TEAM TALK
- Bob Socci hears from NFL personnel executive Gil Brandt, who says, "This is a draft that's a Patriot draft."
- Erik Scalavino shares some news and notes from Day 3 at the NFL Scouting Combine.
- Andy Hart evaluates the linebackers at the Combine: New England’s need for LB depth could lead to action at the position on draft weekend.
- Erik Scalavino examines the 2016 draft-eligible defensive line and safety prospects.
- Andy Hart thinks the Patriots pass defense could get a boost from a deep, confident corps of Combine cornerbacks.
- Andy Hart and Bob Socci break down Day Three of the NFL Scouting Combine. (3.02 min. video)
- Bob Socci - NFL Combine Day 4: Mark Dominik: 'It's a good problem to have' (1.37 min.video)
- Enter to Win: Jamie Collins Leap Day Sweepstakes.
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts from the Patriots and around the NFL: Dave Ziegler rises to pro personnel director with the Patriots.
- Christopher Price Sunday NFL Notes: Will not having a first-round pick alter the Patriots' offseason team-building approach?
- Ben Volin Sunday Football Notes: With ex-Patriots as GMs, these teams are trying to emulate the Belichick Way.
- Karen Guregian finds that rival executives and experts express their belief that the Patriots will overcome the loss of their No. 1 pick. /Bill Polian downplaying the loss with empty kisses thrown to Belichick doesn't change the truth.
- Jeff Howe wants the Patriots to look into how high a draft pick the Patriots might get, by trading Jimmy Garoppolo.
- Ian Logue (PatsFans) Monday daily Patriots rundown: Until deflategate is resolved, Garoppolo isn't going anywhere.
- Karen Guregian says shame on the Patriots if they don't pick the better player in the draft this year, and instead take a lower-graded player who fits a need.
- Tom E. Curran notes that if Danny Amendola doesn’t want to redo his deal, the Patriots will need to answer whether it might be time to move on from him.
- Mike Reiss looks at where things stand between the Patriots and DT Akiem Hicks.
- Miguel Benzan (PatsFans) Chris Jones, Logan Ryan, and Duron Harmon now due to earn $1.671 million in cash this year.
- Karen Guregian shares a few things picked up from the Combine: A Belichickian draft.
- Ryan Hannable tells us ten things we learned at the Combine: 1. Overall, the combine lacked the buzz it's had in recent years.
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Bob Socci speaks with several league executives on how they can draft for both talent and need.
- Mark Daniels notes the analysts agree on what the Patriots' draft needs are, if not on their number one priority.
- Jeff Howe Combine Notebook: DE Bosa will be life of any party.
- Jeff Howe notes the Patriots don't need to seek out cornerbacks or safeties early in this draft.
- Ryan Hannable profiles three potential Patriots cornerbacks at the Combine.
- Jeff Howe sees plenty of linebackers who can help the Patriots, and fill the depth chart behind Hightower and Collins.
- Henry McKenna presents 15 targets for the Patriots in free agency.
- Mike Reiss reports that Frantzy Jourdain, the scout whose recommendation helped the Patriots sign Malcolm Butler, will not be returning with the team next season.
- CBS Boston finds Malcolm Butler court side for Isaiah Thomas' incredible pass on Thursday night, but the C's point guard doesn't think even the Super Bowl XLIX hero would have been able intercept his highlight reel dime.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tania Ganguli (ESPN) Derek Watt, Glenn Gronkowski look to make names for themselves in the NFL.
- Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Five cornerbacks for Patriots to watch at NFL combine.
- Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Updating Patriots' 2016 draft contacts at NFL combine.
- Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Urban Meyer on Bill Belichick: 'He's not a chitchat guy'.
- Mike Tanier (Bleacher Report) Combine Notebook: Brandon Doughty climbs the board.
- Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Day 3 NFL Combine winners and losers.
- Doug Farrar (SI) Take a chance on me: Small-school players may be combine's big winners.
- Peter King (The MMQB) MMQB: The pride of North Dakota.
- James Light (James Light Football) Bill Belichick Defensive Fundamentals. [From January 23, 2016]
- Matt Waldman (Rookie Scouting Portfolio) Flawed: The NFL’s investigation of character.
- Matt Bonesteel (Washington Post) The NFL is again considering elimination of the chop block.
- Editors (Inside The Pylon) ITP Glossary: Area Scout.
- David Steele (Sporting News) Wonderlic test fails to pass as predictor of football success.
- Alysha Tsuji (USA Today) Watch Richard Sherman and Rob Gronkowski ride a tandem bike and chill in Snuggies.
- Scott Van Pelt (ESPN) 1 Big Thing: Gronk rampages through life. (2.11 min. video)
- Rob Arthur (Wall St. Journal) The shrinking shelf life of NFL players.
- Barry Petchesky (Deadspin) NFL considers eliminating a preseason game.
- Tom Pelissero (USA Today) NFL, players union set salary cap at $155 million.
- Ian Gunn (Sports Esquires) Sports Law Links for Week of Feb. 29, 2016.
- Ben Fawkes (ESPN) Five teams open at 10.5 wins in first NFL sportsbook release for 2016.
- Christian Hoban (Sports Quotient) Should NFL teams tank?
- Erik Frenz (Bleacher Report) Re-signing LeGarrette Blount would be good start to Patriots' offseason RB plan.
DEFLATEGATE, DUMPSTER DIVE
- 98.5 Sports Hub guest Sports attorney Daniel Wallach discusses what to expect from this week's deflategate appeal.
- Brandon Schlager (Sporting News) Deflategate returns: Everything to know about NFL's upcoming appeal.