New England Patriots Links 3/03/14 - Dobson Back in Foxboro for Workouts, Stress-Fracture Checkup

TEAM TALK

• Andy Hart and Paul Perillo debate which player is most worthy of the No. 1 selection in the Draft.
• The New England Patriots have announced the release of S Steve Gregory.
• Patriots Today - Rich Gannon shares his thoughts. (3.30 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Ryan, Harmon reflect on last year. (4.44 min. video)
• From the NFL - Andre Tippett wired. (2.18 min. video)
• Patriots Roster Report (2/28/14) - The PFW crew breaks down the latest post-Combine news surrounding the team. (11.52 min. program)

LOCAL LINKS

• Jeff Howe reports Aaron Dobson is hoping the stress fracture in his foot won't need surgery so he can be ready for the April 23rd start of the Pats' offseason program.
• Mike Reiss offers some quick-hit weekend thoughts from the Patriots and around the NFL: Steve Gregory's contributions helped the Patriots tighten up in the deep passing game.
• Christopher Price posts his Sunday NFL notes: Steve Gregory's departure should open the door for more work for LB Jamie Collins.
• Field Yates reports that in their first cost-cutting move before the new league year, New England released safety Steve Gregory on Friday.
• Mike Reiss shares some thoughts on the Steve Gregory release and why the Patriots didn't approach him for a pay cut.
• Christopher Price shares his thoughts on the Pats' decision to cut Steve Gregory.
• Christopher Price offers three thoughts on the Seahawks release of Red Bryant and how it relates to the Patriots.
• Nick Underhill compares cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Darrelle Revis.
• Karen Guregian talks about the back-up quarterback plan.
• Tom E. Curran would not bet on Amendola being traded.
• Mike Reiss looks at the Patriots' cap space vs. the rest of the NFL.
• Christopher Price offers a quick primer on the 2014 salary cap.
• Zuri Berry reports Jonathan Kraft participated in a panel session at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. He talked about Brady, Welker's contract and more.
• Zuri Berry notes that wearable technology is the new big thing among sports teams today.
• Christopher Price posts an upcoming list of notable Pro Days.
• The Providence Journal announced former Pro Bowl OL Dan Koppen has accepted a volunteer coaching job at Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick.
• Erik Frenz mocks his first draft of 2014 for all rounds. Pats pick DT Ra'shede Hageman (Minnesota) at 29.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Jonathan Kraft: Wes Welker's agent had unrealistic expectations.
• Lorenzo Reyes (USA Today) Five running backs who need to step up in 2014. Stevan Ridley makes the list.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Patriots' Alfonzo Dennard reports to jail, expected to serve 35 days.
• Peter King (The MMQB) MMQB: Legislating language: Will the NFL ban the N-word? The Competition Committee has been meeting in Florida since Friday.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Franchise tag numbers for 2014 are set.
• Howard Balzer (Yahoo! Sports) NFL franchise season to open with a bang.
• Kevin Seifert (ESPN) Cap space based on $132M: Team-by-team chart.
• Staff report (NFL.com) Mind-blowing stats for free agency.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) 2014 NFL free-agent rankings (offensive players).
• Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) 2014 NFL free-agent rankings (defensive and special teams players).
• Chris Wesseling (NFL.com) Free agency primer: Top 15 offensive linemen.
• Jarrett Bell (USA Today) 2014 NFL draft is deep, but its identity is TBD.
• Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Scout's Take Blog: Draft observations by an ex-NFL player, scout.
• Mike Tanier (Sports on Earth) Mandatory Monday: Unsung star.
• Jerry Angelo (Nat'l Football Post) What happens next? An inside look at the timeline teams face in the aftermath of the Combine.
• Greg Peshek (Rotoworld) Sack study 1.0: How nine prospects achieved their sack totals, with metrics and context for each.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Murphy details Competition Committee's Indy agenda.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL to consider more protections for option quarterbacks.
• Bill Barnwell (Grantland) Bridging the analytics gap.
• AP Report (Star Tribune) Randy Moss' daughter sets Division III scoring mark with 6t3 points for Thomas More College.
• Greg Gabriel and Eric Galko (Nat'l Football Post) NFP Mock Draft 1.0. Pats pick TE Troy Niklas (Notre Dame).
• Evan Silva (Rotoworld) Pre-free agency Mock Draft. Pats pick TE Jace Amaro (Texas Tech).
• Don Banks, Chris Burke and Doug Farrar (SI) 2014 Mock Draft database.