New England Patriots Links 4/08/10 - Organized Team Activities Schedule Announced

Christopher Price lists the dates for the Patriots 'organized team activities':  May 24-27, June 1-4, June 7-8 and June 10-11.

The Patriots are scheduled to use 12 of the 14 practice days that have been allotted to them by the league. Each of the practices are to be voluntary and non-contact, and 90 or fewer minutes in length. The practices closed to the public, but it’s the first chance for the media to see the 2010 team together in a football setting.

Christopher Price reports four Patriots saw a boost in their base salaries, triggered by incentives in their contracts.

Two rookies saw a boost — tackle Sebastian Vollmer went from $395,000 to $420,000, a bump of $25,000, while cornerback Darius Butler went from $395,000 to $545,000, an increase of $150,000. Two veterans also benefited greatly, as safety Brandon McGowan went from $730,000 to $1,330,000 and defensive lineman Mike Wright moved from $1,200,000 to $2,125,000.

Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News) Draft overview.

Size could be the watchword in the first round of the 2010 draft. With only a small handful of worthy players at the skill positions (quarterback, running back, wide receiver), look for teams to focus on the offensive and defensive lines in the first 32 picks. Ends and pass rushers are always at a premium in the opening round, and tackle is the deepest defensive position on this draft board.

On the offensive side, the tackle board is heavy at the top. There could be two in the top 5, and as many as six in the first round. But it falls off dramatically from there. The interior offensive line, running back and quarterback boards also are thin. Tight end is the deepest position on the offensive side with the quality running deep into the fifth and sixth rounds. Also look for wide receiver to be a position of value and strength in the middle rounds.

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino says that 33-year-old QB Marc Bulger, recently released by the Rams, might fit the bill as a veteran back-up for the Patriots.
• Patriots.com offers six more pages of Draft prospect video highlight clips to keep us busy until the Draft.
• Patriots Today - Draft Preview: Tight End (5.08 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Christopher Price reports the Patriots hosted LB/DE Antonio Coleman (Auburn) for a pre-draft workout.
• Mike Reiss notes Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. identified DE/OLB Everson Griffen (So Cal) as a potential good fit for the Patriots.
• Christopher Price profiles DT Al Woods (Louisiana State) who reportedly had private workouts with the Patriots and Denver recently.
• Robert Lee profiles DE Everson Griffen (USC) as a potential first round pick for the Patriots.
• Ian Rapoport says ESPN guru Mel Kiper thinks Brandon Graham will be gone before the Patriots pick. If so they'll likely take the next best edge players, Sergio Kindle or Jerry Hughes.
• Ian Rapoport wonders if Belichick would select LB Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri) if he were still available at 22, because "this is a dude you'd have to think about taking."
• Mike Reiss ranks the best quarterbacks currently in the NFL. His top five in order are: Manning, Brady, Brees, Roethlisberger and Rodgers.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Vince Verhei (Football Outsiders) Four Downs: AFC East. Offseason analysis of the NFL, division by division.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Draft Watch: AFC East.
• NFLN Total Access AFC East Draft Grades: Warren Sapp says the Patriots have the highest draft grade over the last three years. Sapp and Sharper praise Belichick.  (2.59 min. video)
  
• Manish Mehta (Newark Star-Ledger) Veteran free agent Jason Taylor could sign with the Jets.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Taylor won't sign with Jets on the spot. Guess he had to go home and shower first.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Taylor's contempt for Jets on the record. An amusing compilation of Taylor quotes about the sucking, "dumb-ass" Jets and their fans "who take the 'c-l' out of class."
• Joe Fortenbaugh (Nat'l Football Post) Fireman Ed calls Jason Taylor a meathead. Man, is this a slow news week or what?!?
• John Clayton (ESPN) Taylor visits with the Jets. Clayton says that New England Patriots are also interested in Taylor, but that was last year.
• Steve Wyche (NFL.com) The Eagles, Patriots, Buccaneers and Browns have the most picks in this year's draft. They possess the flexibility to target who they want and do what it takes to get them.
• Andy Benoit (NY Times) Best Left Tackles in the NFL: The top 10 list.  Matt Light listed at number 8.
• Paul Domowitch (Philadelphia Daily News) Passing judgment: Our NFL QB rankings. The first five in order are Brees, Manning, Rivers, Brady and Rodgers.
• Gil Brandt (NFL.com) The Hot 100 prospects for the 2010 Draft.
• Dan Majors (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Police finish Big Ben investigation, send findings to DA.
• Don Banks (SI) Mock Draft 5.0. Pats pick DE/OLB Sergio Kindle (Texas) at number 22.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Kiper, McShay in another mockoff. Kiper has the Pats taking Sergio Kindle and McShay has them picking Everson Griffen.
• Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Mock Draft: 5.0. Pats take DT Dan Williams (Tennessee) in the first round. Second round included.
• Peter Schrager (Fox Sports) NFL Mock Draft: Version 5.0 has the Pats selecting Sergio Kindle at number 22.  Second and third rounds included too.
• Shutdown Corner (Yahoo! Sports) Mock Draft. Another vote for Kindle to the Pats.
• Chris Harry (NFL Fanhouse) JaMarcus Russell is the poster child for a rookie salary cap.