New England Patriots links 12/29/16 - The Develin's in the run-game details

TEAM TALK

• Patriots - Dolphins Wednesday Injury Report.
• Broadcast Information: Patriots at Dolphins.
• Erik Scalavino shares the news, notes and locker-room buzz from Wednesday at Gillette: Plenty of questions in Week 17.
• Erik Scalavino offers his analysis of the Patriots 2017 opponents.
• Angelique Fiske tells us that Chris "Oz" Ferrara, who sang the national anthem at a Bills game in October (while rocking Pats gear), was honored by an invitation to sing here on December 24th before the Jets game.
• Press Conference Transcripts: Bill Belichick and Devin McCourty.

LOCAL LINKS

• Zack Cox mentions how James Develin's playing time has been increasing as the playoffs approach.
• Ron Borges lauds road-grader James Develin and laments the dying fullback position. /Worth a read.
• Phil Perry notes how the Patriots have used James Develin more and more with Rob Gronkowski out, and he's responded.
• Kevin Duffy points out that the Patriots have consistently fed Dion Lewis the ball since his Week 11 debut.
• Ryan Hannable sees Week 17 vs. the Dolphins as a reminder of how much better the Patriots' running attack is this year than last.
• Pat Bradley notes Tom Brady only needs 55 passing yards to pass Dan Marino (61,361) on the NFL's all-tiime passing list. He could pass him this week in Miami.
• Ricky Doyle says the list of payers who have caught TD passes from Tom Brady is stunning.
• Karen Guregian looks at how, unlike the past, the Patriots offense is better equipped to be without Rob Gronkowski this year.
• Kevin Tame, Jr. (PatriotsWire) Why the Patriots should be concerned about the Dolphins.
• DJ Bean explains why the Patriots don't need to go crazy over getting the No. 1 seed.
• Mark Farinella notes that with the Patriots planning a full-steam ahead effort in Miami, it's back to scout-team duties for Jimmy Garoppolo.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Trent Dilfer says no one will give 1st, 4th-rounder for Jimmy Garoppolo ... so it's happening.
• Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Julian Edelman motivated to put capper on a 16-game slate; Brady missed practice on a scheduled maintenance day; Jimmy G.' knows his role for Week 17.
• Phil Perry reports Dion Lewis misses Wednesday's practice because of illness, and Tom Brady (thigh) and Malcolm Mitchell (knee) sit out with injuries.
• Jeff Howe observes how Devin McCourty has stepped up his play and been more around the ball recently.
• Mark Daniels talks about how the Patriots secondary has bonded.
• Chad Finn ranks the 22 AFC East coaches who have come and mostly gone during the Bill Belichick era.
• Christopher Price previews the AFC playoff picture: Six teams remaining still jockeying for postseason positioning.
• Eric Wilbur looks at how much does home field matter for the Patriots.
• Mike Petraglia and Ryan Hannable preview Patriots-Dolphins: Who plays, who sits and what's at stake. (8.28 min. video)
• Adam Magnacca (PatsPropaganda) The beginning of the end: Regular season finale scouting report: Miami Dolphins.
• Adam Kurkjian looks at Miami RB Jay Ajayi and how he's shaped the Dolphins' offensive identity.
• Steve Buckley is downright giddy over the chance to bring up David Tyree, Mario Manningham and Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo again, thanks to Victor Cruz' claim that the Pats wouldn't want to see them in the Super Bowl.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent's Take: Contract awards for the best and worst NFL signings of 2016. Offensive Signing of the Year: LeGarrette Blount.
• Cameron DaSilva (Fox Sports) Bill Belichick says defenders must realize they’re not good enough to play offense.
• Michael Floyd (The Players Tribune) What I've learned from Larry Fitzgerald.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady doesn’t practice on Wednesday.
• Andrew Kulp (All 22) Bill Polian: Tom Brady may win MVP, but Ezekiel Elliott more deserving.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) Now that we know what Patriots want for Jimmy Garoppolo, would you trade for him?
• Jeanna Thomas (SB Nation) Patriots reportedly want their lost Deflategate draft picks back in a Jimmy Garoppolo trade.
• Kyle Hightower (AP) More work remains for Patriots in regular-season finale.
• Chris Chase (Fox Sports) Why NFL teams don’t quit.
• Peter King (The MMQB) Browns get one to grow on; MMQB Mailbag.
• Sam Monson (Pro Football Focus) How all 31 first-round picks have played this season. /Patriots: Pick stolen by league.
• Robert Mays (The Ringer) Introducing the NFL's Always-Open Club.
• Rich Cimini (ESPN) Sources: Jets rankled by Brandon Marshall's 'boisterous' halftime rant.
• Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Colin Kaepernick exemplifies NFL's best and worst of 2016.
• Arnie Stapleton (AP) Analysis: The good, the bad, the ugly of NFL 2016.
• Michael Salfino and Jim Chairusmi (Wall St. Journal) Rex Ryan, fired on Tuesday, stuck with a conservative style that most math experts say doesn’t add up.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) NFL's best potential coaching jobs? L.A. is hot; Buffalo and Cleveland are not.
• Jason B. Hirshhorn (Sports on Earth) The stakes for each Week 17 game.
• Staff (USA Today) Ranking the Week 17 games.
• David Steele (Sporting News) NFL picks Week 17: Patriots clinch No. 1 seed, make playoff life tougher on Dolphins. 29-13.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) NFL Week 17 picks. Patriots win 31-24.

VIEW FROM MIAMI

• Armando Salguero (Miami Herald) Two ‘impressive’ traits about Matt Moore’s time as Dolphins’ starting QB; PLUS Tannehill back for playoffs?
• Dave Hyde (Sun-Sentinel) Dolphins 'phenomenal' and 'outstanding' — just ask Belichick. /The snark is strong with this one.
• Hal Habib (Palm Beach Post) Exclusive: Cameron Wake’s most unusual look at playoff berth, Miami Dolphins’ season.
• Q&A (Sun-Sentinel) Jay Ajayi: 'We believe we can run on anyone.' (1.06 min. video)
• Alain Poupart (MiamiDolphins) Drake is a big play waiting to happen.
• Alaiin Poupart (MiamiDolphins) Teammates excited for Hendy.
• Staff (Sun-Sentinel) Predictions: New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins. 6 of 7 pick Pats to win.