New England Patriots Links 5/20/10 - Tyrone McKenzie Confident He Can Contribute

Karen Guregian says Tyrone McKenzie has kept his focus.

While McKenzie played inside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme in college, he seemed poised to make the adjustment to a 3-4. He said he’s put on about eight pounds, going from 240 to 248, and feels faster and stronger and has more "power when I bring the heat." He certainly wasn’t shy when describing what he’s going to be able to do to help the team.

"I’m very strong, I’m very fast. I have a lot of assets that are part of my game," said McKenzie, who is good to go with no restrictions and claimed he wouldn’t need to wear a brace on the surgically repaired knee. "You guys (the media) can fill in the blanks. I’ll give you plenty to write about. I just have to get on the field first."

As for what kind of linebacker he is, McKenzie wasn’t into labels because he can do just about anything.

"I’m more of a hybrid linebacker, to where I have the size, I have the height, I have the weight, but I have the speed too," he said. What he continues to be is an intriguing prospect, one whose intangibles jump out at you.

TEAM TALK

• Paul Perillo notes Patriots LB Tyrone McKenzie missed his entire rookie season with the torn ACL but he's as confident as ever.
• Gillette Stadium will host it's first college football games in 2010 and 2011 between UNH and UMass. Tickets to the general public will be available later this spring.

LOCAL LINKS

• Albert Breer reports the Patriots hosted free-agent Cory Procter on a visit Wednesday. Procter spent the last three years in Dallas as a steady backup at center and guard.
• Mike Reiss cleans out his Patriots notebook with a few interesting nuggets. One is that Matt Light enters the final year of his 6-year contract extension without it ever being adjusted.
• Albert Breer takes a crack at how the Patriots might look come September with a way-too-early 53-man roster projection.
• Tom E. Curran sees Tyrone McKenzie as an x-factor at linebacker for the Patriots.
• Christopher Price says Shawn Springs plans to take some time before deciding on next move.
• Tom E. Curran says "Soooorrrrryyyyy, Shawn...! If the locker room exchange between AD and Springs had nothing to do with the incident, it was ill-timed and unprofessional. If it was a direct reference to it, it was worse than that."
• Mike Reiss notes the camaraderie among Patriots cornerbacks.
• Ian Rapoport notes rookie WR Taylor Price can't show at OTAs until June 12th because he is subject to an NCAA/NFL rule that bars players from attending workouts while their school is in session. Ohio University's graduation is June 11th.
• Albert Breer notes the Patriots ranked 10th in the Forbes ranking of the world's most valuable sports brand.
• Ian Rapoport notes the cover of the State Senate Committee on Ways and Means budget features a quote from one William Stephen Belichick, Head coach of the New England Patriots:  "It is what it is." Ha.
• Jeff Howe sees the Patriots focused on adding quality character guys during the 2010 offseason.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Bill Price (NY Daily News) U.S. appeals court rules against Jets season-ticket holder in spygate lawsuit. Fans can protest by not buying tickets or NFL merchandise, but they have no right to seek damages in court.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Spygate lawsuit finally dies.  Here is the AP article.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) All hands on deck without Wes Welker.
• Bob Raissman (NY Daily News) Harrison Blind-Sided.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NBC ties keep Rodney Harrison off 'Inside the NFL'.
• Len Pasquarelli (ESPN) A high-stakes game of chicken. For the restricted free agents who refuse to sign tenders, cut in pay a real possibility.
• Ross Tucker (SI) Holdouts: Much ado about nothing.
• First coast News 12 Fred Taylor opens foundation in Jacksonville.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) NFL says Galea case "highlights the need for enhanced testing"
• Sally Jenkins (Washington Post) The Anthony Galea trial will force us to ask ourselves a difficult question: What's the difference between doping and therapy?
• Howard Bryant (ESPN) Anthony Galea thickens the steroids plot.
• Michael Lombardi (Nat'l Football Post) How coaches use team rankings.
• Dave Zirin (SI) DeMaurice Smith: Lockout looks inevitable.
• Jeff Darlington (Miami Herald) Dolphins' Brandon Marshall misses workout after 'routine procedure'.
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Time for concern in Miami with Marshall? Reports of hip surgery for WR raise soome questions.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Dolphins must install offense sans Marshall.
• Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) Did Cushing get a free pass for too long?
• NFL.com Top 10 teams to not win a Super Bowl. The '07 Pats finished the regular season undefeated, but were they the best team to not win it all? (3.52 min. video)