LOCAL LINKS
- Jeff Howe says Bill Belichick absolutely must work his magic to make this draft season as productive as possible.
- Doug Kyed continues his look at the Patriots draft trends: Speed valued in surprise safety selections. Pats "haven't taken a safety with a three-cone drill slower than 7.12 seconds since 2003."
- Mike Reiss sees this year's draft class looking particularly strong on defense and the O-line and thumbnails three players the Patriots could focus on this week.
- Ben Volin gives us the scoop on what really happens at the NFL Combine.
- Karen Guregian picks the Patriots' top five areas of need as they hit the NFL Combine.
- Christopher Price notes analyst Mike Mayock thinks the Patriots will zero in on OL, WR and DB in the draft.
- Mike Reiss offers some names to watch for at WR that would be available in the second round.
- Jake Mackey suggests some players and positions for Patriots fans to look for at the Combine.
- WEEI Free agent snapshot: S Eric Weddle and WR Percy Harvin.
- Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Laying out the Patriots free agency plan.
- Mark Daniels thinks new deals for Collins and Hightower should be top priorities for Patriots in 2016.
- Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry finish up their position-by-position breakdown: Specialists.
- Ryan Hannable gives us an inside look at two local prospects preparing for the NFL combine.
- CSNNE finishes us off with a kidney punch, with the final entry in its Missed Lombardis series: 2015.
- David Portnoy (Barstool Sports) Tom Brady texted Julian Edelman after he got booed at the Superbowl and said "Everyone F***ing hates us. Let’s win it all next year."
NATIONAL NEWS
- Robert Mays (The MMQB) The NFL Combine and you.
- Peter King (The MMQB) Even in the Draft, there's no safe way to tackle; MMQB Mailbag.
- Ted Sundquist (TheFootballEducator) The GM and the Scout - Contextualizing the Combine.
- Matt Bowen (ESPN) Inside the grueling, wacky interview process at the NFL combine.
- Mike Mayock (NFL.com) 2016 NFL Draft position rankings.
- Chase Goodbread (NFL.com) Ten things we learned during Mike Mayock's teleconference.
- Joel Klatt (Fox Sports) Big Board is here: Top 50 for 2016 NFL Draft.
- Jason B. Hirschhorn (Sports on Earth) The lessons of NFL free agency.
- Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent's Take: How familiarity could impact 19 teams' free-agency plans.
- Keith Carman (The MMQB) Gronk's party ship: 'The best vacation of my life.'
- Adrian Hasenmayer (Fox Sports) To NFL players saying Cam couldn't get away with being like Gronk, you miss the point.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Polian thinks player safety will keep catch rule from changing.
- Philip Marcelo (AP Pro32) Nonprofits to NFL: Stop pushing fantasy sports on kids.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) New NFLPA regulation mandates consultation during negotiations.
DUMPSTER DIVE
- Michael Hurley posts a sample speech of what Roger Goodell would have to say if he were to return the Patriots' draft picks. /Fantastic.
- Adam Kurkjian adds Peter King to the list of prominent critics who are calling for Roger Goodell to return the Patriots; draft picks.
- NBC Report (Yahoo! Sports) Patriots won't get picks back; Brady could still be suspended.
- CSNNE Early Edition:Chris Gasper thinks it's the NFL owners who don't want the Patriots to get their picks back. (5.48 min. video)
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Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon (ESPN Radio) PTI Podcast - Discussion of Peter King's article; Kornheiser thinks Roger Goodell should return the picks. (8.30 min. mark)
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA’s latest win over NFL was a blowout.
- MJ Slaby (Knoxville News Sentinel) UT asks for Peyton Manning claims to be removed from federal lawsuit.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Romo’s lawsuit against NFL goes to court Monday.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Gronk’s "booze-cruise" becomes issue in Romo lawsuit.