New England Patriots Links 3/15/16 - Patriots May Look to Draft Offensive Line Help, Not in Free Agency

TEAM TALK

• Patriots 2016 Free Agent Tracker.
• John Rooke's View from Above: The waiting? It is the hardest part of the off season.
• Paul Perillo notes Akiem Hicks signed with Chicago but was appreciative of his time in New England.
• Conference Call - Chris Hogan (12.38 min. audio)

LOCAL LINKS

• Matt Dolloff wonders if the Patriots are looking to the draft for offensive line help, rather than free agency.
• Chad Finn is being driven insane by Pats fans who choose to ignore the Patriots successes in free agency to gripe endlessly about the flops.
• Christopher Price notes Malcolm Butler nets over $319K in performance-based pay for his work in 2015.
• Doug Kyed tells us the Patriots top performance-based bonus earners for 2015, led by Malcolm Butler with $319K.
• Sam Galanis notes Nick Caserio said Malcolm Butler far exceeded the Patriots' earliest expectations.
• Christopher Price explains how much pre-draft contract really means when it comes to gauging Patriots' interest in prospects.
• Mike Reiss points out the Patriots don't necessarily need Chris Long, but he would provide flexibility.
• Christopher Price observes the Patriots reaching out to potential special teams difference-makers this offseason.
• Mike Reiss notes Chris Hogan had long admiring the Patriots for their winning ways.
• Mark Daniels writes about Chris Hogan's unusual path to New England .
• Phil Perry notes Chris Hogan is already aware that communication is important 'especially' with Tom Brady.
• Tom E. Curran looks at where the Patriots D-Line stands after Akiem Hicks' departure.
• Mike Reiss reports Akiem Hicks says he will 'forever have a great deal of respect' for the Patriots.
• Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: Chris Hogan anxious to fit into Patriot way; Chris Long was in Foxboro yesterday; Belichick made a 'last ditch effort' to keep Akiem Hicks; Several players earned extra cash based on NFL's performance-based system.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Vijay Govindarajan (Harvard Business Review) What ruthless innovators can learn from the New England Patriots.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Chris Hogan sees "a ton of carryover" between lacrosse and football.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Checking in on Patriots' five remaining free agents.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Nate Washington visits with Patriots.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Report: Corner Antwon Blake visiting Patriots Tuesday.
• Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Eight NFL players get $300K or more in performance-based pay for 2015.
• Analysis team (Pro Football Focus) 2016 Free Agency Tracker - sortable by PFF grade, 2015 snap count, age, old team, new team, and more.
• Judy Battista (NFL.com) Free agency stories to watch.
• Doug Farrar (SI) NFL free agency’s best bargains: Eight underrated deals.
• Troy Hull (Sports Quotient) The best offensive free agents left in the 2016 offseason.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Lions re-sign WR Tim Wright.
• Ross Tucker (Sports on Earth) In the NFL, winning isn't cheap.
• Chris Wesseling (NFL.com) Oakland Raiders top list of five franchises on the rise.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Competition Committee will look to expand protection against low hits on quarterbacks.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Mike Munchak says fine for pulling Reggie Nelson’s hair was rescinded.
• Alex Reimer (Forbes) Despite free agency, NFL players remain vastly underpaid.
• David Steele (Sporting News) Embrace the Washington stadium's excess ... it's so very NFL.

DEFLATEGATE, DUMPSTER DIVE

• Matthew Futterman (Wall St. Journal ) NFL, union closer to deal stripping Roger Goodell of discipline power.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL, NFLPA making progress toward deal on reducing Commissioner power, maybe.
• Michael Hurley brings up the possibility, however slight, that after spending more than a year on the offensive against Tom Brady, Roger Goodell and the NFL might be willing to drop the charges. /Not holding my breath.
• CSNNE Quick Slants guest Michael McCann breaks down some possible outcomes of the Tom Brady appeal.
• Nicole Fisher (Forbes) NFL forced to admit in Congressional roundtable connection between football and brain degeneration.
• Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) NFL official finally admits link between football, trauma and CTE.