Surprise, surprise, surprise

GM Belichick has done it again. All the experts and prognosticators (and me) were sure that veteran and Tom Brady favorite Deion Branch had locked up a roster spot after fellow vets Donte Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney had been cut. Just when you think you know what Belichick will do... he does something else. Branch was among the first wave of cuts reported today as all the teams in the NFL get down to the 53-man roster. I bet you Brady is not too happy about that. I know I'm not.

It's not the first time. I'm still unhappy that Belichick let Willie McGinnest go. He had a few good years left in him and I still think if he was on the field little Manning would never have lived to throw that pass to Tyree. And I still think Vinatieri should have retired a Patriot. And I would have given Asante Samuel the money. (I was OK with the Seymour trade). But the Pats just keep winning division titles year after year no matter who stays and who goes. In Belichick we trust? Five Super Bowl appearances (and three titles) in twelve years buys a lot of trust. But trusting and agreeing are two different things. Some of my favorite players (Lawyer, Randy, Bennie) have been dropped from the team without much warning.

Add Deion to that list. I went to a Pats practice where Deion looked like the fastest (and happiest) guy on the field. He is a leader on and off the field and just fun to watch. He will be missed. But if history repeats itself, a young guy like Jeremy Ebert or Jesse Holley will step up and fill the void.

Reports from the NFL Network are that back-up QB Brian Hoyer, veteran center Dan Koppen, and defensive back James Ihedigbo have also been let go. Koppen played on two Super Bowl champions but injury has slowed him down. Safety Ihedigbo was picked up from the Jets last year and proved to be a solid player and a guy who could play through injuries. But when you are a Super Bowl contender most of the guys that you cut on 53-man Friday are going to be good players.

Like Brian Hoyer. The back-up QB has been with the team since 2009 but, thankfully, hasn't been called upon to take over for Brady. But as back-ups go he's a pretty good one. But two years ago the Pats drafted the highly-touted and highly-controversial Ryan Mallett out of Arkansas. It was a surprising third-round pick.

Now Mallett, who wasn't particularly impressive in preseason, is the back-up to Brady for the defending AFC champs.

Belichick... always full of surprises.