New England Patriots Links 5/02/14 - Shane Vereen: Wrist Still Not 100%

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalvino reports Dont'a Hightower believes he’s finally found a comfort zone in Foxborough.
• Patriots Football Weekly ranks New England's positional needs heading toward draft weekend.
• PFW Draft Prospect Rankings: Defensive Tackle - Guard - Offensive Tackle - Center.
• Patriots launch "Ultimate Patriots Road Trip Raffle" to win the trip of a lifetime.
• Patriots Today - Hightower on offseason, Mayo & more. (13.15 min. video)
• From the NFL - Season predictor: New England Patriots. (3.48 min. video)
• PFW In Progress (5/1) - PFW continues to break down the upcoming draft and more; Shane Vereen is a guest in studio. (2 hour program)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss notes Dont'a Hightower is open to a rush-based role in sub packages.
• Jeff Howe reports Hightower believes a third-year jump is in order.
• Erik Frenz writes that after Hightower was unexpectedly thrust into a leadership role last season, he has had time to prepare like a leader.
• Christopher Price reports Hightower believes it will be 'real fun' being a part of this linebacking group.
• Jeff Howe adds that Hightower has been mentoring some former Alabama teammates before the Draft.
• Mark Farinella points out the big changes in the Patriots' linebacking corps this year.
• Doug Kyed reports Shane Vereen said his wrist still isn't 100 percent.
• Mike Reiss shares some picked-up draft pieces from Mike Mayock's two-hour conference call: Conflicting opinion on D-Line class.
• Christopher Price notes Mike Mayock thinks TE Jace Amaro would be an 'intriguing' fit with the Patriots.
• ESPNBoston roundtable breaks down TE Jace Amaro (Texas Tech) as a possible option for New England.
• ESPNBoston roundtable gauges the safety options in this year's draft. (2.23 min. video)
• Mike Reiss posts the transcript of his weekly Pats chat: Could Dont'a Hightower be part of the solution playing closer to the line of scrimmage in sub packages?
• Mike Reiss highlights some of the recent players picked in the 62nd spot.
• Mike Reiss tells us Willie McGinest will announce the Patriots 2nd-round pick in this year's draft.
• Tom E. Curran gives his reasons on why the Patriots shouldn't draft a QB early on.
• Zuri Berry talks about which college quarterbacks the Patriots might consider drafting.
• Tom E. Curran checks out prospects the Patriots may consider in the first round: OLB Jeremiah Attaochu (Georgia Tech)
• Mike Reiss narrows down his list of prospects to a select group that would be ideal (and realistic) for the Patriots: OT/G Joel Bitonio (Nevada) and S Deone Bucannon (Washington State).
• Karen Guregian highlights draft prospects who could land with the Patriots at No. 29: LB Ryan Shazier (Ohio State)
• WEEI profiles potential Patriots in this year's draft: CB E.J. Gaines (Missouri) and CB Keith McGill (Utah)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Rana L. Cash (Sporting News) Rob Gronkowski injury update: 'I'm actually improving every week'.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) NFL Network, ESPN reporters won't tip picks during first round.
• Russ Lande (Sports on Earth) NFL war room: What's it like to be a scout during the NFL Draft.
• Bill Barnwell (Grantland) The Domino Game: Once the No.1 pick in the NFL Draft is made, everything else will fall into place.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Draft delay invites more meddling.
• Frank Cooney (CBS Sports) 2014 NFL Draft best fits for each team.
• Doug Farrar (SI) Mobile franchise QB, shutdown corner among hardest positions to find in draft.
• Greg A. Bedard (The MMQB) The tease of rookie WRs.
• Greg Gabriel (Nat'l Football Post) Draft top 5: Running backs.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) NFL Draft 2014: Five prospects who are May 8's safest picks.
• Richard Deitsch (The MMQB) A Mayock & McShay Q&A.
• Photo Essay (NFL.com) Mind-blowing stats for the NFL Draft.
• Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) 2014 All-Draft Team.
• Andrew Brandt (The MMQB) Explaining the fifth-year option for teams.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting) 'Hard Knocks': Which team is best choice for HBO, NFL in 2014?