There are few times when one might feel bad for Bill Belichick. After all, he is well-compensated to do a job he loves, and for some people, that’s an enviable position in itself. That he gets to coach the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl just makes the gig even sweeter.

But this can’t be an easy day for the head coach of the New England Patriots. By 4 p.m., he will have sent 22 players — many of whom are talented, some of whom have families — to the unemployment line.

It is likely the worst part of Belichick’s job, and one he has had experience with at every level. In his first year in the NFL, with the Baltimore Colts, the young low-level assistant was the Colts’ “turk,” the man who told players head coach Ted Marchibroda needed to see them. And to bring their playbook.

Now someone else sends the players to Belichick, but the end result is still the same.

Predicting who may make a team’s 53-man roster is never easy. But with the 2007 Patriots, it’s especially difficult. There is depth at nearly every position, with both promising young players and veterans among those who could contribute if the team could keep nearly all of them.

Reality, however, says it cannot. The first 45 or so spots are fairly easy to slot, but it is those final eight spots that are up for grabs.

Here’s a stab at the possibilities:

QUARTERBACK

In: Tom Brady, Matt Cassel

To be determined: Matt Gutierrez, Vinny Testaverde

Belichick acknowledged yesterday that his team could keep four quarterbacks — last year, the Pats began the season with two — and that could happen this year. Undrafted rookie Gutierrez has had some shaky moments, but his pluses would appear to outweigh the minuses, and because of that, he may get scooped up if the Patriots release him with an eye toward putting him on the practice squad. If New England fears it might lose Gutierrez, it could keep him on the 53-man and keep Testaverde on call for an emergency.

RUNNING BACK

In: Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris, Heath Evans

Out: Quinton Smith

Probably the easiest position to project. Maroney is going to be counted on to be the number one back. Faulk is still highly effective on third down. Morris is a versatile contributor, able to spell Maroney or catch passes. And Evans in the only true fullback on the roster. He’s also above-average in kick coverage. Smith, an undrafted rookie, struggled Thursday night, seeming to dance behind the line before going forward.

WIDE RECEIVER

In: Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker, Jabar Gaffney, Reche Caldwell

On the bubble: Bam Childress, Kelley Washington, Kelvin Kight

On the PUP: Troy Brown, Chad Jackson

Out: C.J. Jones, Chris Dunlap

Amazingly, Caldwell was on the bubble despite being the team’s leading receiver last year. He doesn’t play special teams and he was more expensive than other options (his salary this year is more than $1.5 million). But Brown heading to the physically unable to perform list for at least the first six weeks of the season might have kept him around a bit longer. Neither Caldwell nor Washington played against the Giants, which bodes well for them. Childress has impressive versatility. He has lined up at wideout, running back, corner and on special teams in his time with New England; Kight plays special teams as well.

TIGHT END

In: Benjamin Watson, Kyle Brady, Marcellus Rivers

To be determined: David Thomas, Garrett Mills, Brian Jones

The promising Thomas, who has not yet practiced but has been spotted running and doing drills, could start the season on PUP. Rivers, signed a couple of weeks into training camp, is a solid blocker. Mills and Jones may just be victims of numbers.

OFFENSIVE LINE

In: Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal, Nick Kaczur, Ryan O’Callaghan

On the bubble: Billy Yates, Wesley Britt, Mike Elgin, Russ Hochstein, Gene Mruczkowski

Out: Corey Hilliard, Clint Oldenburg

There are a lot of numbers here. Rookies Elgin, Hilliard and Oldenburg could end up on the practice squad. Mruczkowski is a perpetual member of New England’s shadow roster, being signed and released by the team 11 times since 2003; Hochstein has not been on the field since getting hurt against Tennessee on Aug. 17.

DEFENSIVE LINE

In: Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork, Jarvis Green, Mike Wright, Le Kevin Smith, Kareem Brown

Out: Zach West, Rashad Moore, Santonio Thomas

It’s tough to get a spot in such a talented group. Brown may be injured; he was not at practice on Tuesday and was one of the few players not to be in uniform on the sidelines against the Giants. If he is, that could mean Moore, able to play nose tackle, will stick around. Smith opened eyes in the preseason.

LINEBACKER

In: Adalius Thomas, Tedy Bruschi, Rosevelt Colvin, Junior Seau, Pierre Woods, Mike Vrabel, Larry Izzo, Eric Alexander

To be determined: Oscar Lua

On the bubble: Chad Brown, Corey Mays

Out: Justin Rogers

Belichick wouldn’t let on how severe Lua’s right leg injury is yesterday. The rookie left the field in the first quarter against New York and could be headed for season-ending injured reserve. Lua appeared to have locked up a spot on the 53-man with his play before Thursday, and was making the line calls when he was in with the second-team defense.

CORNERBACK

In: Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs, Randall Gay

On the bubble: Tory James, Dante Wesley

On the PUP: Eddie Jackson

Out: Larry Anam

Samuel’s return helped this unit greatly. So long as Gay remains healthy, he is a solid complement to Samuel and Hobbs.

SAFETY

In: Rodney Harrison, James Sanders, Brandon Meriweather, Eugene Wilson, Mel Mitchell, Willie Andrews

On the bubble: Rashad Baker

Meriweather played at both safety and corner in the preseason. He is technically listed as a defensive back, as is Andrews. Mitchell is a special teams ace; Andrews is also strong on special teams. Baker has been on and off the field with injuries.

SPECIALISTS

Kicker Stephen Gostkowski, long snapper Lonie Paxton, punter Chris Hanson (for now), though he is the fourth different punter to claim a roster spot since camp began.

smanza@projo.com