New England Patriots links 12/01/16 - Starting Patriots roster, or is that the injury report?

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Rams Wednesday Injury Report.
• Patriots make practice squad moves: RB D.J. Foster in, FB Glenn Gronkowski out.
• Erik Scalavino shares the news, notes and locker room buzz from Wednesday at Gillette: Cannon 'blessed' by new contract.
• Angelique Fiske reports Rob Gronkowski was honored at the Boston Children's Hospital Champions for Children event, but Marty Bennett accepted the award in his place.
• Angelique Fiske looks back at the pop culture 15 years ago when the Patriots had their fairytale 2001 Super Bowl Championship season.
• Patriots vs. Rams: Broadcast information - Team connections.
• Press Release: Fans encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to Sunday's game.
• Press Conference Transcripts: Bill Belichick and Devin McCourty.
• Press Pass: Players address the media in the locker room on the 'big challenge' facing the Rams Sunday. (1.56 min. video)
• Belichick Breakdown: Top Plays from Patriots at Jets. (4.59 min. video)
• Press Pass: Former Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe addresses the media at Gillette Stadium. (9.57 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Christopher Price tells us Jerome Boger will work as referee for Sunday's Pats-Rams matchup. /Bogus.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Here comes the boom, Patriots enter tough final stretch.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) 5 First impressions of the Rams: 3. Aaron Donald is the Rams biggest disruptor on defense.
• Kevin Duffy thinks it's odd (because it is) that Jeff Fisher would have a presser and not know the names of Dion Lewis and James White.
• Tom E. Curran is dead-on accurate that the only reason Jeff Fisher still has a job is that he is the anti-Belichick in terms of cozying up to the league office and always doing its bidding.
• Doug Kyed doesn't understand how Jeff Fisher can keep losing with the Rams and still keep his job.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Jeff Fisher proves why Rams should just fire him right now.
• Christopher Price reports Jared Goff is trying to become the first rookie QB to beat Bill Belichick against New England in Foxboro since 2001.
• Mike Reiss notes Bill Belichick's glowing words for Rams punter Johnny Hekker reflects his focus on details and game-plan preparations for the Rams this week.
• Ryan Hannable lays out the reasons why Tom Brady deserves much more consideration for NFL MVP than he's getting.
• Mark Farinella observes how great it is to see Dion Lewis back on the field and starting to make a positive impact for the offense.
• Karen Guregian says that given all the injuries Rob Gronkowski has endured, it seems inevitable that his shelf life as a football player is running out.
• Bill Burt reminds folks that most of Gronk's injuries, if not all, are related to his bruising style of play and the extra force defenders must use to bring him down.
• Chad Finn asserts that it's better to appreciate Rob Gronkowski while he's here than to speculate when his spectacular time as a Patriot will end. /Amen brother.
• Mark Farinella argues that the Patriots should sit Brady this week.
• Kevin Duffy explains why the Patriots should consider sitting injured players like Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett this week.
• Mike Reiss reports that a concussion is keeping Nate Ebner out of practice.
• Jeff Howe prioritizes the Patriots' upcoming free-agent decisions, beginning with Dont'a Hightower.
• Jeff Howe notes Marcus Cannon is well aware he still has to prove that he's worthy of his new deal.
• Christopher Price spotlights the redemption of Marcus Cannon.
• Mike Reiss hears Bill Belichick offer praise to the players that allowed Chris Long to get the strip sack that sealed the Patriots' win.
• Rich Garven notes Chris Long is treating this game against his former team with a 'business as usual' approach.
• Adam Kurkjian, Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Ex-Ram Chris Long has more wins, same dogged work ethic with Pats; More.
• Kevin Duffy mentions how RB D.J. Foster has learned patience from James White and Shane Vereen.
• Tom E. Curran reports how the New England Patriots were quick to respond when Joe Browne, a long-time Pats hater, bragged that the NFL would quick restock a team wiped out in a plane crash.
• Ryan Hannable notes Drew Bledsoe didn't think Tom Brady would ever be a starter, but praises him for still playing at such a high level.
• Hayden Bird reports Drew Bledsoe's son John accepts 'preferred walk-on' status with Washington State University, following in his father's footsteps.
• Townie News posts a video of every first Tom F. Brady touchdown to a Patriots player. (22.47 min. video)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Dan Hanzus (NFL.com) Bill Belichick love for Rams punter knows no bounds.
• Matt Chatham (Football by Football) LA Rams vs. Patriots: Scouting Jared Goff after two NFL games. (4 min. video)
• Tyler Sullivan (247 Sports) Report: Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman injury updates.
• Bobby Greenhalgh (ESPN Stats & Info) Ranking the NFL Week 13 matchups from best to worst. 9. Rams at Pats. NE has won the past three matchups, outscoring the Rams 108-45.
• Ben Baskin (SI) Ranking the NFL’s eight divisions by their quarterback talent. AFC East 4th.
• Dieter Kurtenbach (Fox Sports) Every NFL team’s breakout player so far this season. Patriots: Shaq Mason.
• Dan Carson (Fox Sports) Ranking the most dangerous player attribute on every NFL team. No. 1: New England Patriots—Tom Brady’s sideline throw.
• Will Leitch (Sports on Earth) Fun with NFL playoff scenarios.
• Connor Orr (NFL.com) How to hire an NFL coach or GM: A view from the inside.
• Cameron DaSilva (Fox Sports) 9 NFL coaches who could be fired this season. /Let's give Jeff Fisher a boost.
• Cameron DaSilva (Fox Sports) The Bears’ 7 best options to replace Jay Cutler in 2017. No. 2 Jimmy Garoppolo.
• Emily Kaplan (The MMQB) A [heavily caffeinated] NFL Sunday in the Red Zone.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Report: NFL planning four games in London next year.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Competition committee will look at holding on intentional safeties.
• A.J. Perez (USA Today) Brazil soccer tragedy brings pro sports leagues' disaster plans into focus.

VIEW FROM LOS ANGELES

• Gary Klein (LA Times) Embattled Coach Jeff Fisher says it's time for Rams to 'bounce back' from a trouncing.
• Jack Wang (Orange County Register) Chris Long holds 'no bitterness' for Rams after offseason split.
• Gary Klein (LA Times) Rams' Greg Robinson looks forward to return after being benched against the Saints.
• Rich Hamond (Orange County Register) Rams Notes: Back in the lineup, left tackle Greg Robinson says all he can do is focus on getting better.
• Myles A. Simmons (TheRams) Practice report: Benefiting from break, Robinson expected back at LT.
• Gary Klein and Sam Farmer (LA Times) Jeff Fisher vs. Eric Dickerson story refuses to die out.
• A.J. Perez (USA Today) Rams exec: Jeff Fisher shouldn't be judged on record alone. /Huh.
• Joe McAtee (Turf Show Times) Report [by Tom E. Curran] alleges Rams HC Jeff Fisher’s job security due to quid pro quo efforts for NFL.

DUMPSTER DIVE

• Sheilla Dingus (Advocacy for Fairness in Sports) News Blitz: Lawsuits against the NFL/NFLPA; Should marijuana be conidered alternative to RX painkillers; More.
• Staff (ETF News) ESPN loses over a half million subscribers: The Nielsen estimates revealed that ESPN lost 555,000 subscribers during the last month.
• Andrew G. Simpson (Insurance Journal) NFL players with CTE sue to force teams to pay workers’ compensation benefits.
• Darren Boyle (Daily Mail) NFL chooses player who strangled his pregnant girlfriend as league's newest poster boy - despite launching a campaign against domestic violence.