Eric Scalavino reports tight-lipped Jermaine Cunningham is just trying to get better.
"I’ve been here. Workouts have been good. This is where I’m playing so I might as well [stay here and train]."
In his first year as a Patriot, Cunningham started 11 of the 15 games in which he appeared, despite dealing with some nagging lower leg injuries. He insisted today that he’s healthy and looking forward to the 2011 season whenever the labor/lockout crisis is resolved.
"You just go like it’s the regular season. Try to get better," he concluded. "It’s going good, that’s all I can say, man."
Karen Guregian reports Nate Solder gave Logan Mankins a call after being given his number during his brief visit to Foxboro and Mankins helped him out. Then she speculates on why the Patriots gave him Logan's number.
"He seems like a great guy," Mankins said. "I gave him a little advice and tried to help him out the best I can. I’m looking forward to meeting him. He called me but I’m more than willing to help any young guy that needs anything. He’s in a tough situation right now with no coaches to talk to. He’s just trying to make it in this league and if I can help him I will."
So, although Mankins may have contract issues with the Patriots, he won’t turn away from a kid who really could use the help. Which brings us to the second question: Why did the Pats slip Solder the number of Mankins and not the number of someone on a little more solid footing with the organization? Is it possible that before the lockout the icy relationship between Mankins and ownership thawed a little? Were things on the mend? Might there be more money for a new long-term deal for the Pro Bowler if the Pats decided not to re-sign Matt Light [stats]? Solder, after all, makes Light expendable.
It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility.
Then again, maybe there’s nothing more to be read into this other than coach Bill Belichick wanting Solder to get advice from his best and most ferocious offensive lineman, a guy he wants his first-round draft pick to emulate. Maybe it’s as innocent as that, and Belichick rightly figured Mankins would be a big boy and help.
Ian Rapoport talks with Dane Fletcher about what the local player-organized workouts are like.
"It’s got a lot of everything," Fletcher said. "A little bit of on-field, a lot of off-field. We’re just trying to get every advantage we can right now."
"We don’t have playbooks right now," Fletcher said. "We try to catch up on film, a little bit. But it’s mostly getting your body ready, your body healthy for the year."
TEAM TALK
- Paul Perillo was on hand for Joe Andruzzi's third annual golf tournament at TPC Boston yesterday and had a chance to catch up with Logan Mankins.
- Paul Perillo and Eric Scalavino debate which Patriots rookie (aside from Nate Solder) will have the greatest immediate impact.
- Patriots Today - Andruzzi, Pats golf for a cause. (2.53 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Welker's football clinic. (3.03 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Let's take a tour [of the team's new website] (2.42 min. video)
- Patriots Roster Report - 5/20/11: The PFW crew breaks down the depth at RB with the addition of rookies Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley. (6.50 min. program)
LOCAL LINKS
- Ian Rapoport reports from the Joe Andruzzi and Friends Golf Tournament that was well attended by plenty of current and former Patriots along with several coaches.
- Mike Reiss posts some quick hits from the Joe Andruzzi Foundation golf tournament at TPC Boston.
- Ian Rapoport posts his video-of-the-day of former Patriots OL Joe Andruzzi sharing some of his wisdom. (4.10 min. clip)
- Tom E. Curran reports Logan Mankins says he's thought about signing a long-term deal with New England if the opportunity arises.
- Mark Farinella reports Logan Mankins is ready to play when the owners are.
- Ian Rapoport notes the Pats veterans plan on the draftees being behind when it comes time to play.
- Shalise Manza Young reports that with no offseason programs, rookies won't have had the usual amount of time to begin acclimating themselves to their new teams.
- Christopher Price writes that as the NFL lockout drags on, the rookies continue to lose precious time.
- Christopher Price notes Joe Andruzzi has a message for new Patriots OL Marcus Cannon.
- Marc Bertrand tweets a pic of the TD Garden big screen showing Bill Belichick waving a yellow Bruins towel at the game last night.
- Joe McDonald tweets "Belichick is voted as Fan of the Game and he gets the crowd going".
- Mike Reiss writes a terrific piece on Dane Fletcher, a surprise contributor in 2010.
- Mike Reiss says Ty Warren will appear on ESPN's "First Take" program this morning.
- Tom E. Curran looks at the outside linebackers on the roster and which available free agents might be a good fit for the Patriots.
- Ron Borges blasts the Cadillac Escalade-driving owners with as much vitriol and venom as he can spit through his fingers.
NATIONAL NEWS
-
Cris Collinsworth (Football Pros) Top 12 quarterbacks. Brady no. 1 baby.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Debating Peyton Manning's place among quarterbacks.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Logan Mankins sounds more open to staying with Patriots.
- Tedy Bruschi (ESPN) Bruschi's team completes climb up Kilimanjaro.
- Adam Schefter (ESPN) Source: NFL rookie symposium off.
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Is anything lost canceling the Rookie Symposium? An inside look at why the event often fails to reach players.
- Albert Breer (NFL.com) Owners talk business at spring meeting as lockout continues.
- Paul Kuharsky (ESPN) Simpler football doesn't mean worse play.
- John Clayton (ESPN) Defenses may start '11 season in a hole.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) ESPN book points to tension inside Monday Night Football.
- John Clayton (ESPN) Good deals are waiting to happen when the lockout ends.
- Fox Sports offers a photo gallery showing how NFL players have been keeping busy during the lockout.
- Vic Carucci (NFL.com) Talking would only hurt Manning's shot at record-setting deal.
- Manish Mehta (NY Daily News) Randy Moss may be an option for the Jets.
LABOR LUNACY
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) "True up" still represents the biggest issue between NFL and players.
- Clark Judge (CBS Sports) Now up on players, NFL urges negotiation out of courts.
- Lester Munson (ESPN) Dispatches from the NFL lockout fronts: Lawyers 10,000,000 - Fans 0.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Polamalu says players are fighting "big business".
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Minnesota court declines to delay league's deadline until July 6.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Jay Glazer pulls no punches when it comes to De Smith.