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TEAM TALK
- Patriots re-sign TE Kennard Backman to the practice squad.
- Andy Hart tackles this week's Ask PFW Mailbag: Growing Gronk concerns.
- Reminiscing with the Rams: Memories of the Patriots 2001 Super Bowl Championship are sure to resurface as the team celebrates the 15-year anniversary of the triumph when the Rams come to town.
- Conference Call Transcripts: Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia.
- Week 13 Game Preview: Rams vs. Patriots. (2.48 min. video)
- Sights and Sounds: Week 12 at New York Jets. (3.57 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss writes that after overcoming non-Hodgkins lymphoma and a draft-day slide, Marcus Cannon proved himself at right tackle, leading to a five-year extension.
- Karen Guregian explains why Wednesday morning is Bill Belichick's time to shine.
- James Conway (PatsPropaganda) Eureka! Oh... damn. /Haven't heard this theory yet, about Bill Belichick.
- Sam Benson Smith (PatriotsWire) 50's, 60's and a Goose Egg: 5 crazy statistics from Patriots' win over Jets.
- Christopher Price tells us 5 things to know about the Rams: Aaron Donald is a bad man. Jeff Fisher? He's just bad.
- Jen McCaffrey notes Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia are both impressed with Rams rookie QB Jared Goff.
- Kevin McNamara wonders if the Patriots can limp to the Super Bowl without Gronk.
- Mike Petraglia notes Josh McDaniels can't wait for the '01 Patriots reunion this weekend, when he learned what winning in the NFL meant.
- Jaydeen Allen (PatriotsWire) 4 ways to improve the Patriots defense.
- Christopher Price breaks down the penalties that have gone against New England after 11 games. (5th fewest i the league).
- Danny Picard reminds fans to embrace the Patriots' current success, regardless of their flaws.
- Evan Lazar goes inside the Patriots' path to 500 wins.
- Christopher Price approves of Martellus Bennett's slogan for the 2016 Patriots.
- Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Martellus Bennett goes on Twitter rant about state of the NFL.
- Tony Massarotti writes that winning is all that matters, and no one has done it better than Tom Brady. /Wonder if Mazz from 98.5 Sports Hub has read this.
- Matt Dolloff looks at who the Patriots will lock up next, now that Marcus Cannon is signed.
- Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: Marcus Cannon reportedly gets contract extension; Hightower, Bennett, Ryan, Sheard and Butler still wait; More.
- Ryan Hannable sees Tom Brady's injury as fairly straightforward, while Rob Gronkowski's is not.
- Mike Reiss says the Patriots are being extra careful with Rob Gronkowski not just to save him for the playoffs, but to avoid a severely altered gameplan.
- Matt Burke declares the competition is over, Tom Brady will not win NFL MVP this season.
- Gayle Fee notes the NFL so far has no comment on the subject of Tom Brady’s Facebook post that looks to have violated the league’s [stupid] highlights policy.
- Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Tom Brady's son makes sports radio appearance and it's adorable.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Rohan (The MMQB) Matt Patricia, Belichick’s rocket scientist: How an aeronautical engineering grad from noted football hotbed RPI became Bill Belichick’s right-hand man.
- Jim Gray (Westwood One Sports) Tom Brady talks beating the Jets and Benny talks about his dad’s play. (7.43 min. audio)
- Tyler Sullivan (247 Sports) Tom Brady and Malcolm Mitchell earn high marks from PFF.
- Anthony Grace (FootballNation) NFL returns to Mexico City in 2017 - Patriots and Raiders to be the main event!
- Lorenzo Reyes (USA Today) NFL Week 12 overreactions: Sleepless in Seattle?
- Dave Dameshek (NFL.com) The Shame Report, Week 12. (3.46 min. video)
- Adam Schein (NFL.com) Super Bowl LI contenders. 2. Patriots.
- John Parolin & Jason Starrett (ESPN) What a four-team playoff would look like in the NFL.
- Ryan WIlson (CBS Sports) 2016 NFL MVP race: Can Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott catch Tom Brady, Derek Carr?
- Larry Hartstein (SportsLine) MVP: Dak Prescott, Zeke Elliott breathing down Tom Brady's neck.
- Peter King (The MMQB) Raiders' rough road; MMQB Mailbag.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Report: NFL will ditch early-morning London games.
- Jacob Feldman (SI) Snap! Tweet! Score! How we consume football in the age of inattention.
- Jack Dickey (SI) The case for abolishing Thursday Night Football.
- Tyler Sullivan (247 Sports) Patriots condemn former NFL executive for insensitive tweet.
- Andrew Coppens (The Comeback) NFL owners unhappy with concussion settlement payout.