Matthew Slater talks about cut down time this week, the stress that comes with it and how he has handled it.

It's definitely a tough time because you know the reality is you have to get from a certain amount of players down to 53. What I learned early In my career is not to think about and just go out and continue to do my job and try to focus on what I had to do. Really, at the end of the day, if I put forth my best effort, that was all I could control. It’s tough worrying about things that you can’t control because it can consume you. I just learned not to play the numbers game and just go out and try to take advantage of each and every day that you have hear and hope for the best from there.

There’s a little bit of stress that comes with that, but I think every day around here is an up-tempo, tense day. We have to have sense of urgency every day around here because we have a lot of things to improve upon and a lot of things to get done. Obviously we understand what time of year it is and what happens, but that’s part of the game and we can't do anything about that to change it.

It is challenging and that’s one of the tougher parts of this game: you work alongside guys and guys come and go. We understand that that’s part of the business we signed up for, but that doesn't make it easy, by any means. It is a challenge to stay mentally strong through these times and move forward. But we have to realize the end goal and realize that we're privileged to be a part of this and it's very special and we’ve been blessed to be a part of this. We just have to take advantage of every day we have together and every day we have as a team to move forward.

Julian Benbow reports the Patriots have released DL Gerard Warren, S Josh Barrett and DB Ross Ventrone.

With injuries hindering him throughout training camp, hurting his chances of making the team, the Patriots released veteran defensive tackle Gerard Warren, along with defensive backs Josh Barrett and Ross Ventrone, on Sunday.

The deadline to trim rosters to 75 players is Monday at 4 p.m., and after making those subtractions the Patriots are at 82.

Teams will have to pare their rosters to 53 by Friday at 9 p.m., and the stress among the players in the locker room still fighting for spots — and the even ones who aren’t — is evident.

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino says New England should have mixed emotions following its 30-28 loss to Tampa Bay.
• Paul Perillo takes a stab at the Patriots final 53-man roster plus the 8-man practice squad.
• Conference Call Transcripts: Bill Belichick - Devin McCourty, Kyle Love, Julian Edelman & Matthew Slater.
• Patriots Today - Breaking down Pats-Bucs. (2.36 min. video)
• Locker Room Uncut - Brandon Lloyd and others react after Friday's loss. (2.08 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Field Yates gauges the mood of the locker room as players brace for roster cuts.
• Field Yates predicts which 10 players the Patriots will cut to get down to the 75-man limit this afternoon.
• Mike Rodak crafts his 53-man roster by using the game-day active list as a base.
• Paul Kenyon knows it's roster-trimming time and gives us his version of how the 53-man roster will shake out.
• Tom E. Curran has a list of players who could be looking for work later this week.
• Mark Farinella makes an educated guess about the makeup of the final 53-man roster.
• Mike Reiss identifies players with special teams value, that should be considered when it comes to forming a final 53-man roster.
• Karen Guregian ponders five topics after three preseason games. Nate Ebner is a sure tackler with excellent technique, and more.
• Mike Riess offers some insightful quick-hit weekend thoughts from the Patriots and around the NFL. Lots going on.
• Christopher Price lists five Patriots who are ending the preseason on a high note.
• Glen Farley says that with the final preseason game on the horizon, it's a fourth-and-long (way to go) situation for the Pats.
• Ron Borges assesses the Pats defense as hardly swagger-worthy. "Swagger? How about stagger?"
• Tom E. Curran sees CB Marquice Cole as one of the few bright spots from Friday night.
• Mike Reiss notes free agent pickup CB Marquice Cole is looking like a keeper - and for a bargain price too.
• Karen Guregian is pleasantly surprised Marquice Cole keeps making his case to make the roster.
• Mike Rodak analyzes what Nick McDonald's injury means for the O-line.
• Karen Guregian asserts the poor play of the offensive line is putting Tom Brady's health at risk.
• Tom E. Curran notes Tom Brady puts the blame on himself for a blown play that probably wasn't his fault.
• Paul Kenyon reports Stevan Ridley is focusing on pass protection, as he gets closer to becoming a lead running back in the NFL.
• Christopher Price tells us ten things we learned Friday: Stevan Ridley seizes command of the ground game.
• Karen Guregian notes Rob Gronkowski was too frustrated with the disappointing effort against the Bucs, to perform his customary spike after a TD.
• Karen Guregian finds Jeff Demps' first love is football, and his former teammates affirm his potential to make it in the NFL.
• Karen Guregian reports Julian Edelman says being a punt returner is more challenging than it looks.
• Tom E. Curran notes Bill Belichick was most irked most by the team's flat showing in Tampa.
• Field Yates is concerned that the Patriots failed to execute on three consecutive short-yardage runs against the Bucs.
• Mike Reiss details the O-line rotation Friday night and how Mankins was eased into the mix.
• Christopher Price tells us who is the favorite target of the passing game so far this preseason.
• Christopher Price tallies up which NE defenders have done the best job of getting after the QB through three preseason games.
• Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: By 4 p.m today, Bill Belichick will have trimmed the roster from 90 to 75; Pats employed a number of kick returners Friday night; Matthew Slater may get more attention from opponents this season since he made the Pro Bowl last year; Kyle Arrington's back spasms shouldn't keep him out for too long.

NATIONAL NEWS

• James Walker (ESPN) Walker's 2012 AFC East predictions.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) AFC East is struggling in the preseason.
• James Walker (ESPN) Over/Under: New England Patriots.
• Howard Ullman, AP (Yahoo! Sports) Pats need to improve offense in exhibition finale.
• Peter King (SI) MMQB - Future is now in Seattle, but Dolphins are playing for next year.
• Kerry J. Byrne (SI) A few records, milestones are set to be challenged in 2012.
• Ian Rapoport (NFL.com) Nine really random things and whatever else is going on around the NFL...
• Dan Pompei (Nat'l Football Post) Sunday Blitz: Why Luck is having a smooth NFL transition, NFL stars from the Olympics, and more.
• Doug Farrar (Yahoo! Sports) Replacement officials continue to make a mockery of the NFL.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Some officials getting on-field direction via ear pieces.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) NFLRA negotiator: NFL predetermined lockout for first month.