Mike Reiss offers his quick-hit thoughts from around the NFL.
Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said the following regarding the current makeup of the roster while speaking on the Patriots All-Access television show: "Twelve of the players we drafted last year, we’re still working with them. We added another 12 players [this year], so you’re almost talking about half of a 53-man roster. There is a little bit of retooling that takes place. I think every team goes through it at some point or another and we’re kind of going through that process now with the infusion of younger players and younger talent."
Mike Reiss highlights a few scenes from the Patriots draft room.
Anxious moments on trade up with the Raiders. There were anxious moments in the room when the Patriots were in the process of trading up in the second round, from 44 to 42, with the Raiders. Belichick looked concerned that the deal wouldn't get done in time as the team balanced three aspects of the deal: 1) Striking the trade with Oakland; 2) Reporting the trade to the league office; 3) Writing tight end Rob Gronkowski's name on the card. Folks in the Patriots' draft room implored their runners at draft headquarters in New York to sprint up with the card. It was learned later in the show that the Patriots got the card in with less than five seconds remaining. The team was nervous that the Ravens, picking at 43, were ready to pounce on Gronkowski.
Mike Reiss wraps up his thoughts after the second rookie practice.
A glimpse at what could make tight end Rob Gronkowski's presence unique. When a player is 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, it's a bit unusual to see him running down the middle of the field as a legitimate threat in the passing game. His home is supposed to be closer to the line of scrimmage. But in both practices Friday, it was hard to miss Gronkowski streaking down the middle of the field with what looked like some pretty good speed. There is a long way to go toward the regular season, and the 20-year-old Gronkowski was one of the youngest prospects in the draft, but this will be an element in the offense that could be fun to watch. One statistic of note from Gronkowski's career at Arizona is that 50 percent of his receptions went for 10 yards or more.
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino Quick Kicks: Rookie mini-camp, Friday afternoon notes.
- Erik Scalavino Quick Kicks: Rookie mini-camp Day 2 thoughts.
- Erik Scalavino On Day 2 of rookie mini-camp, OL John Wise talks about his decision to give football a second chance.
- Erik Scalavino Quick Kicks: Final rookie mini-camp thoughts.
- Wes Welker is hosting his second annual Old Spice Wes Welker Football Camp May 22-23 at Thayer Academy. Welker will be on site through both days.
- Patriots All Access - 5/01/10: Draft Recap Edition. (21 min. video) Worth the watch.
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Patriots Today - Rookie camp thoughts. (3.32 min. video), Brandon Spikes ready to help man the middle (3.08 min. video) and Recapping day one of rookie camp. (2.37 min. video)
- Interviews: Brandon Deaderick (2.23 min. video) and Zoltan Mesko (2.38 min. video).
LOCAL LINKS
- Tom E. Curran offers five thoughts from Pats rookie mini-camp. The first one is simple. "No jackasses."
- Christopher Price shares his notes from Friday afternoon's rookie camp practice.
- Robert Lee gets some of the rookies' reactions to being at rookie camp.
- Mike Reiss offers his thoughts from the third session of rookie minicamp. Brandon Spikes was beaten in a tackling drill in which offensive players attempt to get past defenders within a tight box bordered by orange cones. Unhappy with the result, Spikes pushed the next defender aside and went through the drill again.
- Christopher Price offers his thoughts at the end of two days of Pats rookie camp.
- Mike Reiss offers his observations from the Patriots 4th and final rookie practice.
- Ian Rapoport reports TE Alge Crumpler is slated to show up at offseason workouts at Gillette today.
- Mike Reiss reports Fred Taylor arrived in Foxboro this morning.
- Robert Lee notes Brandon Spikes expects to be a force at linebacker for the Patriots.
- Karen Guregian reports Jermaine Cunningham is modest when talking about his abilities, but he plays hard on the field.
- Ian Rapoport reports WR Taylor Price has already discovered the value and necessity of studying. "There's no way you don't study and then come out and be able to execute."
- Mike Reiss reports newly signed Patriots WR Buddy Farnham was the 2009 Ivy League player of the year, and earned the 71st annual George Bulger Lowe Award, "New England’s Heisman Trophy."
- Robert Lee focuses on former Brown standout WR Buddy Farnham. Of the 26 players participating in the two-day rookie camp, he was one of 22 that made it all the way through.
- Karen Guregian brings us up to date on the playing career of 31 year old DL Gerard Warren, who figures to be part of the rotation to replace Richard Seymour.
- Ian Rapoport notes no one can question Brandon Deaderick's toughness.
- Monique Walker says Brandon Deaderick is prepared to learn the defense the way the Patriots run it.
- Karen Guregian notes the protective shield the Patriots have used around rookie Aaron Hernandez so far.
- Christopher Price looks to see the the Patriots improve their sub-par special teams play this year with the addition of McCourty and Mesko.
- Robert Lee details Zoltan Mesko's journey from Romania to Foxboro.
- Shalise Manza Young catches up with new fan favorite Zoltan Mesko. "I want to help the Patriots win and keep continue winning...I'm all team-team-team."
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Mike Reiss notes that as the only running back in camp, Pat Paschall was getting the full and aggressive attention of position coach Ivan Fears.
- Robert Lee focuses on QB Zac Robinson, a mobile rookie looking to be Brady's backup.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Adam Schein (Fox Sports) Spotlight on the AFC East, which could have a trio of playoff teams.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB: Vicodin case could have dire consequences for Saints.
- ESPN Preseason Power Rankings. Pats at number 9.
- Ross Tucker (SI) Jets playing with fire by messing with their run game.
- Vic Carucci (NFL.com) Increasing role of tight end reflected in 2010 NFL Draft.
- Mike Triplett (Times-Picayune) New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton denies he ever abused or stole any pain medication.
- Sean Leahy (USA Today) Saints' Sean Payton denies wrongdoing after ex-employee accuses club of drug cover-up.