Ian Rapoport gets some lockout thoughts from Vince Wilfork who attended Matt Light's lockout breakfast yesterday morning.
"Still got a ways to go, but it is a positive," Wilfork said. "Hopefully we’ll be getting something done sooner rather than later. I think a lot of guys around the league miss football."
"I won’t head to Foxboro until everything’s over," Wilfork said. "I don’t think that’s the right play in this situation. I got everything I need down in Florida in my house."
"I tell my wife (Bianca) all the time that I could get used to retirement," Wilfork said, with a hint of a smile. "She just gives me a look like, ‘You’re crazy.’ That’s one of those things that does go through your mind. You never know how long this thing gets dragged out. Hopefully, it will be over soon and we can all be back to doing what we love."
"Hopefully, the owners don’t hold any grudges against the players and the players feel the same way (when it ends)," Wilfork said. "Because we’re all going to fight for one goal and that’s to win the championship. That’s what it’s all about."
Ian Rapoport talks with Logan Mankins about his situation, the lawsuit and the lockout.
"I think all the players needed guys to step up and do it," Mankins told the Herald. "I don’t know that everyone would do it if they had the opportunity. But I felt that, if it’s going to help out everyone in the NFL, then I would put my name on there."
"Nothing changes for me," said Mankins, who has mostly remained at home with his family.
This year, he won’t be heading to Foxboro for workouts because he hasn’t signed his franchise tag. It’s not clear if he will do so when a collective bargaining agreement is struck. Yet Mankins is rooting for the elimination of the franchise tag in negotiations.
"That would be nice," Mankins said with a smile. "Because I’ve heard there’s this thing in football called free agency. It’s been two years now and I haven’t seen it. Maybe one of these days I could actually experience that."
TEAM TALK
- Patriots Football Weekly writers unveil their 2011 NFL Mock Draft. Pats select DE Cameron Jordan (California) at 17 and OL Danny Watkins (Baylor) at 28.
- Erik Scalavino reports Matt Light's "Lockout Breakfast" turned into the "No More Lockout, Pending a Stay Breakfast".
- The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation and the Krafts announce an increase in the Community MVP awards grants, now totaling $100,000.
- Ask PFW: Drafting down the home stretch.
- Patriots All Access sneak preview: Draft thoughts from Coach Belichick. (1.38 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Light, others react to labor ruling. (4.36 min. video)
- PFW in Progress (4/26/11) - What moves could the Patriots make in the upcoming draft, the recent court ruling and more. (2 hour program)
LOCAL LINKS
- Ian Rapoport notes the Patriots are still searching for the next Seymour.
- Shalise Manza Young Patriots Notebook: Logan Mankins offers some thoughts about his situation; Matt Light expects a civil workplace once things get back to normal.
- Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag with this week's focus on the Patriots' plan heading into the draft.
- The Boston Herald says the Patriots' number one need is at Defensive end and offers five potential options for a five-technique end.
- Tedy Bruschi, Mike Reiss and Andy Hart discuss whether it's time for Patriots coach Bill Belichick to hire a defensive coordinator. (3.01 min. video)
- Mike Reiss highlights Tedy Bruschi's guest appearance on ESPNBoston radio yesterday.
- Karen Guregian sees DE Cameron Jordan (California) as a perfect fit for Belichick.
- Tom E. Curran and Mike Giardi look at outside linebackers in their video previews of possible Patriots draft picks. (2.13 min. video)
- Mike Reiss projects possible Patriots: RB Mark Ingram (Alabama)
- Christopher Price talks the NFL Draft with SB Nation's Brian Galliford and Joel Thorman.
- Tom E. Curran says players like Mark Ingram, Da'Quan Bowers and Nick Fairley could plunge down the draft board and wonders if the Patriots would take them if they fell.
- Christopher Price tells us what the Patriots look for when they draft a wide receiver.
- Brandon Lawrence looks into what Mock Drafts are saying the Patriots will do this weekend.
- Chad Finn ranks the Patriots' draft success stories throughout franchise history.
- The AP reports the NFL is in limbo as both sides are headed back to court.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Should Patriots trade up, down or out?
- Jeff Goldberg (Cold Hard Football facts) Naughty Nurse: Patriots have firepower & flaws.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Brady not unanimous Power Rankings pick.
- Football Fix (Nat'l Football Post) Inside the Patriots draft room (8 min. video)
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Peyton Manning admits to tanking baseline concussion tests.
- Jim Trotter (SI) NFL draft strategies haven't been affected with recent format change.
- Mike Mayock (NFL.com) Mark Ingram could slide out of first.
- Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Final stock watch: defensive risers.
- Peter Schrager (Fox Sports) Mock Draft: The 7-round edition.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB Tuesday Edition: Expect labor battle between NFL, players to last until 2012.
- Don Banks (SI) NFL labor stalemate likely to have adverse affect on undrafted players.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Roger Goodell positions himself as protector of the NFL draft.
LABOR LUNACY
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Ten things to know, right now, about the lockout ruling.
- Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) Courtroom football: players take early lead.
- Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) Lifting of NFL lockout creates crazy day.
- AP (SI) Players' union memo says free agents can shop their services.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Veterans told they can shop around, but teams aren't listening yet.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Players waste time by showing up.
- Alan S. Miller (Cold Hard Football Facts) Our legal expert: Injunction "good news for fans".
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) NFL: "We need a few days to sort this out."
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) League cites potential irreparable harm absent a stay.
- AP (NFL.com) Players cite harm to careers in filing to prevent lockout stay.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Players ask for $1 billion bond if stay is granted.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) DeMaurice Smith blames NFL for allowing chaos to occur.
- Joe Posnanski (SI) Goodell to the last drop.