Ian Rapoport notes BenJarvus Green-Ellis took advantage of an opportunity to fly with the Thunderbirds aboard a U.S. Air Force-owned F-16 fighter plane.
"This was a breathtaking experience," Green-Ellis told me yesterday. "Those F-16s are no joke. It’s like, wow. It was a tremendous honor and just to get in there and see what the military goes through, what they use when they’re fighting, that was just neat. … You go from zero to 500 miles an hour so fast, faster than any other thing you get on in this world. And it’s not like a regular plane where it gradually takes off. You go straight up in the air like a rocket ship."
Joe McDonald reports Claude Julien appreciates the support Bill Belichick has been giving the Bruins during their Stanley Cup run.
"What he’s done [by attending games] is reach out to us by doing what he’s done. I think coaches understand, and I would be the same way, I would never dare call him or any of those guys when they are in the playoffs, but I would certainly be there to show my support, which I did with the Patriots when it was time," Julien said.
"I’ve done it for the Red Sox, been there quite a few times. And I’m a big fan of those Boston teams, Celtics included, and I think it’s about showing support. You don’t need necessarily to talk unless somebody still needs to talk to you, and I’m sure if I reached out to him, he’d be more than willing to talk to me."
Jon Gold (BigLeadSports) NFL Rookies: Mowing the lawn, living at home, and saving money during the lockout.
"There’s one way I’m staying afloat right now, and that’s living at home," [Patriots rookie RB Shane] Vereen said at the NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles Friday. "Yes I am living at home, with moms and dad. It’s kind of weird coming back home from college. I really don’t like it that much. If we last any longer, I’m going to have to do something about it. I try to stay out of the house as much as possible, but I’m not trying to spend any money until I get it."
TEAM TALK
- Ask PFW: Free agency forecast.
- Patriots Today - Belichick and Staubach. (1.31 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Tom Brady on Moss trade. (1.13 min. clip)
- PFW in Progress - 5/24/11: In this edition, the PFW crew discusses free agents and the current status of the NFL lockout. (2 hour program)
LOCAL LINKS
- Greg A. Bedard reports the owners approve three rules changes all in the area of player safety.
- Greg A. Bedard reports the NFL wants teams accountable for on-field conduct.
- Mike Reiss posts some Belichick Buzz during the lockout: Showing support for Claude Julien's Bruins at the Garden Monday and attending an event with Cowboy's great Roger Staubach.
- Greg A. Bedard elaborates on the rule change concerning blows to the head of the QB from Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee.
- Christopher Price mentions the NFL's decision to cancel this year's rookie symposium, and the Patriots deep ties to the event over the years.
- Mike Reiss feels fining teams for flagrant hits is over the top. The game is already over-regulated and this just adds another layer to that.
- Ian Rapoport posts a cool pic of Benny in the cockpit of the F-16.
- Mike Reiss highlights Ty Warren's visit on ESPN's First Take this morning.
- Mike Reiss reports Tom Brady is again serving as honorary chairman of the 12th annual Audi Best Buddies Challenge on June 3-4.
- Tom E. Curran looks at the inside linebackers on the roster and which available free agents might fit well with the Patriots.
- Mike Reiss discusses Football Outsiders revisiting of the 2006 Branch deal.
- Jeff Howe thinks Bill Belichick knows how to play to a crowd and 19 other NFL thoughts.
- Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag.
- Jeff Howe notes Ryan Mallett was tweeting photos of tornados in the Texas-Arkansas region.
- Ron Borges reports Colts owner Jim Irsay sees the NFL in crisis, especially since the players refuse to negotiate. Borges makes sure readers know that the owners started it.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Would you prefer Jets or Pats 2010 season?
- Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) Owners approve new rule changes.
- Clark Judge (CBS Sports) Plan to fine teams targets Steelers for good reason.
- Jason Cole (Yahoo! Sports) Fine system on hits unlikely to deter Steelers.
- Mike Chappell (Indy Star) Colts QB Peyton Manning recovering from 2nd neck surgery.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL players not bashful about appearing on NFL Network.
- Sam Farmer (LA Times) For NFL rookies, football has become a game of haves versus have-nots: Do you have a playbook or not?
- Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Dancing with the divas: Weighing the risks, rewards with free agent wide receivers.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB Mailbag: Lockout testing limits of fans' tolerance, behavior.
- Doug Farrar (Yahoo! Sports) NFL slashes more employee salaries, raises replica jersey prices.
- Mike Freeman (CBS Sports) Black athletes should know better than to use slurs.
LABOR LUNACY
- Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) Four judges, two views, one law: Interpretation of Norris-LaGuardia Act sways future of NFL.
- Andrew Carter (So. Florida Sun-Sentinel) Channing Crowder says NFL lockout will hurt quality of play and some players will run out of money.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Jason Snelling wants negotiations to resume, now.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) David Akers tells De Smith he wants to get a deal done, too.
- John Czarnecki (Fox Sports) Stadium status influences owner stances. Will they cave?