Mike Rodak highlights Julian Edelman's recent appearance on NFL Total Access.
Playing with Tom Brady: "I'll tell you right now, Tom does it all. Watching him orchestrate a drive, or watching him lead the team, it's a thing of beauty. He works his tail off. It's not just football things you learn from him. You learn how to be a professional when you see Tom Brady. How to handle everyday life. How to deal with meetings, deal with the coaches, all that stuff. Tom's an unbelievable guy and he works his tail off for everything he is."
His offseason regimen: "I'm over at [Athletes' Performance Institute] in Carson, [California], working out with a bunch of guys with [trainer] Travelle Gaines. I'm treating it like it's our offseason back in Foxborough, but out here in [Los Angeles]. Staying physically ready for when this thing gets pulled up. Trying to look over notes and my playbook, occasionally talking to guys on the team. I go out there and work out every morning, after that I meet up with some QBs and catch some balls in the afternoon. After that I kind of relax and wait for these guys to get this stuff handled."
Working behind Wes Welker: "Like Brian's done with Tom, I've done with Wes. You just sit back and you watch these guys, and you pick them apart, you see everything they do and you try to add it to your game. I may not be getting all the reps in practice, but I'm getting a lot of mental reps that I'm taking and I'm watching one of the best do it. It's been a huge privilege for me watching this guy do his craft, learning from him, and taking some things from him, and using it to my own game."His long hair: "I just haven't cut my hair in a while. It's like a playoff beard, a lockout look. Lockout locks."
Ian Rapoport notes BenJarvus Green-Ellis gave rookie RBs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley a call after they were drafted, with some guidance.
"I congratulated them on getting drafted and made sure they’re working out. Because obviously, they’re the ones that are at a disadvantage. Not just those two guys, but all the rookies coming into the NFL right now."
"They don’t get to go through rookie passing camps and OTAs, and there are about 15 days of those," Green-Ellis continued. "And between 15 days of OTAs and three days of mini-camps, they are missing a lot of practice time where you get to learn a lot of the system. Obviously, things are going to be a little bit advanced for those guys — all the rookies coming in. So, I was just making sure those guys are working out, doing the things that they can do, that they can control right now. And that’s about all that we all can do."
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino and Paul Perillo debate the new Pittsburgh Steelers Rule.
- Andy Hart comments on Rex Ryan's recent admission of the "unbelievable amount of respect for Bill Belichick" he has.
- Patriots Today - Remembering fallen war heroes. (1.44 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Ridley Ready to run. (2.15 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Karen Guregian reports Leigh Bodden loves Belichick's drafting of Ras-I Dowling, saying in this pass-happy league, you can never have enough quality cornerbacks.
- Mike Reiss notes Julian Edelman talks about how players always have to be prepared for meetings because Belichick could give a pop quiz at any time.
- Christopher Price reports that many Patriots players have been working out at Bommaritos in South Florida including Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Fred Taylor, Darius butler and Marcus Stroud.
- Ian Rapoport highlights Julian Edelman's recent appearance on NFL Total Access.
- Tom E. Curran picks the brain of NFL Films savant Greg Cosell, who gushes about the matchup possibilities the Patriots tight ends uncover.
- Jeff Howe notes the Patriots will remember Marquis Hill on the four-year anniversary of his death.
- Greg A. Bedard reports Brandon Meriweather released a rap song through the Toucher & Rich show (98.5).
- The Boston Herald lists the fourteen Patriots players from last year's roster who are not presently signed.
- Christopher Price looks at possible free agent fits for the Patriots: WR Donte Stallworth.
- Jeff Howe challenges Roger Goodell to find actual facts and stop speaking for fans about 18-game schedule.
- Jeff Howe answers his weekly Patriots mailbag: Rob Gronkowski could reach Antonio Gates' level with better understanding of the game.
NATIONAL NEWS
- NFL Total Access (NFL.com) Do the Patriots have what it takes to reclaim the AFC East in 2011? WR Julian Edelman stops by to talk Pats football. (6.01 min. video)
- Matt Williamson (ESPN) Breaking down the tight ends: Patriots.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Little love for AFC East running backs.
- Pat Kirwan (NFL.com) Running the show: No surprises atop list of NFL's best RBs. BenJarvus Green-Ellis in the middle of the pack.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB: Chiefs, Rams players lend hand to tornado recovery effort in Joplin.
- Sid Saraf (Fox Sports) NFL's Top Ten most injury-prone players. Tom Brady at number 10? That's ridiculous.
- James Varney (Times-Picayune) New England Patriots DL and former LSU standout Marlon Favorite works with at-risk folks in Marrero, serving up hope.
- Matt Barrows (Sacramento Bee) Keeping score: How teams stack up in player-led workouts.
- Aaron Wilson (Nat'l Football Post) What will NFL do without rookie symposium?
- Mike Chappell (Indy Star) Irsay confident of long-term deal with Colts' Manning, but will use a 1-year tag if needed.
- David Wharton (LA Times) Why own a pro sports team?
- Fox Sports NFL players looking to break out next season.
- Fox Sports NFL's military men.
LABOR LUNACY
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) De Smith seeks leverage in threat of no union.
- Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) Rift opening up among NFL coaches.
- Sam farmer (LA Times) NFL owners have more time to consider than players do in labor matter.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) NFLCA chief: "I didn't do a good job at communicating."