Jeff Howe notes Vince Wilfork, Leigh Bodden and Tully Banta-Cain look to back up their big contracts.
The Patriots, you may have heard, have developed a reputation for failing to pay their players once their contracts expire, but Wilfork, Bodden and Banta-Cain were locked up in one fell swoop. It's up to the trio to return the favor.
All three are hard workers who have remained dedicated to winning, and they've been training at Gillette Stadium with the rest of the Patriots throughout the majority of the offseason. They don't have the personality of people who would be satisfied with sitting on a contract, so that’s a good sign right off the bat.
Adam Caplan (Fox Sports) Training camp preview for every first-round pick.
27. Devin McCourty, CB, New England Inside Info: Most teams had a first-round grade on McCourty, but New England seemingly didn’t need another cornerback considering what they’ve done in recent drafts. But as a source familiar with head coach Bill Belichick’s thinking, McCourty might have been the most versatile defensive back available other than Eric Berry. McCourty’s also a very good special teams player, an area where Belichick puts a high premium.
Albert Breer examines when Wes Welker will hit the practice field again.
The first step comes before training camp, when the club has to decide whether to put him on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list or not. If the team doesn’t, Welker becomes ineligible to go on the regular-season PUP (which would take him out through Week 6), and the only way the team could save his roster spot is by putting him on IR.
So it would make sense for the club to play it safe, and put him on the PUP at the start of camp to leave that possibility open, until there some certainty on his health. Remember, the minute he starts practicing, he’s off the PUP.
LOCAL LINKS
- Ian Rapoport gets Bill Belichick's recommendation for some outstanding summer reading: Bill Walsh's Finding the Winning Edge.
- Jeff Howe asserts the Patriots can't afford poor play-calling from Bill O'Brien in 2010.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) The ACL factor. Players can come back the following year, but is the production guaranteed?
- Adam Schefter (ESPN) gives the latest news on Vincent Jackson, Michael Vick, Tom Brady and Brett Favre. (2.22 min. video)
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Brady's QB guru: Russell still has tools.
- Steve Corkran (Oakland Tribune) Former Oakland Raider JaMarcus Russell is arrested, charged with possession of a controlled substance.
- Aaron Wilson (Nat'l Football Post) Jets cross JaMarcus Russell off their list. Anyone surprised?
- Jason Cole (Yahoo! Sports) No sympathy for holdouts.
- Mike Wilkening (Pro Football Weekly) Six ingredients for banner free-agent period.
- NFL.com Photos from around the league.
- Dave Goldberg (NFL Fanhouse) Summer lockout could be only thing to save 2011 NFL season.
- Eli Kaberon (Pro Football Weekly) Offense: What does that term mean?
- Eli Kaberon (Pro Football Weekly) Defense: What does that term mean?
- Eli Kaberon (Pro Football Weekly) Special Teams: What does that term mean?
- Adam Caplan (Fox Sports) NFL veterans who need to step up.