New England Patriots Links 2/18/16 - FB James Develin Was Missed in 2015

TEAM TALK

• Patriots release DB Leonard Johnson.
• Andy Hart notes Chandler Jones has one year left on his rookie contract, and wonders if the Patriots would use him as a trade option.
• Erik Scalavino posts his free agency preview: Running Back.
• John Rooke's View from Above: A Belichick-Brady ticket for 2016?
• PFW Issue of the Day: Chandler Jones. (2.29 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Patriots celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day. (1.21 min. video)
• From the NFL - Who Patriots should designate with the franchise tag. (2.25 min. video)
• From the NFL - The "NFL Total Access" crew debates whether or not Super Bowl XLIX was the'Greatest Game of All-time." (1.33 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Miguel Benzan (PatsFans) My offseason plan for the 2016 New England Patriots. /Check off No. 1.
• Ryan Hannable explains why the Patriots' biggest offseason need is at running back.
• Christopher Price breaks down the roster: Linebacker.
• Doug Kyed examines the Patriots' approach to drafting linebackers: Size valued over athleticism.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots free agency outlook: Linebackers.
• Mike Petraglia shares a free agent snapshot: ILB Danny Trevathan.
• Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry continue their position breakdown: Tight end.
• Doug Kyed relays Bill Belichick's advice to prospects training for the NFL Scouting Combine.
• MassLive profiles 7 running backs (and another Gronk) to keep an eye on at the Combine.
• Cody Lachance (All Three Phases) Mayo movin' on: What's next?
• Nick O'Malley reminds us of just how bad the defense was the first five years of Jerod Mayo's career. Yikes.
• Tom E. Curran says Jerod Mayo may not have had the on-field career you'd expect from a 10th overall pick. But in the locker room, he was a Hall of Famer.
• Adam Kurkjian gathers together some of the emotional salutes to Jerod Mayo.
• NESN notes Tom and Gisele have been vacationing with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner at the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky,Montana.
• CSNNE kicks us where it hurts with it's 'Missed Lombardis' series: 2010.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Bill Belichick is not a fan of combine-specific training methods.
• Jason Fletcher (Rant Sports) 15 Draft prospects you need to watch at 2016 NFL Scouting Combine.
• Geoffrey Knox (Rant Sports) 2016 NFL Draft Pre-Combine: Rankiing the top 10 safety prospects.
• Jim Reineking (NFL.com) Notable current NFL players who weren't invited to the combine.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Trio of Patriots running backs ranked among NFL's top-80 of 2015.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Ohio State's Camren Williams joins Patriots' scouting department.
• Interactive (FanSpeak) On the clock NFL Mock Draft simulator.
• Field Yates (ESPN) Patriots disappointed in Mayo's decision. (1 min. clip)
• Shalise Manza Young (Yahoo! Sports) Veteran defensive players Mathis, Mayo announce they are retiring.
• Conor Orr (NFL.com) Free agent buyer's guide: Finding value on defense.
• Nate Scott (USA Today) Another player is retiring before 30, and the NFL should be worried.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Patriots release Leonard Johnson.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Where Patriots stood in jersey sales through 2015.
• Mike Batista (Awful Announcing) 10 most memorable games in 2015 NFL season.
• A.J. Wiborg (Inside the Pylon) NFL Super Bowl babies: A look at the data.

DUMPSTER DIVE

• Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry Quick Slants podcast: Michael McCann on if Tom Brady could serve his suspension for Deflategate; More. (49.26 min.)
  
• WEEI guest Michael McCann thinks Peyton Manning's reputation could be 'irreparably hurt.'
• Dave Zirin (The Nation) The past Is never dead: Peyton Manning and today’s jock-rape culture at Tennessee.
• Staff Report (ESPN) Women's group urges sponsors to suspend ties to Peyton Manning.
• Michael McCann and Will Green (SI) New Jersey sports wagering hopes facing uphill climb after hearing.