Patch Patriots Roundup: James White Retires, Joe Judge As Play Caller?

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The Patriots fell to the New York Giants in preseason Week 1 on Thursday 23-21. To be frank, preseason win-loss record doesn't matter one bit. No Super Bowl has ever been won in the preseason but, certainly, there are nuggets to glean from the opening week.

Here's what to know from the first preseason game, and other news surrounding New England this week.

Giants Hit Late Field Goal For Win

Mac Jones and most of the projected starters didn't play on Thursday during the first preseason game. However, Pats fans got a first look at guard Cole Strange and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, the team's top selections in the 2022 draft. Thornton caught an early touchdown pass from backup quarterback Brian Hoyer.

Rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe threw for over 200 yards with a touchdown pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey.

The game was eventually won on a field goal by Graham Gano, but here are two pieces we learned from the game:

Joe Judge: Play Caller?

When Bailey Zappe took the field for the Patriots after Brian Hoyer exited, the headset was handed from Matt Patricia to Joe Judge as well. Bill Belichick addressed where the play caller situation currently sits, according to the Associated Press.

"We did a lot of things in this game that are going to be beneficial in the long run, whether it was on the coaching staff, playing time, players that played and so forth. That’s all part of the process," he said. "We'll work it out."

Forgive Me Father, For I Have Taunted

Taunting penalties are objectively un-fun, and rarely do they elicit positive feedback from fans. However, they've often been reserved for the most egregious of on-field displays and Tyreek Hill's "deuces" gesture.

That wasn't the case on Thursday, when an official called taunting for what is a rather uniform pass breakup celebration.

ESPN's Mina Kimes was maybe the first to express this sentiment which spread across Twitter rather quickly:

James White Retires

James White, a preeminent example of consistency during much of the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady dynasty, announced his retirement from the National Football League on Thursday.

"New England will be in my heart forever. Thank you for unwavering support over the years. I am forever grateful," White said on Twitter. "This chapter has been one that I will cherish. I look forward to what is next."

White played nine seasons in the NFL, all with New England. He was a part of three Super Bowl victories with the team, including the 2017 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, in which he scored the game-tying and game-winning touchdown.

According to folks around the league, White is the only player ever to score a walk-off touchdown in Super Bowl history. In that 2017 win, he set NFL records for receptions and points scored.

Of White, Belichick said in a statement to NFL.com:

"James defines the term consummate professional. His dependability, consistency, unselfishness and performance under pressure are elite. Combining great intelligence, quickness and elusiveness, James was a perfect fit for our pass offense. While soft spoken, he brought exceptional leadership and competitive toughness to the team. He was a multi-year team captain and one of the most respected, best team players I have ever coached."