Bedard: Thinking out loud about Jack Jones, Bailey Zappe and the offensive line after the Patriots' preseason finale

Thank goodness that's over with.

Now we can start on the regular season. But first, some parting thoughts from the summer for the Patriots, stemming from the usage of some players.

BEDARD'S 53-MAN ROSTER HEADING INTO THE FINALE

Jack Jones plays into the second half

That's a curious way to treat a cornerback who has been a pretty regular starter for the past couple of weeks. Especially when you're not real deep there.

A couple of possibilities come to mind on that:

 - He got the Brandon Browner treatment: Facing a four-game suspension to start the 2014 season, the Patriots played the former Seahawks cornerback for 49 snaps in the fourth and final preseason game. Do the Patriots know that a plea deal is coming in Jones' case — right after the preseason would be a nice time to announce it — and that the NFL might suspend him?

 - He's not a starter: Jonathan Jones is expected back at some point soon. Could it be the Patriots are ready to go with Christian Gonzalez, Jones and Marcus Jones as the top three corners? Gonzalez and Jones didn't play a snap in this one. Maybe they don't trust Jack Jones yet in a big spot like Philly. His up-and-down play against the Titans (tackles at the line, DPI, stiff-armed on big run) would only back that up.

 - The Patriots were showcasing him for a trade: Considering their lack of depth at this important position, I think this is the longest odds, but you can't rule out that maybe the Patriots are ready to cut bait with him and go with others like Shaun Wade and Isaiah Bolden for depth. Again, a long shot but certainly not impossible.

So, yeah, Bailey Zappe didn't have a great summer

He might not be an ideal fit for the Patriots system now that Bill O'Brien is back, with the processing and such (he's held the ball forever all summer). But I'm not ready to make that call yet. I am not panicking and putting another QB on the 53. Zappe is still fully capable of being a good backup QB for this team.

And just like the "Bill Belichick blow up on Mac Jones," I don't think what we saw between O'Brien and Zappe was anything out of the ordinary or cause for alarm. I wasn't really sure that PFC Loudon Zappe was capable of giving it back to a superior officer, but I like the fight. And, hey, he was playing with the dregs of the roster.

But is everyone's Zappe Fever cured now?

Ditto Malik Mania. Cunningham is not an NFL player at this point at any position. He was an awful receiver all summer. But love the athletic ability and not giving up. Perfect practice squad guy. If he gets claimed, oh well. I think that's a long shot.

So now what on the offensive line?

Among healthy linemen, only David Andrews, Trent Brown and Atonio Mafi did not play. That tells me that the Patriots figure that Mafi is going to have to start at one of the guard spots. He has only played left guard for weeks. That tells me Cole Strange is not expected to be ready for the Eagles, but Mike Onwenu is. 

Sidy Sow did play, as did Riley Reiff before he left with an injury.

If I had to guess, I think the Eagles start against the league's best defensive front with:

LT Trent Brown
LG Atonio Mafi
C David Andrews
RG Mike Onwenu (in a reps rotation with Reiff or Jake Andrews)
RT Conor McDermott or Sow

Hey Adrian Klemm, good freaking luck.

(By the way, Andrew Stueber and Chasen Hines ... adieu.)

Playing late in the last preseason game, you have to wonder about their futures...

DT Carl Davis: This one is shocking to me since, if you were to part with a Lawrence Guy, Davis would be the top run-stuffing replacement. Maybe they feel they can get the Two-Gap King onto the practice squad. This makes me uneasy. Not a lot of run stuffers on this roster.

RB Pierre Strong: He needed to play, so it's not all bad. But I'd still rather player JJ Taylor (minus the dumb punt return) than Strong, who has yet to show much.

CB Shaun Wade: Really good in practices, but has yet to transfer to games.

DE Ronnie Perkins: Just hasn't worked out here for the third-round pick.

Boutte locks up spot ... for now

WR Kayshon Boutte only played three snaps, so that's good news for him. Would that have been the case if Tyquan Thornton and Demario Douglas were healthy? What happens when they're back?

Nick Folk sat this one out ... a trade market brewing?

From my understanding, the Patriots are hoping that one of the kicking-desperate teams — Titans, Cowboys, Browns, 49ers — gets desperate enough to trade for one of their kickers, and Folk makes the most sense. The Patriots are looking for the best draft pick, not a player swap but you can't rule that out.

I also do not rule out that Belichick calls the bluff of other teams, who figure the Patriots will just release a kicker, and keeps both on the 53-man roster and waits for someone to give in.