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Ponderous thoughts I was pondering while watching the U.S. women's basketball team kick some serious Australian butt during the gold medal game early Saturday:

**OK, I keep hearing all of the reassuring reminders that "it's only a preseason game." I've even used the same phrase myself to comfort those who might otherwise be tempted to jump off an overpass into rush-hour traffic over the Patriots' failures to not only win a game thus far this preseason, but also look as if they're capable of doing so.

"It's not about the score," cornerback Ellis Hobbs said after the 27-17 loss to the Eagles Friday night. "That's what the preseason is not about. It's about the effort, guys having the desire to basically make the team - everybody."

Maybe so, but I'm not sure I'm seeing the effort at every position group - and if I am, then it's clearly not enough to sustain the team entering the regular season.

The quarterbacking has improved over three weeks without Tom Brady, who remained under lock and key (and probably under armed guard) at an undisclosed location while his teammates were playing their third exhibition game. But that "improvement" has gone from "absolutely terrible" to a point where maybe one of the three backups might be able to beat the Oakland Raiders with a little luck. Right now, if I were the man making the decisions, I'd ditch Matt Cassel, maybe keep Matt Gutierrez and Kevin O'Connell, and be keeping an eye on the waiver wire for an experienced journeyman who could back up Brady in a pinch.

The offensive line continues to be a source of concern. Matt Light's still out for mysterious reasons, Stephen Neal probably won't be seen for another eight weeks, and the remaining backups - those who are healthy enough to play - have been pushed all over the field by the three teams they've faced.

Ditto the defensive line, supposedly one of the best in the business. That group got no push and no pressure whatsoever against the Eagles. The run defense in general looked suspect, too, until the Patriots pulled Rodney Harrison (who's now a liability in pass coverage) and John Lynch up practically to the line of scrimmage in run support.

The defensive backs? They're playing way too far off their receivers. Wasn't Dom Capers supposed to straighten that out?

The receivers? Randy Moss looks unresponsive without Brady throwing the ball. Wes Welker got hurt returning a kick. Chad Jackson is still a crap shoot, although he turned in a nice TD catch Friday.

The running backs? Someone please wake up Laurence Maroney and tell him that on the New England Patriots, everyone has to put in an effort during training camp.

The tight ends? Awful. Russ Francis could crack this lineup now, at age 55.

Even punter Chris Hanson caught a spirited tongue-lashing from Bill Belichick for punting the ball to Eagles' rookie DeSean Jackson in the final minute of the first half, resulting in a 76-yard return for a score.

About the only Patriot who's done nothing to warrant scorn through three games was the kid in whom Belichick had no confidence in Super Bowl XLII, kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who's 5-for-5 in field goals thus far.

Yes, I know it's only preseason. But there's not much of it left - usually, none of the veterans play much in the finale - and I wouldn't be surprised if Belichick pulls a reversal of form and throws the first units against the Giants in the Meadowlands Thursday night because they've played so poorly up to this point. Risky, yes - but it may be necessary. Simply stated, the Patriots have shown nothing to date.

**As a long-time fan of women's basketball and an individual who has devoted more than 30 years of his life to promoting the sport's advancement and growth, allow me to add my congratulations to the United States women's Olympic team, which earned its fourth straight gold medal Saturday by way of a 92-65 victory over Australia.

The triumph was the fourth for U.S. center Lisa Leslie, who finished her career undefeated in Olympic competition dating back to the 1996 Atlanta games.

It's a great team of talented athletes, some who've seemingly been around forever, like Leslie and former Ohio State standout Katie Smith, whom I saw play as a freshman against Sarah Behn's Boston College team. They've meshed nicely with the dominant players of more recent times, such as Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Candace Parker.

Saturday, the U.S. team's incredible depth came into play when Taurasi and Leslie got into quick foul trouble. Kara Lawson led the U.S. with 15 points, Parker added 14, and Sylvia Fowles added 13 as the American reserves outscored Australia's 59-11.

While we're at it, let's give props to the Australian women, led by the incomparable Lauren Jackson. They take their basketball seriously Down Under, the Opals are beloved from one end of the country to the other, and they wear the greatest uniforms in all of women's basketball. This team was assembled early in the process with the singular goal of beating the Americans, many of the players leaving their WNBA teams or other pro squads early to mesh, and had the best shot of anyone to do it. But they just don't have the pool of outstanding players to draw upon when it comes to players 6-10 on the bench - and that's why, for the third straight time in Olympic competition, the Opals wore silver around their necks instead of gold.

Jackson tried her best to rally Australia in the third quarter, but the 6-foot-5 star couldn't do it herself. Australia got no closer than 12 points, fading when U.S. coach Anne Donovan brought back her starters to apply the crushing blow at the start of the fourth quarter. Jackson finished with a game-high 20 points to lead Australia.

Great basketball from two great teams - and something worth emulating by today's younger players.

**I've been lax in reporting the outcome of something I first raised both in this column, and in one of my episodes of "The Blog Show," my official video blog that can be found at www.thesunchronicle.com/farinella.

Some time back, I asked for help in finding a place where my Wilson A2000 baseball glove (purchased in 1972) could be re-laced. I got several good suggestions and recommendations, but it was our photographer, Tom Maguire, who suggested that I take the glove to Footworks on Pleasant Street in Attleboro, across from McDonald's.

They don't do the work there, but they enlist the services of Bob Fredette, who used to work at the Attleboro YMCA and re-laces gloves as sort of a hobby. I brought the glove over in the morning and by the end of the day, I had my beloved A2000 back, looking and feeling like new with fresh laces in place.

A little glove oil, and that wonderful hunk of leather (which cost $89 in 1972, but today's equivalent would go for $329) was back in action, snaring errant throws out of the air with ease and making me look a lot better at it than I really am. Many thanks to Bob Fredette and the folks at Footworks - whom, I've noticed, now advertise their glove-lacing services on their sign.

**Speaking of "The Blog Show," be sure to check out Episode 8 and Episode 9, Parts 1 and 2, pertaining to my video coverage of last weekend's Attleboro Area Golf Association Championship Tournament. The second part of the final-round coverage isn't up yet, but it should be by the end of this weekend. Just go to the blog's entry portal (you'll find the address immediately below) and scroll down until you find them. And please, no suggestions that we replace the host. Nobody else wants the job ...

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com. Read Farinella's blog, "Blogging Fearlessly," at thesunchronicle.com/farinella.