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The Patriots have officially terminated the contract of guard Brian Waters, who was placed on the reserve/did not report list prior to the 2012 regular season.

Waters, signed by the team just days before the 2011 regular season, is now a free agent and can sign with any team if he chooses to continue his career.

The 36-year-old played at a high level for the Patriots during his one season on the field with the team, but did not show up for any of the OTAs last offseason and was excused from the team's mandatory minicamp.

With Waters deciding not to report, the team moved Dan Connolly from center to right guard, and Ryan Wendell stepped in to anchor the center position.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The Patriots' offensive line has been an area of strength thus far in 2012, but there was a time when many believed the absence of right guard Brian Waters, a standout performer in 2011, would leave the group short-handed.

Waters, who elected not to report to training camp and was placed on the reserve/did not report list, had been negotiating a potential deal with the Patriots to return to the team throughout the 2012 season, but nothing came to fruition prior to the Nov. 30 deadline, according to ESPN's NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Waters is now ineligible to return to the Patriots in 2012.

The team will carry forward with its current mix of offensive linemen, which includes Dan Connolly, who has filled in at Waters' right guard spot. Connolly, the team's starting center following a season-ending injury to Dan Koppen in 2011, has been replaced at center by Ryan Wendell, who has played every offensive snap thus far in 2012.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The nameplate above the locker for veteran offensive lineman Brian Waters has been removed, creating further doubt about his potential return to the team.

Waters, who started all 19 games last season, hasn't reported to the Patriots in 2012. He is under contract for $1.4 million this season.

The team issued his jersey No. 54 to rookie linebacker Dont'a Hightower earlier this week.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- You would think there was a playoff game at Gillette Stadium this week.

In front of a packed house, the New England Patriots hosted the New Orleans Saints for a pair of high-quality joint practices. Even famous musician Jon Bon Jovi and supermodel (and Tom Brady's wife) Gisele Bundchen showed up for a glimpse of the action.

The talent on the practice field was immense. You had future Hall of Famers Brady and Drew Brees at quarterback, Pro Bowl tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham and two hungry defenses eager to improve. The tempo was fast and intense.

The Patriots could have easily practiced against themselves this week like the rest of the league. But there is a method to Bill Belichick's madness. It's Super Bowl or bust for New England. And even in August, the Patriots want to test themselves as much as possible against another playoff contender.

"We know that there are a lot of other great organizations and teams and players and coaches out there," Belichick explained. "It’s a good challenge every week, and certainly the Saints are one of the top teams in professional football. As I said, they're well-coached, they have great talent, good players, good scheme [and] they win a lot of games. We played against them two years ago, practiced against them two years ago in their championship season. There isn’t any team we have more respect for than the Saints from top to bottom."

The reigning AFC champions are loaded. Their roster is deeper and more talented than last year's team that finished 13-3. With the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL, the Patriots are expected to match or surpass last season's win total. Some pundits even believe a 16-0 regular season is within reach. But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. How much better is the defense? The Patriots' defense has improved. New England was ranked 31st in total defense and 31st against the pass in 2011. So the Patriots cannot get much worse.

The Patriots invested all their draft picks except a seventh-rounder in defense. The biggest coups were first-round picks Dont'a Hightower at linebacker and defensive end Chandler Jones. Both rookies received a lot of reps with the first team this week and appear to be learning fast. They also provide athleticism and aggressiveness to New England's front seven.

Second-round pick and defensive back Tavon Wilson also has looked better than advertised. Belichick received a lot of criticism for drafting Wilson that high when most projected him to be a fifth- or sixth-round pick. Free agent Steve Gregory also is New England's starting safety and is an upgrade over the rotating door New England had at the position last year.

With a high-powered offense, the Patriots don't need a top-10 defense. But if the defensive-minded Belichick can get this group in the top 20, New England will be very hard to beat.

"We're just trying to be aggressive and be competitive in everything out there," Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty said of improving. "From the front all the way throughout the secondary, guys are just trying to develop an attitude. Defense has a lot to do with attitude and how you approach the game, so we’re trying to keep attitude and trying to do it day in and day out."

2. Who will man the offensive line? It is difficult to gauge the performance of the offensive line in training camp. About half of training camp practices are in shorts, and that significantly reduces contact in the trenches. But replacements need to be ready because four of New England's starters from last year are injured, retired or contemplating retirement.

New England's offensive line is a M.A.S.H. unit. Starting guards Logan Mankins (knee) and Brian Waters (personal reasons) have yet to practice with the team, and starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer has a back injury. Longtime starting left tackle Matt Light retired, and so did free-agent signee Robert Gallery.

The Patriots are trying to find the right combination up front in training camp in preparation for Week 1 of the regular season. So far, the best lineman in camp has been second-year left tackle Nate Solder, who gained some starting experience last year in his rookie season.

Holdovers such as guard Dan Koppen, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell and Marcus Cannon are all trying to carve out roles -- at least until starters Mankins, Vollmer and (maybe) Waters return. Brady and the Patriots will pass the football a lot this year, so development of the offensive line is important.

"We're going to play whoever is here, and whatever happens, we're going to be here working hard," Solder said this week.

3. Who will run the football? Dependable tailback BenJarvus Green-Ellis bolted to the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency. That leaves second-year tailbacks Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen trying to pick up the slack in 2012. Neither player has much experience. Ridley did pretty well in limited playing time his rookie year, amassing 441 yards and a touchdown. Vereen was injured most of his rookie season and wasn’t a factor.

Ridley has the inside track and has looked impressive. He has good vision and burst. Ball security has been the only question. But Ridley believes he made rookie mistakes that he will fix in Year 2.

"This year I'm going to go and do the best that I can to keep the ball high and tight," Ridley said. "I know that if I can keep the ball in my hands, I'm going to be on the field. So my work is cut out for me."

Backup running back Danny Woodhead also will assist Ridley and Vereen, particularly on third downs.

Reason for optimism

This is the best collection of talented skill players Brady has ever had. If everyone stays healthy, I do not see any reason the Patriots cannot be near the top of the league in scoring and passing offense. New England should average at least 30 points per game.

Brady has a Pro Bowl tight end in Gronkowski, a Pro Bowl receiver in Wes Welker, a top-five tight end in Aaron Hernandez and a much-needed deep threat in Brandon Lloyd. The Patriots' passing game should be able to do it all. Brady can go underneath to Welker and Gronkowski or deep to Lloyd and Hernandez. It will be very difficult for opponents to game plan.

"We're not taking anything for granted," Brady said. "We're trying to come out and string practices together."

Reason for pessimism

I'm still not confident in New England's secondary. This was the weakest part of the Patriots last year, and 2012 could be a repeat.

Cornerbacks McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Sterling Moore and Ras-I Dowling all have question marks. The Saints’ offense had their way with New England’s corners during this week’s joint practices. No one among the Patriots’ corners made enough plays to really stand out.

Perhaps the biggest problem is New England's corners are not shutdown, man-to-man defenders. That forces New England to play a lot of zone to try to get stops. That leads to a bend-but-don’t-break mentality we saw last year.

Expect many opponents to attack New England's cornerbacks until this group proves it can cover and shut down receivers consistently.

OBSERVATION DECK

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Robert E. KleinNot many tight ends have the athletic ability to be a punt returner. The Patriots' Aaron Hernandez does.
• Speaking of McCourty, he is playing exclusively at corner in training camp. It shows the coaching staff is comfortable that McCourty will bounce back from a shoulder injury and poor play that led to a position change to safety late last season. McCourty is competing hard and trying to get back to his rookie form, when he made the Pro Bowl in 2010.
• How athletic is Hernandez? New England is experimenting with its No. 2 tight end at punt return and running back. Hernandez did a good job running the football in the Patriots' playoff win over the Denver Broncos. It was a nice wrinkle added by Belichick. Hernandez is elusive in the open field and has good hands, so returning punts could make sense as another way to get the ball into Hernandez's hands.
• I'm not sure why more teams do not have joint practices in training camp. Both the Patriots and Saints gave rave reviews of how well things went this week. It was well organized; both teams got a lot of work done; and there were no injuries. Most importantly, it is a change of pace from hitting your teammates the entire summer. In talking with players, they got a kick out of practicing against an unfamiliar opponent.
• The Brady-to-Lloyd combination is still a work in progress. Brady missed Lloyd on several opportunities this week, as the first-time teammates continue to work on their chemistry. Lloyd is the best deep threat Brady has had since Randy Moss. Brady and Moss got on the same page quickly in their first season together. Brady hopes for the same results with Lloyd.
• Keep an eye out for undrafted rookie defensive end Justin Francis. I wasn't familiar with the Rutgers product before my training camp visit, but after a few practices, I noticed Francis stood out. Francis has a good motor and athleticism for a defensive end. Francis is a sleeper pick to make New England's 53-man roster, but he must show that he can translate his play on the practice field to the preseason games.
• The No. 2 quarterback race between Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett favors Hoyer at this stage of camp. Hoyer had a solid week of practice leading into Thursday's preseason opener. Hoyer was more accurate and made some nice throws. Mallett has a lot of physical ability but has a lot to work on. He had trouble with taking some of the velocity off his passes when needed. The preseason games will matter most, but Hoyer has the lead so far.
• Linebacker Bobby Carpenter has been a pleasant surprise for New England. The former first-round pick has underachieved at his previous stops in Dallas, Miami and Detroit. But Carpenter has fit in well as a backup linebacker for the Patriots in training camp and is in good shape to make the team. Carpenter even got a little work with the first team this week because of injuries.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- In 11 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Brian Waters never tasted playoff victory. And while the Patriots have had their own playoff struggles in recent seasons, Waters can sense a difference in the confidence as he prepares for his first playoff game with New England.

"I wouldn’t say [preparations have been any] different, just the fact that everybody knows how it’s do or die in the playoffs," said Waters. "I think it’s different in the fact that the whole organization has a great sense of what it takes to get it done. That’s something that, here, you feel very comfortable in that the plan is a plan that's been executed before. You just gotta fall in line and follow suit."

Waters and the Chiefs lost a pair of AFC Wild Card games (2006 vs. Colts and 2010 vs. Ravens), but maybe most disappointing to him was a first-game exit after a 13-3 campaign in 2003 in which the second-seeded Chiefs were ousted by the Colts, 38-31, in the Divisional round.

Waters knows the Patriots haven't accomplished anything with their own 13-3 season and top seeding.

"I'm proud to be a part of it, but it really only becomes special if you take full advantage of it," he said. "If you’re able to accomplish even more. I’ve been at this round before, so I’d like to go a little bit further. That’s going to be a tough task and we’re going to have to make sure we’re putting everything into it, as far as preparation and being ready to go on Saturday night."

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DENVER -- Patriots right guard Brian Waters appeared to sustain a lower left leg in the second quarter of Sunday's game.

Waters was slow to get up after blocking on a goal line run. He was attended to by trainers before hobbling off the field. On the sideline, trainers appeared to be re-taping his left leg. He was replaced by Dan Connolly.

Waters spent time on the injury report this season with a knee injury after getting rolled up on during a Week 10 win over the Jets.

[Injury Update: Waters returned on the next offensive series.]

The center-quarterback exchange is so easy to take for granted despite how important the sequence actually is. Now remember that Patriots fourth-year offensive lineman Ryan Wendell made his first career start at center Sunday night in Philadelphia, a daunting proposition, especially considering the intimidating noise level inside Lincoln Financial Field.

To ease his duties, the Patriots employed a subtle, but somewhat unique approach in Sunday's game. During shotgun snaps where the team operated with a silent count, veteran right guard Brian Waters would stare back at quarterback Tom Brady until he got the sign that the offense was set, then he would tap Wendell with his left arm to initiate the snap.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick admitted it's a new wrinkle and clearly one aimed at easing the load for reserve centers like Wendell and Dan Connolly after starter Dan Koppen was injured in the first half of the season-opener against the Dolphins.

"We started doing that a little bit this year," said Belichick. "We’ve done it before with our center looking back and did a little bit this year with the guard tapping so that the center doesn’t have to look back. We do it both ways.”

It's one of those little game plan items that goes largely unnoticed, but speaks to the preparation level of the Patriots. It also shows the confidence the team has in someone like Waters, who is playing a relatively new position this season as well after spending 11 years at left guard with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wendell, who started in place of Connolly (groin injury) on Sunday, performed well and aided an offensive line that limited Philadelphia's vaunted pass rush to just one sack. But Belichick would offer no hints about whether Connolly might slide back in at center once healthy.

"We have a lot of confidence in Ryan, I’m sure we’ll be fine if he’s in there," said Belichick. "We’ll see what he’s able to do, where Dan’s at when we get to [the first practice of the week on] Wednesday."

Quizzed on who would have been the backup center had Wendell gotten injured on Sunday, Belichick wouldn't divulge.

"We’ll see what happens this week," he said. "We'll go through our options and figure it out."

One of the story lines sure to get plenty of attention in the week leading up to Monday's game against the Chiefs is Patriots guard Brian Waters going up against his former team.

Waters spent 11 seasons with the Chiefs appearing in 163 games. Five times he was voted a Pro Bowler and twice he was a first-team All-Pro. The two sides agreed to a mutual parting this offseason and Waters landed in New England just days before the start of the 2011 regular season.

As Patriots coach Bill Belichick gushed during a conference all with the New England media Tuesday, it's impossible to overstate just how much Waters has meant to the team -- both on and off the field. According to analytical site Pro Football Focus, Waters has allowed just two sacks over and three quarterback pressures over 638 total snaps. By the site's grading system, Waters ranks as the fifth best guard in the league and the second best in pass protection.

On Tuesday, Belichick offered high praise about Waters' work ethic, especially after an early season injury to center Dan Koppen thrust him into full-time duty at a position he had never played before (his entire K.C. career was spent at left guard).

"I would say the biggest thing with Brian, not how well he’s playing and how good he is -- because he’s a good player, it’s just how quickly he was able to get acclimated to everything, to our system, the way we call plays and do things and make adjustments in the offensive line," said Belichick. "Every offensive line is kind of in their own little world, just the way that those five people interact in their calls and communications and knowing where the guy beside you is, passing games and blitzes and things like that. No matter how long you’ve played, working with those guys as closely as they work together on a play-by-play basis, I’d say it’s come together more quickly than I really think we as a staff realistically expected that it would. He’s had really no problems at all adjusting and making the transition. That’s not only changing positions but coming onto a pretty veteran line."

Belichick also pointed to how Waters got himself back in the game Sunday night against the Jets after getting dinged up during a first-half series.

"I think he showed a lot of toughness there in the Jets game where he got rolled up on the second play of the game, came out and kind of taped back up and went back in and played well," said Belichick. "He’s added a lot to our line and our entire football team and he’s earned everyone’s respect here. He’s tough, he’s a good football player. He’s really made some outstanding plays, just individual plays that you don’t see many other players at that position make. He’s a high-quality player, he’s a high-quality individual."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Every player wants to win going into the bye week. Patriots guard Brian Waters really wanted to win Sunday's game against the Cowboys.

See, Waters grew up in Waxahachie, Texas, about 30 miles south of Dallas and still makes his offseason home in the area. Needless to say, he would have endured a tremendous amount of grief from the locals had the Patriots not rallied for a 20-16 triumph at Gillette Stadium, sending the Patriots into the break with a 5-1 record.

"For everybody else, it's great, but it's really good for me," Waters said with a smile. "I gotta be honest. I get to go home, go back to Dallas. I'll be able to walk out of my house now without worrying about it. I think it's good for everybody, going into the break and getting this win. We can relish it a bit, but we got a lot of work to do. Obviously, today wasn't our best performance. It's obvious we have a lot of work to do and I'm sure the coaches will make sure we do it before we get any kind of rest."

The Patriots will practice Tuesday and Wednesday before enjoying five consecutive days off.

For Waters, that's a nice break after a whirlwind two months. Signed just eight days before the regular season, the 12-year NFL veteran has been a steady and much-needed presence on the offensive line, particularly after center Dan Koppen went on injured reserve after the season-opener (and backup guard Dan Connolly was forced into the starting center role).

Waters rotated at right guard during the first half of that Week 1 win in Miami -- mainly for conditioning reasons -- but has played every snap since. Through six games, he hasn't allowed a quarterback sack, allowing a mere two quarterback hits through the first five weeks of the season, much of its spent with rookie tackle Nate Solder helping him anchor the right side of the line.

Waters will get a chance, finally, to catch his breath during the bye week. And he'll be able to step outside his home -- maybe even still in some of his Patriots apparel -- and not worry about catching any flak.

"My people were pretty supportive [before Sunday's game]," said Waters. "A lot of people were sending me [messages] saying 'Hey, good luck.' I know they were probably torn, but my family and friends pretty supportive. Again, to go home, and have a little one-up, that's pretty good for us."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – There aren’t too many “football journeys” that can match that of veteran guard Brian Waters. After all, how many can say they entered the NFL as an undrafted tight end and then went on to earn five Pro Bowl berths as an offensive lineman?

The 34-year-old Waters, of Waxahachie, Texas, has taken an unconventional route at various points in his career. In addition to his on-field success, he was named the 2009 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year for his off-the-field community service.

Waters shared his journey with ESPNBoston.com this week.

When he first started playing football: “I started pretty early. I was 5 years old.”

Why so early: “I’m from Texas. Everybody plays football. That’s something you grow up in. Texas football is like a religion, you join in with everybody else.”

First position: “Center. I was overweight by a pound, so I couldn’t play one of the skill positions.”

Top memories as a TE, FB, LB and DE at Waxahachie High: “There are a lot. We were a very good team, only losing three games in my four years. We played in a lot of big games. The first time we played in Texas Stadium was huge. That was one of the first great moments.”

Why he attended college at North Texas: “It was a pretty easy decision for me. I wanted to stay close to my family, and the other part was being able to go to a program where I could establish myself. I came from a program where we had a few Division I prospects every year, and those guys were trying to go to the bigger-name schools. North Texas was just coming back to Division I, and I’m one of those guys who likes to root for the underdog.”

Other possibilities for college: “There was the University of Houston, Arkansas, UTEP, Texas Tech. Those were other programs where I had opportunities, but I didn’t think those would have been as great for me as going to a school where I had an opportunity to play right away.”

Top memories at North Texas: “Beating Texas Tech, in Lubbock, when we were 20-point underdog. That was probably the biggest win for the school.”

Going undrafted in the NFL: “I knew there was a likelihood I wouldn’t get drafted because I played multiple positions in college (tight end, defensive line), and we weren’t a very good program. In the draft process, and because of my size (6-3, 265), they didn’t know where to play me. Some teams were looking at me as a defensive end, other teams tight end, other teams fullback.”

Signing as a rookie free agent with the Cowboys in 1999: “It went fast, just [training] camp and a few weeks. It was a unique situation, playing with all those great Hall of Fame players I grew up watching. It was kind of an awe moment at first, but then reality kicked in right away that you had to earn your stripes. I played tight end and fullback. At fullback, they only carry one of those (Darryl Johnston at the time), and the numbers didn’t present themselves well for me.”

After being released by Dallas in September of 1999, joining the Chiefs in March of 2000: “That was the first workout I had in what was supposed to be a series of workouts with different teams. Gunther Cunningham was the head coach at the time, and he persuaded me after a two-hour conversation to work out along the offensive line, at center to be exact. He thought I could make the move, and he had done it before (with other players). It was the first time an NFL team showed that much interest in me and I took the chance on it.”

Cunningham and others who made a difference in his NFL career getting started: “It was a couple guys. Mark Murphy. Gunther. And John Schneider, the general manager in Seattle now, was a huge part of that process.”

After signing with the Chiefs, playing in NFL Europe for the Berlin Thunder in 2000: “I started and played every snap at center. It was definitely one of the great experiences for me.”

Top memories with the Chiefs (2000-2010): “That’s tough, because there were so many great ones. We had some great times. I think most of them for me were reveling in others’ accomplishments – Priest Holmes’ single-season touchdown record, Will Shields over 200 straight games started, starting off 9-0 one season and getting a bye in the playoffs. We had the game with eight rushing touchdowns against Atlanta.”

When he truly settled in as an offensive lineman: “The third year. My first year, I was mostly special teams. The second year, I started eight games, one at center, the rest at guard. But the third year, with the full offseason to concentrate on my craft and understand what the job entailed, is when I really felt more comfortable.”

After being released by the Chiefs this year, landing with the Patriots: “I knew it wasn’t over. I had many options, but it was one of those things where you want to pick a place that you feel is right for you. I felt like this place was.”

What he’s learned about the Patriots: “Just a consistent program. They come to work every day. Seven days a week, guys are here, working, watching film, studying their playbooks. That’s something you grow to appreciate, being a veteran and coming to a team like that.”

Mentors and role models in his life: “Dante Wright, who is a great friend of mine and was my coach in college. He’s now a pastor of a church in Round Rock, Texas. And my grandmother was a great role model for me. She worked very hard, 40-plus years, doing the same job. It may have been tedious and not exciting, but she had to put food on the table to raise me and she took on that position without any hesitation.”

Favorite teams growing up: “That’s easy. Cowboys.”

Favorite players: “The reason I wear 54 is Randy White, "The Manster." He was as tough as they get.”

Where the journey goes from here: “To be continued, hopefully. You hope it ends up in great fashion. I just take it year by year. It’s been a great run, even before I got here. This is just icing on the cake.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Having spent 11 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Patriots guard Brian Waters is no stranger to an annual trek to Oakland and the decidedly delirious "Black Hole" section that thrives off spewing venom at opposing teams.

Given that the Patriots haven't trekked to O.com Coliseum since 2008, Waters has stressed to younger players not to let the environment become a distraction.

"From the time you drive in, until the end of the game, you’re going to see a lot of different things, some good, some bad," said Waters. "One thing we try to get across to the younger guys as much as possible is: Don’t focus on [off-the-field distractions], try not to pay attention to those things, because they can be a distraction, they can be a real distraction if you allow them.

"When you walk in there, I don't care who you are, you're going to be [hated]. They're not going to like you, your family, or your friends, and they are going to have no issues letting you know that from the time the bus arrives."

So what's the weirdest thing Waters ever saw in Oakland?

"I’ll say this, that's the first time I ever saw an old lady in a wheelchair shooting me the bird with both fingers," Waters said to laughter. "That’s crazy right there."

Playing Oakland twice per season also gave Waters a chance to see more of Richard Seymour the past two seasons and he raved about his talents.

"If he had played in [Oakland's penetrating] 4-3 system his entire career, we'd probably be talking about," Seymour as one of the best defensive linemen ever.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Before he started jogging down the field to congratulate Wes Welker on his 99-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown catch, Patriots right guard Brian Waters gave a quick glimpse around the field for a penalty flag, then -- and only then -- did he start jogging towards the other end of the field.

Every little bit of energy mattered during the Patriots' 38-24 triumph over the Dolphins Monday night at Sun Life Stadium.

"It was a slow jog, but I got there," Waters said with a smile. "I figured I had a little time. I looked around for the yellow [thinking] as long as there’s no flag, I’m in the clear."

Waters is no stranger to heavy workloads. Over the past nine seasons, he's missed just three games and, last season, he played more than 1,100 total snaps for the Kansas City Chiefs while appearing in all 17 of the team's games (including the playoffs).

But after a mutual split with Kansas City in late July, the 34-year-old Waters didn't participate in an NFL training camp this summer and only signed with the New England Patriots last week. Beyond a handful of practices ramping up to Week 1, his last gridiron activity was back in early January. What's more, he was being shuffled to right guard after 11 seasons spent almost exclusively on the left side of the line.

Waters played 69 of 80 snaps (including penalties) on Monday. After rotating two series apiece with Dan Connolly at the start of the game, he got thrust into full-time duty when center Dan Koppen suffered an ankle injury late in the first half.

"Hey, man, you come in expecting to do whatever you’re asked to do," said Waters. "The job entailed me getting a number of reps tonight, I’m not going to complain about that. I’m just glad I was able to finish the game out, and not go down with any sort of cramp or anything like that, to hurt us any further."

The Patriots elevated offensive lineman Thomas Welch from the practice squad before the game in order to add depth to a line thinned by a lingering back injury to starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer. When Koppen went down, it forced Connolly to shift over to center and left the Patriots with no quality option for resting Waters.

Waters looked tired at times in the South Florida heat, but gutted it out, all while rookie right tackle Nate Solder made his regular-season debut next to him. Waters heaped praise on Solder's performance, but also on Connolly for stepping up when Koppen went down.

"You know what, Dan [Connolly] stepped up big tonight," said Waters. "We miss Koppen, and that was a huge shocker. But it’s part of the game and he was out there rooting for us, just being part of it. When you've been doing this game long enough, things like that happen. You just suck it up. It wouldn’t have done [Koppen] any justice if we went out there and made [his injury] an excuse for not being where we needed to be."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Veteran guard Brian Waters admitted Monday that he wasn't certain what kind of shape he will be in having been without a job throughout the preseason. The 11-year veteran, inked Sunday by the New England Patriots to add depth on the interior of the offensive line, chuckled and told reporters to ask him again after his first practice. But Waters stressed one thing: If the Patriots need him to start at right guard on opening night in one week's time against the Miami Dolphins, he'll be ready.

"That’s what I’m preparing for," said Waters, who appeared in all but three games over the past nine seasons, starting every contest he appeared in. "I think that’s what everybody here is preparing for. I don’t know any other way then to prepare for it. If it happens, that’s the coach’s decision, but that’s definitely what I’m preparing for."

Despite spending his entire career with one team, Waters said Monday he's excited for the opportunity in New England. His locker nestled snugly between Logan Mankins and Matt Light, Waters spoke about his familiarity with the Patriots organization, inheriting Tedy Brusch's No. 54 jersey, making the switch to right guard, and inheriting his work ethic from a grandmother that worked the same job as a cafeteria worker for 48 years.

Here are some highlights from Waters' seven-minute chat with the media:

On the switch to right guard: "[Waters has] a little bit [of experience there]. You have to flip everything in your mind, especially when you’ve done something for a long time. I don’t think it’ll take me too long to get it."

On deciding where to sign: "Actually, I had numerous phone calls. It was just about finding the situation that was best for me. This was a great organization, so why not? Their record speaks for itself. This is a football team that’s a contender year in and year out. I had the opportunity to be around the staff and a number of players [during five Pro Bowl appearances] and had the opportunity to spend some time with [owner] Mr. [Robert] Kraft during the offseason [labor negotiations]. It seemed like a perfect fit for me."

On Logan Mankins: "He's a great football player. We just happen to play the same position, so I have a great appreciation for the type of work he does."

On protecting quarterback Tom Brady: "It kinda goes both way. You want to make sure you do the best job no matter who’s back there; You know they’ve got a family to feed and you want to protect them as best as possible. It just so happens this team has a great one back there."

On the history of the No. 54 jersey: "I had the opportunity to meet [Bruschi] a few times, and play with him at the Pro Bowl. I do have a great appreciation for the number."

On his split with Kansas City: "It was just a mutual parting; Two people deciding it was best to go their separate ways without ill intentions or anything negative to say. Just a mutual decision."

On Patriots' offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia: " Oh, I know him. And I'm sure I haven’t seen the best of him yet. But I'm sure I’ll find out soon."