TEAM TALK
- Paul Perillo hears from Nick Caserio at the Combine: After winning the Super Bowl the Patriots are playing catch-up in the draft evaluation process.
- Andy Hart notes the team's two guard spots are a position to watch heading toward free agency and the draft.
- Bob Socci says that with Stephen Gostkowski possibly ready to become a free agent, the Patriots may be in the market for a kicker.
- Andy Hart reports Indy GM Ryan Grigson explains his role in the NFL's investigation into deflategate.
- 2015 Patriots Mock Draft Tracker.
- From the NFL - Mike Mayock's Top 5 edge rushers. (1.19 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Combine Day 2: Sights and Sounds. (3.20 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Big targets in a small TE class. (3.03 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Super Bowl memories at the combine. (3.27 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Colts (no) comments. (2.16 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss shares the schedule for Friday at the NFL's Scouting Combine.
- Mike Reiss passes along some picked-up pieces about the Patriots from Thursday in Indy.
- Mike Reiss tells us that special-teams coach Scott O'Brien, who retired following Super Bowl XLIX, has been assisting in the team's evaluation of specialists.
- Karen Guregian wonders if the Patriots might completely reboot the RB position via the Draft., especially with Vereen and RIdley both heading into free agency.
- Phil Perry notes Bill O'Brien said it was great to see his friends on the Patriots win the Super Bowl.
- Mike Petraglia previews potential free agent fits for the Patriots: Dane Fletcher.
- Jack Andrade looks back at the Combine two years ago, when Jamie Collins showcased his freakish athletic ability.
- Mike Reiss posts the transcript of his weekly online chat. /Terrific insight, as usual.
- Ryan Hannable highlights Adam Schefter on D&C Thursday morning: Indisputable that the [NFL] screwed this up.
- Bill Speros says the latest scandal surrounding footballs in the AFCCG has done nothing but make the Patriots look even better when it comes to Deflategate.
- Tom E. Curran points out the conflict of interest in some deflategate 'reports' and states the league has to rein in those responsible for leaking information.
- Jeff Howe reports Ryan Grigson fessed up to sparking the deflategate fuss, but then hid behind the pending investigation instead of providing any meaningful details.
- Phil Perry notes Colts GM Ryan Grigson says the Colts were suspicious of the Patriots before the AFCCG and notified the NFL.
- Kevin Duffy notes that Chuck Pagano said he was unaware that Ryan Grigson contacted the NFL in regards to the Patriots' footballs prior to the AFCCG.
- Ron Borges skewers the boobs and incompetents on both sides of the deflategate fiasco (excluding himself of course) and says the only thing that's clear is that somebody owes Jim McNally an apology.
- Ryan Hannable identifies the NFL employee that was fired for stealing a football in the AFCCG.
- Ben Volin reports before the Super Bowl, the NFL's head of officiating said that the NFL did not conduct a sting in deflategate.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Paul Barry (Vicksburg Post) City declares Malcolm Butler week.
- Erik Frenz (Bleacher Report) 5 bargain-basement free agents the Patriots should sign.
- Will Brinson (CBS Sports) Gillette Stadium is the wall in 'Game of Thrones' right now.
- Dane Brugler (CBS Sports) 2015 NFL Combine: Five takeaways from Thursday's media session.
- Will Brinson (CBS Sports) New Bills coach Rex Ryan wants to beat Patriots more than the Jets.
- Pat Kirwan (CBS Sports) The 2015 over-the-hill gang: Best over-30 vets who may hit free agency.
- Russell S. Baxter (Bleacher Report) The one free agent each NFL team must re-sign in the offseason.
- Tony Villiotti (Nat'l Football Post) What to expect in free agency.
- Robert Klemko (The MMQB) T-minus 70 days: It's all about the interviews.
- Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Among Combine's biggest headaches for prospects, agents: 40-yard dash.
- Joel Corry (Nat'l Football Post) Are players better off under the new franchise tag methodology?
- Joel Corry (Nat'l Football Post) 2015 Contract restructure possibilities.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Patriots alerted NFL to issue with special-teams ball.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) League hopes to tie expanded playoffs to Thursday night package.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLRA reacts to report that "league official" was fired. It was a "league employee" instead.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Falcons expect to learn #NoiseGate fate soon.