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Ian Rapoport highlights Jerod Mayo's guest appearance on WEEI this week.
On following the lockout news: "I was living and dying with it. It’s like an emotional rollercoaster, pretty much. At the end of the day, I’m just waiting for the big news, here with my teammates working out and things like that. I’m not really a die-hard watcher right now. I’m kinda drained from the emotional rollercoaster we’ve taken along the way."
On if it will be different when the players return to their stadiums: "I can only speak for the Patriots and after keeping in touch with the rest of my teammates, guys are really working hard and things like that. But at the end of the day, you won’t know the kind of shape guys are in until they come to Foxboro. I think, when a deal finally does get done, you have to take a look at what kind of shape guys are in and proceed like that."
On the praise from Bill Belichick on the NFL Network: "That’s not the norm at all. Anybody who knows Bill Belichick knows it’s kinda hard to get compliments like that. I’m gonna save those, post them on my wall, but at the end of the day, I gotta go out and get better."
On the younger players not really having an offseason: "To be honest, I think it sets them back a little bit. I know I learned a lot coming in a rookie just being with the older guys, not only being with Coach (Matt) Patricia, but just being with the (Tedy) Bruschis and Mike Vrabels and things like that, and learning how to play football, how to be professional on and off the field and those guys really showed me how to break down film and doing things like that during the offseason, watching the previous year. Even though you’re a rookie, you still watch the previous year. Just doing things like that, you really learn a lot about the system, you learn a lot about your teammates. Just the overall camaraderie is kinda missing right now. But at the end of the day, it’s going to be a crash course when those guys get here, because the time puts them behind the 8-ball a little bit."
On the Patriots being self-starters: "I think we’re close to the top, to be honest with you. Coach Belichick really instills that work ethic when you’re a rookie coming in, so you have to learn the Patriot Way. The Patriot Way is do the right thing when no one’s looking. Got to have that mental toughness like that. And for the most part, this team has that. Unfortunately, not having the rookies in here, they’re going to have to follow the leaders, but those guys have been doing an excellent job of that as well."
On 2nd-year players ready to make the leap: "We have a lot of good young players, a lot of players that are working hard. I got to say, the linebacker group, I’ll go with Jermaine (Cunningham) and (Brandon) Spikes and even (Dane) Fletcher. That group of young linebackers, they came in… I know you guys will say, ‘Of course, you’ll say the linebacker group,’ but those guys came in and they learned the system and have been working hard ever since."
On Belichick not drafting an edge rusher early: "What does it say about the group of guys we have there? It says a lot. I always like when Coach Belichick makes decisions like that. It shows the trust he has in us. The same thing that happened with the Colts game. — How come Bill didn’t punt the ball? It just shows the trust that he has in his system and his players. I take it as a compliment."
TEAM TALK
- The Kraft family and Patriots Charitable Foundation exceed $200,000 fundraising goal for Massachusetts.
- Patriots Today - Tornado relief fund goal exceeded (1.48 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Tom E. Curran reports Jerod Mayo thinks the Pats' collective work ethic should put them in solid position when the lockout ends.
- Tom E. Curran says that Belichick's decision not to draft a pass-rusher speaks volumes to the players on the roster about the faith Belichick has in them.
- Ian Rapoport checks up on Jerod Mayo's brother Deron, who's an undrafted free agent just hoping for the lockout to end.
- Paul Kenyon thinks the Patriots will be in excellent position to better themselves through free agency.
- Mike Rodak looks at free agents who could be a solid fit for the Patriots this year: Vikings DE/OLB Ray Edwards.
- ESPNBoston introduces fans to Director of Pro Personnel Jason Licht, with the Patriots for 7 years.
- Christopher Price tweets a classic Sports Illustrated cover picture of Kevin Faulk at LSU. He's one Patriot I'm really going to miss when he retires.
NATIONAL NEWS
- NFL.com QB2K: Debating the usual suspects (Brady, Manning) as always. Willie McGinest makes the case for Tom Brady.
- Luis Deloureiro (Cold Hard Football Facts) Quantifying INTs.
- Jonathan Comey (Cold Hard Football Facts) The numbers that defined 2010: 1,448.
- John Clayton (ESPN) Year of the RB? Hold that thought.
- Jay Clemons (Nat'l Football Post) How I spent my lockout-imposed vacation.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Fabric of the game does big business.
- Jack Bechta (Nat'l Football Post) NFL owners can learn from Mark Cuban.
- Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Covering the lockout: 101.
- Nate Davis (USA Today) Potential NFL free agents wait to learn how free they will be.
- Josh Katzowitz (CBS Sports) Who we want to see on Hard Knocks '11.
LABOR LUNACY
- Don Banks (SI) With the labor negotiations 'at the 5-yard line,' can NFL punch it in?
- Albert Breer (NFLN) Lawyers work on labor deal; owners, players to join Thursday.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Lawyers put in nearly 11 hours on Wednesday.
- Mike Freeman (CBS Sports) 'Closest it has been...'
- Michael McCann (SI) Lawsuit filed by retired NFL players likely won't slow CBA negotiations.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Retired players' complaint takes aim at Drew Brees.
- Staff (Pro Football Weekly) Judge Boylan's vacation looms as Wednesday talks wrap up.
- Matthew Spina (Buffalo News) Schneiderman opens NFL lockout probe. Case eyes violation of antitrust law.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) New York attorney general probes NFL lockout.
- Gary Mihoces (USA Today) Lockout resolution could come in multiple forms.
- Will Brinson (CBS Sports) 7 questions to ask for the labor home stretch.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Diving into post lockout dynamics. Rich Eisen joins PFT Live. (4.13 min. video)