-to-day thing because I'm coming off an injury," he said. "Whenever you have an injury there's a mental aspect to it, and sometimes you wonder. But they've done a great job rehabbing me. I'm probably better off physically than I need to be because they are so careful about putting people out there."

The role the Pats drew up for Watson last offseason is still very much there. Every line and maybe a few more added. This week, he starts working on his delivery.

Brown back in fold

The Pats announced the re-signing of veteran wide receiver Troy Brown.

"In this era, it is very unusual for a player to remain with one team for as long as Troy's career as a Patriot," head coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. "Troy Brown is a special player and person and we are glad to have him back."