New England Patriots Links 5/19/11 - Jarrad Page Turns To MMA Training; Mayo Leads Local Lockout Workouts

Ian Rapoport reports Patriots safety Jarrad Page has been heavily involved in MMA Athletics, training six days a week and turning into a beast.

"It’s really hard on you," the Patriots safety said, "but you’re not saying, ‘I can’t do it.’ We make it through it. The more you do it, the easier it gets to make it through an uncomfortable situation."

"Jarrad is the nicest guy in the world, but when practice starts, he’s really starting to find that other person," said [trainer Jay] Glazer, who doubles as an NFL reporter for Fox Sports. "We find their breaking point and push them past it. Jarrad Page is a beast now."

"You can never show your opponent you’re hurting," Page said, "even when they’re killing us."

"We work on arm drags, and on the football field, if someone is putting their hands on you, you can use your fist to get it off," Page said. "If you pound on a guy’s arm throughout the game, he’s not going to want to stick it out there."

"It’s about being explosive. It’s a lot of stuff you can relate to the field. It teaches you body control, helps put body parts exactly where you want to put them. Football is a violent sport. There’s no better training."

Much of the focus is mental, with breaking your opponent’s will and thriving in the fourth quarter as goals. How far has Page come? Glazer puts his charges through a crushing three-minute drill to try to break them, one that includes constant 30-second reps. Half of the athletes don’t last three minutes.

"Jarrad did eight minutes the other day," Glazer said. "He didn’t show any sign of slowing down. Jarrad Page thought he knew what he was capable of. You ought to see him now."

Tom E. Curran reports a bit more about the Patriots players' under-cover-off-season workouts under the guidance of trainer Brian McDonough in Foxboro.

"We're covering all the bases from a strength and conditioning standpoint," McDonough said. "We have a turf field, a 40-yard sandpit, everything under the sun for strength, a network of people around me providing yoga, physical therapy, pool work, massage, everything I need."

"It's a pretty big shift in what they're used to," he explained. "Paying for health insurance, paying for someone to train you as opposed to having someone pay you to work out. Their mindset seems to be, 'Let's control what is in front of us, what we can control. We'll be in the best shape possible and let everything fall as it will."

 "[Jerod Mayo is] one of the most pure leaders and respected people I've seen. Ever," McDonough said. "He's constantly communicating with them, holding everyone accountable. They all do, really. This group has a great dynamic."

Christopher Price notes Gary Guyton's reaction to Jerod Mayo making the NFL Network's Top 100 list:

"The only thing I know is that Jerod’s a great player. To me, he’s the No. 1 player in my eyes," Guyton said of Mayo. "He does great things. He’s a student of the game. I wish and I pray nothing but the best for him. He’s a good player and a good guy and a good person."

TEAM TALK

• Paul Perillo talks about rookie TE Lee Smith's rumored mean streak and how he'll fit with the Patriots.
• NFL.com Report: Belichick weighs smaller Pats playbook.
• Patriots Today - More from Nate Solder. (2.07 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss notes the Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony for QB Drew Bledsoe is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17 at Gillette Stadium.
• Ian Rapoport takes a look at what James Sanders and BenJarvus Green-Ellis have been up to recently, including twitpics.
• Ian Rapoport reports Leigh Bodden is spending the weekend giving back to the community as a star attraction for the annual "Team Behind The Teen" event in Washington, DC. (4.40 min. video). Cool.
• ESPN Boston offers its congratulations to Tedy Bruschi for reaching the 19,000-foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania along with his Wounded Warrior group.
• Ian Rapoport samples some of Vince Wilfork's secret homemade BBQ sauce and rub, declaring them both awesome and delicious.
• Ian Rapoport notes Bill Belichick isn't worried about how far along other teams may be, in terms of players-only workouts and questions their effectiveness.
• Barry Wilner (AP) Condensed playbooks becoming the norm as lockout continues.
• Christopher Price looks at possible free agent fits for the Patriots: WR Santana Moss.
• Michael Hurley reports Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen both beat Peyton Manning on Forbes' list of 100 most powerful celebrities.
• Michael Hurley posts a pic of Randy Moss buying video games in Virginia. Man is this a slow news day or what?!?

NATIONAL NEWS

• Tom Van Riper (Forbes Magazine) The highest-paid coaches in sports: With Phil Jackson retired, Bill Belichick rules the roost.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Belichick richest coach in big four sports.
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Why player organized workouts are over-hyped: These sessions can't replicate practice.
• Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Wondering if Wes Welker is headed for a "contractual mud wrestle".
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Offseason reset: Breaking down the linebacker market. Patriots listed as a top-5 linebacker-needy team.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Andy Reid: The longer the lockout, the worse the quality of play.
• Len Pasquarelli (Fox Sports) Fast money can crush NFL dreams.
• Jack Bechta (Nat'l Football Post) Twitter sense for NFL players: The dangers and dividends of going social.
• Alex Mayster (Pro Football Weekly) Who needs to brush up on their NFL rulebook?

LABOR LUNACY

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Shut down option likely will be officially shut down next week.
• Gary Graves (USA Today) NFL owners can build on this week's Court of Appeals decision.
• Michael Silver (Yahoo! Sports) Players' battle with owners not a lost cause.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Leverage game could include individual lawsuits.
• David Moore (Dallas Morning News) Jerry Jones message to sponsors: I didn't build a stadium not to play football.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Many players assume that labor dispute will be resolved by Week One.
• Eric Edholm (Pro Football Weekly) NFLPA document details NFL path to lockout.