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Report: Aaron Dobson 'Mouthed Off' To Josh McDaniels

BOSTON (CBS) - The Patriots are at the quarter pole of the 2014 season and second-year pro Aaron Dobson, the team's second round draft pick in 2013, has been a healthy scratch at wide receiver in three of the four games.

On Monday night, New England entered the game with just three receivers, which was curious and a mystery to say the least.

Kenbrell Thompkins also hasn't been getting a lot of play, which leaves us all wondering what exactly is going on there?

Well now we know, with Dobson at least.

Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe came on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich Thursday morning to talk about her latest report that Patriots wide receiver Aaron Dobson was benched against Oakland and Kansas City over a war of words with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

"The explanation I got last night is that Aaron Dobson mouthed off to Josh McDaniels before the Oakland game. That's why he's been inactive the last couple of weeks. Not a great relationship you could say at this point. I don't know what was said at this point, but whatever was said it warranted him being inactive the last few weeks," Shalise told T&R.

Dobson did get off to a slow start in training camp as he came back from offseason foot surgery, but Shalise insists it's not injury related.

"I haven't been told that he's hurt, and obviously he hasn't been listed on the injury report, so it's based mostly on that until I hear anything else."

This isn't the first, and certainly won't be the last time a Patriots player is disciplined, but Shalise wonders if another form of punishment -- rather than an outright benching -- would be beneficial, considering how the offense is lacking a player of Dobson's caliber and upside.

The Patriots are facing a 3-0 Bengals team on Sunday Night Football, and after a 41-14 drubbing at the hands of the Chiefs on Monday night, this Week 5 prime time game looks like an "all hands on deck" situation.

Will Dobson remain punished against Cincinnati?

"I don't know. What I wrote last night is the information I have at this time. I don't know. We'll see. Hopefully the punishment is lifted. They could use him. It is all hands on deck. You can't go into a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and because your pride is hurt sit a guy who in theory could help put points on the board. That's the point of the game right? To score points."

Shalise also explained how the shine is coming off Belichick's armor, and how we're witnessing the "beginning of the end" of Tom Brady in a Patriots uniform.

Listen below to the full discussion!

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