New England Patriots Links 3/07/14 - DB, DL Top Needs on Defense

TEAM TALK

• Andy Hart reviews Danny Amendola's first season in New England and wonders why some are calling for him to be cut or traded.
• PFW sits down with OL Sebastian Vollmer to talk about some of his earliest and most unforgettable football memories.
• Paul Perillo posts a positional breakdown of the roster: Defensive tackle and Defensive end.
• Patriots team with Maine Mall to promote license plates this Saturday. Jermaine Wiggins and Patriots cheerleaders will sign autographs and take photos with fans.
• Patriots ask fans to donate blood at Patriot Place Mar. 9.  /Save the sweat and tears for free agency and the draft.
  
• PFW In Progress (3/06/14) The PFW crew gets you prepared for the start of free agency. (2 hour program)

LOCAL LINKS

• Jeff Howe focuses on the work ahead for the Patriots on defense, with grabbing a DB and DL on the top of the list.
• Erik Frenz does a good job explaining how Bill Belichick defines value differently than those in the media (or anyone else) perceives it.
• Christopher Price shares some insight on Belichick's pre-draft evaluation process from one of his former defensive assistants and scouts from Cleveland.
• Tom E. Curran says that over the next four days, the Patriots will be trying to convince Vince to trim that cap hit down by taking a restructured deal.
• Mike Reiss highlights Bill Polian's conference call with the media, with a Patriots-based twist: "Free agency is not free..."
• Mike Reiss looks at free agent fits for the Patriots: Defensive tackle.
• Tom E. Curran examines the free agent class by position of need for the Patriots: Defensive line.
• Phil Perry offers an overview of the free agents available at some positions of need for the Patriots: Safety.
• Mike Reiss and Field Yates debate the Patriots' greatest need on offense, TE or WR.
• Mike Reiss posts the transcript of his weekly online chat: Patriots did get cap relief from the Jonathan Fanene situation.
• WEEI profiles potential Patriots in this year's draft: DE Stephon Tuitt (Notre Dame).
• Nick O'Malley spotlights players who project to be a good fit in New England: DE Kony Ealy (Missouri),
• Mike Reiss shares Todd McShay's ESPN Insider Mock Draft 3.0, with DT Ra'Shede Hageman (Minnesota) going to New England.
• Doug Kyed posts his latest Mock Draft. Patriots pick WR Kelvin Benjamin (Florida State).
• Christopher Price posts a Mock Draft roundup: Consensus shows Patriots will go for DL or TE at No.29.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) AFC East free agency needs. Patriots' priority: DL.
• Nick Klopsis (Newsday) 'Draft Day' used one of Bill Belichick's scouting ideas.
• Kevin Seifert (ESPN) NFL free agency: Pot of gold elusive.
• Around the League (NFL.com) Top 10 players who will be overpaid in free agency. /Talib, Blount & Edelman make this list.
• Adam Schein (NFL.com) Eric Decker, Darren McFadden head riskiest free agents of 2014. /Talib included.
• Chris Burke and Doug Farrar (SI) 2014 NFL free agency primer: Secondary and Linebackers.
  
• Mike Wilkening (ProFootballTalk) RB depth one of the strengths of the 2014 free agent class.
• Ross Tucker (The MMQB) Measuring beyond girth.
• Don Banks (SI) Raiders, Steelers among AFC front offices under pressure this offseason.
• Don Banks (The MMQB) The extra point is ... good! [So stop trying to fix it.]
• Leigh Montville (Sports on Earth) The 44.2 million dollar man: Here's a complete breakdown.
• Dan Graziano (ESPN) More changes NFL should implement.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Cap could hit $160 million in 2016.