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Tom E. Curran points out a couple of nuggets from Dan Koppen's interview with the media.
He looks slimmer and, after an injury-scarred 2009, says he feels "good". Of the injuries, he said, "No one is healthy in this league past day one of training camp. There's a difference between if you're injured or you're hurt. If you're hurt, you can play through it and you don't use those things as excuses. I was good enough to go and if I wasn't good enough to go at certain points ... I know I could take myself out of that situation where I'd be a hinder to the team and I'd never want to do that. Health-wise last year, I was good to go."
Karen Guregian catches up with former Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe, who still keeps tabs on the Pats, coach Bill Belichick and the team.
"I still consider myself a Patriot," Bledsoe said. "It’s cool to see that they’ve taken what . . . I felt like when I got here, I left it better than it was when I started, and I feel they’ve picked up from where I’ve left, and they’ve made it better than it was when I left. It’s cool to see that tradition of excellence continuing on."
"That’s such a cool building," Bledsoe said [after touring the Patriots Hall of Fame]. "Our kids are getting old enough now, we need to get them back here, so they can check some of this stuff out. They’ll have a lot of fun when they get to come back for that stuff. It’s really cool."
Ian Rapoport gets Drew Bledsoe's thought's on Julian Edelman wearing number 11.
"It looks like he’s a really good player, so it’s cool," Bledsoe told Karen Guregian and I yesterday. "It looks like he plays hard and hustles. That’s good. Maybe people can get their (No.) 11 jerseys back out and wear them and support him."
When it came time for it to reappear, owner Robert Kraft called Bledsoe as a courtesy to let him know someone would be wearing it again. Bledsoe was cool with it.
TEAM TALK
- Patriots Today - Dan Koppen at Gillette Stadium. (9.20 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss reports Adam Schefter said veteran LB/DE Derrick Burgess agreed to a one-year contract with the Patriots this morning.
- Shalise Manza Young thinks the Pats re-signing of Derrick Burgess could shore up the an area of need for the Patriots: pass rush.
- Mike Reiss details RB Chris Taylor's contract with the Patriots as a one-year pact with a base salary of $470,000. He brings the team's roster number to 89.
- Ian Rapoport notes Tom Brady's teammates have his back, with Dan Koppen talking about how a mentally tough team can work through the issue of losing a lead on the road.
- Mike Reiss offers some quick hits from Dan Koppen's Q&A with the media.
- Tom E. Curran offers a few highlights from Dan Koppen's Thursday interview.
- Tom E. Curran notes Tom Brady being elsewhere is just fine with Dan Koppen.
- Mike Reiss notes Wes Welker appeared on 98.5 The Sports Hub and sounded optimistic about his rehabilitation.
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Christopher Price reports Wes Welker is prepared to return the minute he feels he is ready. Welker is also looking forward to fully participating in his football camp at Thayer Acadamy May 22-23.
- Mike Reiss offers the transcript of his weekly online chat. Terrific insight here as usual.
- Jeff Howe contends New England is still a premier landing spot for free agents despite the lack of recent Super Bowl success.
- Mike Reiss attempts to project what the Patriots' next personnel move might be, noting the outside linebacker position is still not solid.
- Shalise Manza Young reports ex-Patriot Corey Dillon will not face abuse charges following his arrest earlier this month.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) AFC East stock watch. Adalius Thomas falling, Brandon Tate rising. Sounds about right.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Reaction to Cushing verdict.
- Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) Why we should not take Cushing's word. He's full of it.
- Don Banks (SI) View from pilot seat; Tannenbaum directs the Jets' busy offseason.
- Jason La Canfora (NFL.com) Early picks: Five teams appear on track to win a second consecutive division title next season, but three upstarts could crash the party.