New England Patriots Links 7/17/14 - Armstead Retirement Spurs Camp Battle From Young DTs

TEAM TALK

• Patriots DL Armond Armstead announces his retirement.
• Patriots announce Ty Law's Patriots Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, August 1st.
• Patriots Today - 14 Questions: Who's the best route runner? (1.38 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Position battles: Tavon Wilson vs. Patrick Chung. (2.09 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Petraglia reports that after several medical battles, Armond Armstead finally announces his retirement.
• Zuri Berry notes Armond Armstead's retirement frees up a roster spot for other young DTs to make the team in training camp.
• Mike Reiss takes a look at the team's defensive tackle depth chart, now that Armond Armstead is no longer an option.
• Mark Farinella prints a training camp position preview with a look at where the Patriots stand six days before camp.
• Nick O'Malley posts his training camp position previews: Linebacker - A faster (and better) starting 3 without Brandon Spikes.
• Christopher Price continues his countdown to camp with a position-by-position roster breakdown: Offensive line.
• Mark Daniels looks at the rookies who have a chance to make an impact on the Patriots this year, most likely on the O-line.
• Nick O'Malley reveals who's on his roster bubble watch: G Dan Connolly and his 2014 $4M cap hit.
• Tom E. Curran breaks down three more players with something to prove: Danny Amendola, Dont'a Hightower and Ryan Wendell.
• CSNNE discusses which players to watch when training camp opens. (3.20 min. video)
• Mike Reiss discusses three undrafted free agents to keep an eye on heading into training camp: LS Tyler Ott, RB Stephen Houston and LB Cameron Gordon. (1.18 min. video)
• Mike Reiss compares Jimmy Graham's newly-signed contract to Rob Gronkowski's deal, and offers some thoughts on both.
• Zuri Berry notes Pepper Johnson has been replaced by Patrick Graham, the team's DL coach last season and entering his 6th year with the Patriots.
• Mike Reiss reports Monti Ossenfort is now the director of college scouting for the Patriots,replacing Jon Robinson who is now director of player personnel in Tampa Bay.
• Steve Silva tells us where the Patriots and Red Sox rank among Forbes' list of the most valuable sports teams.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Pat Kirwan (CBS Sports) NFL's most influential: Ten who have biggest impact on America's game. /Robert Kraft 3rd, Tom Brady 9th. Sorry Peyton.
• Mike & Mike (ESPN) Patriots QB Tom Brady talks about donating to The V Foundation for Cancer Research and more. (6.37 min. audio)
• Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Jimmy Graham shines among hybrid tight ends. /Gronk 3rd on list.
• James Christensen (Bleacher Report) Projected Patriots final 53-man roster, pre-training camp edition.
• James Christensen (Bleacher Report) Top Patriots position battles to watch in camp.
• James Dudko (Bleacher Report) New England Patriots' 5 players facing make-or-break training camps.
• Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) AFC East Training Camp Preview: 3 things to watch.
• Kurt Badenhausen (Forbes) The world's 50 most valuable sports teams 2014. /Patriots 8th.
• Ken Belson (NY Times) It's up, and it's ... five feet taller. NFL scrambles to install taller uprights after rule change.
• Andrew Brandt (The MMQB) 'He did what?!' True tales from the NFL dead month.
• Jack Bechta (Nat'l Football Post) The lack of guaranteed contracts has a painful ripple effect for players.
• Nathan Jahnke (Pro Football Focus) Position progression: Edge rushers - Tight ends.
  
• Gordon McGuiness (Pro Football Focus) Position progression: Quarterbacks - Wide receivers.
• Ben Stockwell (Pro Football Focus) Position progression: Running backs - Centers.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) League, NFLPA may want to look at Belichick-Hernandez texts.