At the start of training camp, every player and coach will tell you the NFL preseason is about preparing a team for the coming campaign. But for the Patriots quarterbacks this season, it wasn't. It was about the one after it.

If it were really about ensuring Tom Brady was ready for the 2012 season — in any way beyond assuring his health — he would've played more than only two series of one game and three quarters of another. Instead, trusting his starter will be just fine, Bill Belichick gave the exhibition opportunities to his backups, a strategy seemingly designed to help inform decisions that'll be made after this year is over.

At that point, with Brian Hoyer's contract set to expire, the Patriots will likely be forced to decide between trying to retain him as the first substitute or moving forward with 2011 third-round pick Ryan Mallett — and with Brady figuring to take every meaningful snap between now and then, these practice games could be the staff's only opportunity to see them against actual competition.

Hoyer has been around long enough that the Patriot brass has to feel by now that they've got enough of a book on him to know what he brings. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't have agreed to a stipulation that paid him almost $2 million when he was a restricted free agent this past spring.

Mallett, however, remains an unknown after falling to the third round in the 2011 draft, then not playing a single snap in his rookie regular season. So in order to get a better sense of the strides he's made since his very first days as a pro — remember, last year's preseason was rushed because of the lockout — the only real way for the Pats to do so was to take a prolonged look at him this preseason.

That's the primary reason he was the only New England signal caller to play in each of the team's four exhibition tilts, and a major reason he started Wednesday night's game against the Giants while Brady stood on the sideline in full uniform.

Compared to his performances earlier this preseason, Mallett did appear to be a bit more comfortable, and quicker, against the reigning champs. But some of that may have been by design. If there is anything known to be pro-caliber about the Arkansas product it's the strength of his arm, though at the start of Wednesday's game the scheme seemed to be based on making shorter throws.

He executed a couple of screen passes, looked for receivers moving more horizontal than vertical, and took his checkdowns when they were available. Twice in the first five series he took deep drops — getting hit on one throw, and sacked on another — and though he completed seven of his first 11 attempts, those tosses had gained a total of 30 passing yards over the Patriots' first six offensive series.

Playing the entire first half, Mallett didn't look sharp when leading the team through a two-minute offense in the first quarter — receiver Jesse Holley did him no favors with a couple of drops — and by that point he'd brought his preseason totals to three touchdowns, an interception, and 33 completions on 67 attempts (49.3 percent).

Those throws gained just 300 yards (just 4.5 per attempt) — though Dolphins rookie Ryan Tannehill entered last night as the only quarterback in the NFL to try more passes, which speaks to just how much the Patriots prioritized Mallett's evaluation and development this summer.

Brady got work in practice, with his own team and in conjunction with both the Saints and Buccaneers. Hoyer still got his repetitions, and has proven himself an effective backup without needing a ton of exhibition time. They're ready to handle their duties this season.

But this was all about the one after that.

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Brandon Bolden took the field figuring to be fighting for his place on the 53-man roster, and though the undrafted rookie looked good at running back — gaining 59 yards on 15 carries before the half — another special teams gaffe may have planted a seed of doubt about his reliability in the return game.

For the second time this preseason, Bolden fumbled a punt. This time teammate Jeff Demps saved him by pouncing on the free possession. However, Demps may prove to be the man who takes his spot when the roster is pared down on Friday, especially with the team's fourth tailback figuring to be retained primarily for his ability to make an impact in the kicking game.

Belichick isn't likely to keep a player if he fears that impact could prove to be a negative one.

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As first reported by CBSsports.com, the NFL sent a memo to teams on Wednesday saying that replacement officials would officiate at least the first week of games while the league attempts to resolve a labor dispute with its referee union.

The hope among players and coaches is that the fill-ins don't impact results — but in the second quarter of the Patriots-Giants game, referee Don King offered a comical reminder that these aren't the real guys. Attempting to announce two fouls on a punt, he stumbled over his words and eventually needed to confer with his fellow officials and both coaches before clarifying the call.

Meanwhile, cameras caught several Patriots having a laugh at King's expense on the sideline, some just smiling – while others laughed out loud.

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Dave D'Onofrio covers Boston sports for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. His e-mail address is ddonof13@gmail.com. Twitter: @davedonofrio.