Ian Rapoport notes Dane Fletcher has been taking this offseason seriously, bulking up with "good weight" and hoping for a bigger role.
"I put on a few pounds," Fletcher told me. "Good weight. Cut a little bit of fat, put on some good weight. I weigh about 248."
"I wanted to put on some more weight and I wanted to keep my speed and agility," he said. "I got here and I trained and really got critical about my nutrition, more than anything. So, I’d say I take the NFL a lot more seriously in the offseason. Just pay attention to my nutrition and I lift every day like crazy. That’s what you get."
"My role compared to last year at this point has changed completely," Fletcher said. "Now, I’m trying to fit myself into a position at inside linebacker and I know I’ve played there quite a bit in the past season. Now, I’m just trying to get in as much as possible and also stay true with my special teams work."
Mike Reiss highlights first-year DL Marcus Stroud's guest appearance on Sirius XM NFL Radio, joined by Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan on the "Movin' the Chains" program.
On the NFL’s labor front: "I think everybody is going to get back to work on time. I think both sides have realized that you have to put the egos aside and do what’s going to be best for both sides of the game. I definitely don’t think we’d miss any regular-season games."
Bill Belichick’s sales job on joining the Patriots: "He told me they’d like to have to have me up there and he felt I could come in and help in the role I was going to play. I felt it will be a good fit for me and I definitely think I could fit in and do the things they want me to do."
How much is left in those legs after 10 seasons: "I think I have some gas left in the legs. I’m a pretty young guy [32] who takes pretty good care of himself. I think I have a lot of gas left in the tank. I’m not going to be one of those guys who keeps holding on and kicking the tires until they’re bald-headed. I still feel like I have some [tread] left on these."
On playing with Tom Brady: "That’s the excitement I have. I know how it’s like to prepare for this guy; we were playing against him twice a year. To have a quarterback of that caliber on your team, week in and week out, that gives you the chance … There is like a 70 percent chance, you give this guy the ball, he’s going to put points on the board. You want to go out and play, and do well on this type of team."
Thoughts on joining the Patriots: "I’m just happy to kind of be back up under some of that tough, in-your-face, kick-you-in-the-butt type of coaching. Something like I had my rookie year with Coach [Tom] Coughlin. I think it’s going to be something like that. I’m kind of prepared for it. I’m definitely excited and want to do things the ‘Patriots Way’, and to see how the ‘Patriots Way’ works, because there has to be something about it. It’s been successful for this long."
With the Patriots averaging 28 points per game, the opportunity to rush the passer: "Hopefully ‘Streamlined’ Stroud can get a few sacks [laughing]."
TEAM TALK
- NFL Network's Top 100: Vince Wilfork (3.37 min. video)
- Top 100: Vince Wilfork joins the "Top 100 Reaction Show" to give his take on his ranking. (4.33 min. video)
- Patriots Roster Report - 6/10/11: The PFW crew breaks down the current depth at the TE position and how rookie Lee Smith will fit in. (8.42 min. program)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss reports Tedy Bruschi spilled the Patriots media rules on ESPN's NFL Live.
- Ian rapoport posts a video of Jermaine Cunningham visiting a free camp for children in Roxbury. (3.14 min.)
- Mike Rodak notes Bill Belichick spoke at a Pershing INSITE conference in Hollywood, Florida, recently, applying his experiences to counsel financial advisors.
- Mike Reiss polls his readers on who they think is the best safety on the Patriots.
- Christopher Price looks at free-agent possibilities for the Patriots: DE Marcus Spears.
- Christopher Price notes veteran LB Keith Bulluck expressed an interest in playing for the Patriots.
- Mark Shanahan and Meredith Goldstein report Tom Brady canceled a cameo in the Adam Sandler comedy, "I Hate You, Dad." Word is he'll be replaced by Rex Ryan.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Ball carriers had it tough against AFC East.
- Eli Kaberon (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots of 2007, Heat faced similar fan obstacles.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Another sign that Patriots-Mankins relationship is thawing.
- Ohm Youngmisuk (ESPNNY) Belichick reminisces about '86 Giants.
- Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) The 10 worst games of 2010. Week 13: Jets at Patriots, and Week 1: Bengals at Patriots.
- MattRichWarren (Buffalo Rumblings) The 24th-worst moment in Buffalo Bills history is the current losing streak to the New England Patriots.
- Clark Judge (CBS Sports) Sure things: Ten developments you can book now.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Pick one: Burress, Moss, Ochocinco or T.O.
- Jason Cole (Yahoo! Sports) Expect injury totals to rise following lockout.
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Three routes you must stop to win in the NFL.
- Fox Sports Here's what not to do during the NFL lockout.
- Elizabeth Merrill (ESPN) NFL replacements part of history.
- Michael Lombardi (NFL.com) NFL teams should learn from NBA-champion Mavericks.
LABOR LUNACY
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) June 21 emerges as a potentially key date in labor talks.
- John Clayton (ESPN) How will things work post-lockout?
- Doug Farrar (Yahoo! Sports) Lockout update: Actual, documented reasons for optimism are popping up everywhere these days.
- Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) Hope floats? Meetings continue, Doty waits, player contact, Mark Cuban.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) De Smith's contract expires in March 2012.
- Paul Daugherty (SI) 'Bored, anxious' players optimistic during unorganized team activities.