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In an article published Wednesday, Patriots Football Weekly staffer Andy Hart noted that entering his third season as a pro, Daniel Graham is in the in-between phase of his career. No longer the newest rookie or the team's top draft pick, the 6-3, 257-pounder is in that stage where players are no longer evaluated as much on potential as they are on production.

With that in mind Graham has spent a great deal of energy this offseason working on his hands in an attempt to bring his pass-catching capabilities to the level that many expected when the Patriots traded up to select him with the 21st pick in the 2002 draft.

"I am just trying to get better," Graham said following a recent workout. "It's just something that I wanted to do, focus on catching the ball more and getting a lot more balls in the offseason."

A year ago Graham started nine of 14 games played, finishing the year with 38 receptions for 409 yards and four touchdowns, all career bests. In two seasons, he has developed a reputation as a solid blocker both from his tight end spot and coming across the formation in motion, but Graham hopes to put it all together as a single package in 2004.

"That's part of my game," Graham said of his blocking. "I believe that's why they drafted me here because I was able to block and catch the ball."

Graham hopes that the offseason pass catching will pay off within what he believes could be a more potent New England offense. With the additions of former Pro Bowl running back Corey Dillon and rookie tight end Benjamin Watson, coordinator Charlie Weis should have even more offensive options this fall.

"My reaction [to the Watson pick] was just that we were getting another good tight end and that our coaches must have big plans, something to do with a lot of tight ends this year," Graham said. "I think he has a lot of speed and can catch the ball. We'll just wait to put the pads on and see what he can do blocking wise. But he looks like a real good tight end.

"Dillon is going to change this offense and he's going to help this offense out a lot. He's just going to open up the passing game for the receivers and tight ends."

However, Watson's arrival is likely to be most significant.

According to Boston Globe beat man Michael Smith, Graham primarily played the "Y" position, the standard tight end alignment, as a rookie. Last year, he was asked to play both Y and H-back (the in-motion blocking fullback/tight end in single-back sets), known as the "F" position in the Patriots' offense.

Because the F involves more responsibility, the Patriots believe the shift of position may have led to hesitation by Graham and contributed to his inconsistency.

That's where Watson comes in.

With his size and speed, this year's first-round tight end -- the second first-round pick at the position in three years -- appears to be a good fit for the F, allowing Graham, who is a solid blocker, to focus on the Y, with veteran Christian Fauria playing in both spots.

Smith added: "By clearly defining Graham's role, the Patriots are trying to take some of the thinking out of his game in the hope that he'll be able to take over games the way he did as a senior at Colorado, when he earned the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end."

Smith went on to advise readers we're likely to see a more aggressive Graham this season. His newfound confidence was on display at last month's mini-camp, when, with Watson out with a strained left Achilles' tendon, Graham stole the show with several acrobatic catches.

"The opportunities that he's had to run routes, catch the ball, make adjustments, hot reads, and audibles, he's just handling them a little bit quicker," head coach Bill Belichick said of Graham during mini-camp. "I just think he's a little bit more confident. He's done it a little bit more and he's just executing it a little bit better at this point."

Whatever the case, Graham seems to have done his best this offseason to prepare for 2004, a season he will enter with higher personal expectations.

"I've done a lot of things this offseason that are going to make me a better player. ... I am looking forward to a great year. ..."

Meanwhile, in New York. ... The Jets announced Thursday they have signed veteran tight end Mikhael Ricks and released rookie tight end Michael Carter. Terms of the Ricks deal were not disclosed. The announcement was made by general manager Terry Bradway.

Ricks, a 6-5, 260-pounder, has played with the San Diego Chargers, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions during his six-year career. He has played in 84 regular season games, making 40 starts, recording 155 receptions for 1,939 yards and eight touchdowns in his career.

In 2002, Ricks recorded 27 receptions for 339 yards and three touchdowns, leading to his selection as the NFC's first alternate at tight end.

Originally drafted as a wide receiver, out of Stephen F. Austin University, he made the switch to tight end during Kansas City's mini-camp in 2001. Ricks' career long reception is 50 yards, which he accomplished in the 1999 season against Cincinnati.

Although he might be at his best working off the bench in two-tight end formations, Ricks might take some playing time away from starter Anthony Becht in obvious passing situations.

In a column published early Friday, ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli, making a point not to overstate the significance of his arrival, built a case supporting his belief Ricks that will offer Chad Pennington and the Jets' offense an interesting new dimension.

According to Pasquarelli: "The reason is that Ricks just simply moves better than most tight ends in the NFL and can get deep up the middle and provide vertical stretch."

The numbers bear him out.

In six seasons, Ricks has 26 receptions of 20 yards or more and four catches of 40-plus yards, and he has averaged a pretty gaudy 12.5 yards per reception. Becht has averaged 8.9 yards per catch in four seasons, has just seven catches of 20 or more yards, and has never had a reception of longer than 30 yards.

It's also worth noting that current Jets coordinator Paul Hackett was Ricks' coordinator for one season at Kansas City.

And the incumbent starter?

As the New York Daily News recently suggested, "Becht is what he is -- a decent-blocking, 30-catch player."

Pasquarelli went on to remind readers that Becht was part of one of the several packages the Jets floated to the Redskins back in March, when they were bidding for then-Washington cornerback Champ Bailey. ...

In Atlanta. ... The retirement of Falcons tight end Hunter Goodwin became official Tuesday, and as Atlanta Journal-Constitution staffer Ken Sugiura pointed out, "with it came a degree of uncertainty as the Falcons head to training camp in three weeks."

Goodwin, an eight-year veteran signed in March to be the No. 2 tight end behind Alge Crumpler, ended his career because he could not overcome a nagging hip injury.

The decision came just a week after the Falcons released Sean Brewer, another blocking tight end whose progress appeared to be impeded by Goodwin's presence. Last year's No. 2 tight end, Brian Kozlowski, signed as a free agent with Washington.

The situation prompted the Falcons to sign Justin Swift, who played for the 49ers from 2000 to 2002. He was out of football last season after being cut by the Houston Texans in training camp.

According to Sugiura, new coordinator Greg Knapp -- who coached Swift in San Francisco -- won't use two tight-end formations as much as former coach Dan Reeves, but will run them some of the time. Swift has played in 49 NFL games but has only 23 catches.

"He was a good match for us for now," head coach Jim Mora said of Swift. "We're still hunting, though."

And finally, in Miami. ... In an article published Monday, the Sporting News advised readers that in addition to his current off-field problems, Randy McMichael has let himself get out of shape.

That can't be good news for a team that -- other than McMichael -- boasts a roster totally devoid of receiving tight ends.