New England Patriots Links 5/12/15 - Roughing The Passer: Only Way to Beat Brady is Take Him Out

TEAM TALK

• Statement from Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft.
• Andy Hart reports on the severe punishment delivered to Tom Brady and the Patriots.
• John Rooke states the obvious that the footballs had nothing to do with the actual integrity of the game, and that's what the issue should be about.
• Patriots release CB Kyle Arrington; sign TE Fred Davis and OL Kevin Hughes.

LOCAL LINKS

• Chris Gasper believes Tom Brady is serving a suspension for two: The league has wanted its pound of Patriots flesh from Spygate, and eight years later taking it right out of the franchise QB.
• Tom E. Curran says the NFL lifted it's leg on the Patriots late Monday afternoon - the QB, the owner, the team's reputation and it's legacy - handing down a medieval suspension.
• Michael Hurley calls the NFL's punishment of Tom Brady for deflategate far beyond ridiculous.
• Mike Reiss reports Robert Kraft decides he is not done fighting on behalf of the Patriots.
• Mike Reiss serves up some leftover tidbits from the NFL's ruling against the Patriots on Monday, including Stephen Gostkowski avoiding punishment.
• Rich Levine calls attention to the lost text messages in the Wells report. /Very interesting.
• Steve Buckley points out the real issues facing the NFL aren't as entertaining as watching them get all make-pretend tough with a franchise so loathed that other fans are celebrating as if it were Mardi Gras.
• Steve Balestrieri accuses Goodell of playing to the crowd and making the outcome of this investigation a foregone conclusion from the outset.
• Ben Volin insists the Patriots brought this all on themselves by being arrogant and defiant from the start.
• El Presidente (Barstool Sports) The only unbiased conclusion you can make from deflategate is that the NFL is corrupt and wanted this to happen.
• Adam Kurkjian notes that if the 4-game suspension stands, Tom Brady's return would come against the Colts.
• Christopher Price explains how deflategate will mark the beginning of the end for Roger Goodell.
• The Herald compares Tom Brady's ban with other NFL suspensions.
• CBS Boston reports Patriots fans say #NoBradyNoBanner on NFL opening night.
• Scott Lauber notes David Ortiz blasts the NFL's "crazy" Tom Brady ruling, "They (bleeped) up on that one. I don't know how to say it better than that."
• The Herald reports a broad swath of pols and local celebs weighed in quickly yesterday on Tom Brady’s punishment for "Deflate­gate", bashing it as 'absurd', 'unfair'.
• The Herald shares a few Twitter reactions from around the league. Woody Johnson's wife is thrilled.
• Jerry Thornton takes the bullhorn in his hands to rally the masses for Tom Brady. (1.54 min. video)

NON-DEFLATEGATE NEWS

• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Piecing together the Patriots' tight end depth chart.
• Phil Perry notes Jimmy Garoppolo will likely be the starter for the New England Patriots when Week 1 rolls around. Is he ready to handle it?
• Karen Guregian looks at how the loss of Tom Brady might impact the Patriots in the first four weeks.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) Michael Vick to Patriots? Here are New England's veteran QB options.
• Analysis Team (Pro Football Focus) PFF's Top 101 of 2014: 101-91.
• Phil Perry reports Kyle Arrington takes to social media to thank "first class" Patriots and the fans for "incredible" six years.
• Jerry Thornton discusses how the Jets and 13 other NFL teams get paid to honor veterans. Patriots are not one of these teams.
• Brady Poppinga (Football by Football) How NOT to handle being traded in the NFL.
• Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: The Patriots championship secondary is no longer recognizable, with the release of Kyle Arrington yesterday and Alfonzo Dennard last week; Patriots signed TE Fred Davis to a 1-year deal and OL Kevin Hughes.

DEFLATEGATE DUMPSTER

• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) Five reasons why the NFL got the deflate-gate punishment dead wrong.
• Kenneth Arthur (Sports on Earth) Patriots are still contenders.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) Patriots will fight suspension, and use it as motivation on the field.
• Greg A. Bedard (The MMQB) Pats sources: Strong statements by NFL officials left out of Wells report.
• Don Banks (SI) NFL's punishment for Brady, Pats shows league's lack of perspective.
• Jackie MacMullan (ESPN) Is Tom Brady a victim of fuzzy math in his Deflategate penalty?
• Report (ESPN Stats & Information) What are the impacts of Tom Brady's suspension?
• Peter King (The MMQB) The NFL drops the hammer, and sends a message.
• Sam Mellinger (Kansas City Star) NFL can’t seem to make punishments fit the crimes.
• Mike Wilkening (ProFootballTalk) Don Yee again questions origins of NFL’s deflation investigation.
• ESPN Boston shares the statement from Don Yee, the agent for Tom Brady.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Brady should embrace NFLPA assistance for appeal.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA hopes Kraft pushes for neutral arbitration.
• Mike Dussault (Athlon Sports) Love them or hate them, there's never been a sports ride quite like these Pats.
• Ross Tucker (Sports on Earth) Questioning Brady's self-defense.
• Cy Brown (Sports on Earth) Harsh suspension for Tom Brady.
• Kerry Byrne (Cold Hard Football Facts) Gridiron Godfather: Roger Goodell's wave of vengeance. [March 24, 2012]
• Rich Cimnini (ESPN NY) Hold the applause: Tom Brady's suspension doesn't change much for Jets.