Mike Reiss spends a few minutes catching up with Dane Fletcher at Tedy Bruschi's eighth annual 'Tee Up With Tedy' Golf Tournament.
His approach this offseason. "It's a tough offseason in a way, especially because you don't know when we're going to be unlocked. My approach, along with a lot of guys I train with, is if the call comes tomorrow we're all ready. We're in shape and we're ready in a month [to play]. We're ready whenever this thing kicks off. When it does, it's on. That's what we hope for, and that's what we expect."
How he's handling the lockout. "So far, since I've been in an offseason already, I kind of understand the logistics behind it. I'm watching film with [Jerod] Mayo. We're doing about the same things that we would be doing if we weren't locked out. I'm prepared. We're all prepared. We watch film together. We still work. We run together. You get all the ingredients you need in there, and in the end, hopefully you have a fine mix."
Living with tight end Rob Gronkowski. "It's great. We eat healthy, we train hard together. It's all work when the work is due. I couldn't ask for a better roommate when it comes to that because we both compete on a daily basis, with everything, with food. He'll get a couple extra abs at night or something and I'll be like 'Dang, I'll do that.' It's being pushed all the time, to the maximum potential that you can be pushed. And we have some fun too. You have to enjoy life a little bit and have some fun. There is a fine balance."
Christopher Price catches up with Tedy Bruschi at his annual golf tournament at TPC Boston and hears his assessment of Jerod Mayo.
"He’s done things there in his short career with the Patriots that I wasn’t able to do until my eighth or ninth year or something like that. That’s how far along he is. That’s how good he is," Bruschi said of the 6-foot-1, 245-pound Mayo. "I never had the ability that he has — how fast he is, how big he is and strong. The sky is the limit for him. I truly see him being the best linebacker in the game within two years. I think that’s how good he is."
"No matter what defensive scheme they run," he added. "They’ll run some 3-4. They’ll run some 4-3 looks. And he can do it on a down-to-down basis. It’s very difficult to do, especially in that system — I know. The sky is the limit for him."
TEAM TALK
- NFLN (NFL.com) Experts' QB pick to win one game is nearly unanimous. Brady all the way baby!
- Jason La Canfora (NFLN) Minnesota welcomes league, players for labor negotiations.
- NFL.com Report: Positive things help QB guru Tom Martinez during uphill health battle.
- Patriots Today - Fletcher talks offseason work. (2.34 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Catching up with Ty Law. (1.32 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Michael Hurley reports Deion Branch promises fans "there will be football" in 2011.
- Christopher Price assesses Tedy Brushci's assertion that Jerod Mayo will be the best linebacker in the game within two years.
- Mike Reiss discusses Deion Branch's prediction that injuries could be on the rise when the lockout ends.
- Mike Reiss reports Ty Law will be honored tonight at the 10th annual Tradition, held at TD Banknorth Garden and picks three memories that stand out to him.
- Karen Guregian and Ian Rapoport catch up with a number of Patriots players to offer a snapshot of the bizarre 2011 offseason.
- ESPNBoston introduces fans to Assistant Video Director Fernando Neto who has been with the Patriots for 14 years.
-
Tom E. Curran meets up with 'One Clap' mashup creator DJ Steve Porter in his Holyoke, MA studio. (Plus 3.04 min. video clip).
NATIONAL NEWS
- John Millikan (Albany Herald) Joy of helping kids, sadness of NFL lockout on Deion Branch's mind at 6th annual football camp.
- Nate Davis (USA Today) NFL's best: Patrick Willis and the top 10 inside LBs of 2011. Jerod Mayo gets some love at number 4.
- Jason La Canfora and Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) Debate: Who is the best wide receiver of the 2000s?
- Top 100 (NFL.com) No. 65 Randy Moss, presented by Brian Billick. (4.58 min. video)
- Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Don't sleep on these NFL free-agent wide receivers.
- Andy Benoit (NY Times) Top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL.Tom Brady tops the list again.
- Jonathan Comey (Cold Hard Football Facts) The numbers that defined 2010: 111.0 and 109.8.
- Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Top 50 free agents: New rules could fill up deep pool.
- Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) "Me time" a lockout casualty.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Brees, Manning hope to avoid franchise tag in new CBA.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Report: League already shopping new Thursday night package.
- Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) Rookies urged not to make big purchase.
- Mike Freeman (CBS Sports) Dozens of incoming NFL rookies blowing an opportunity.
- Luis DeLoureiro (Cold Hard Football Facts) Monday Morning Waterboy: Grim picture for rising teams.
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Goodbye, T.O.?
LABOR LUNACY
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Report: Players met with antitrust lawyers on Monday.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Lawyers are trying to persuade players to stand firm.
- Jason La Canfora (NFLN) Minnesota welcomes league, players for labor negotiations.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Negotiations resume in Minnesota.
- Albert Breer (NFLN) Parties must reach resolution soon to preserve full preseason.
- Len Pasquarelli (Fox Sports) Bengals owner tones down CBA opposition.