New England Patriots Links 3/17/16 - 2016 NFL Free Agency: Patriots' Latest Moves add Versatility, Talent

TEAM TALK

• Paul Perillo passes along a report that the Patriots traded for Chicago TE Martellus Bennett.
• Paul Perillo notes that according to Fox Sports, the Patriots have signed veteran RB Donald Brown.
• Lauren Williams tells us five things we may want to know about Chris Hogan.
• Erik Scalavino reports Jonathan Cooper is anxious for a 'fresh start' with the Patriots.
• Patriots Today - Meet Jonathan Cooper. (2.50 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Malcolm Butler talks to Brockton students about bullying prevention. (2.43 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss believes Martellus Bennett gives Belichick the duo he has sought at tight end.
• Jeff Kane (ESPNNH) Trader Bill is at it again, Patriots acquire TE Martellus Bennett.
• Jeff Howe reports Bill Belichick added more versatility to his defensive front and punched up his offense by acquiring a pair of Chicago Bears yesterday.
• Eric Wilbur frankly states Cooper and Long both have ‘bust’ potential, but they’re still the right moves for the Patriots.
• Kevin Duffy says that in Chris Long, Patriots fans are getting one of the best Twiter personalities in sports.
• Jim McBride Patriots Notebook: Chris Long has a good sense of humor;
• Christopher Price reports the Patriots and free agent Shea McClellin reportedly agree on a 3-year deal.
• Mike Reiss wonders if the Patriots can help Shea McClellin tap the potential that made him a first-round pick.
• Doug Kyed reports on the Patriots signing LB Shea McClellin to a 3-year contract.
• Kevin Duffy tells us what we need to know about Shea McClellin.
• Kevin Duffy looks at where Donald Brown will fit in the Patriots backfield.
• Mike Reiss notes Malcolm Butler is taking the patient approach on his desired extension.
• Jeff Howe looks at why Malcolm Butler’s huge payday might not be as close as it seemed.
• Tom E. Curran highlights the top five most underpaid Patriots.
• Ryan Hannable thumbnails ten players who New England could target with picks No. 60-61 in the draft.
• Mike Reiss notes the Patriots will be busy in the sixth round of the draft, with five selections.
• NESN looks at whether Chandler Jones' off-field incident played a role in getting him traded.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Resetting Patriots' 2016 draft picks after two trades.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) After all the moves, the Patriots have 11 draft picks.
• Chris Wesseling (NFL.com) Patriots vying with Steelers for AFC's top offense.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Malcolm Butler wants to make sure you know he likes being a Patriot.
• Greg A. Bedard (SI) Pats' trade for Bennett a low-risk move with chance for high reward.
• Brandon Schlager (Sporting News) Patriots trade for Martellus Bennett to pair with Rob Gronkowski.
• Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) Gronk, Black Unicorn should star as Patriots revive two-TE offense.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Martellus Bennett trade expands dimensions of Patriots' offense.
• Jeff Dickerson (ESPN) Trading Martellus Bennett was inevitable for the Bears.
• Des Bieler (Washington Post) Patriots keep dealing, acquire Martellus Bennett from Bears.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) Report: Patriots pull off huge trade, obtain Martellus Bennett from Bears.
• Brad Biggs (Chicago Tribune) Bears trade Martellus Bennett to Patriots.
• Adam L. Jahns (Chicago Sun times) End Games: Bears succeed in trading Martellus Bennett.
• Brad Biggs (Chicago Tribune) Getting something for Martellus Bennett was a win for Ryan Pace.
• Jeff Ruby (Chicago Magazine) The wonderfully weird world of Martellus Bennett. [From 8/25/15].
• Jeff Dickerson (ESPN) Draft status doomed Shea McClellin in Chicago.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Ty Law: Belichick’s personnel approach has cost Patriots championships.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Report: Patriots meet with Georgia's Sterling Bailey.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Amendola could indeed be out in New England. /No report, just his assumption.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) Tom Brady is so old that he now holds this NFL distinction.
• Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Grading the big free-agent deals.
• Kenneth Arthur (Sports on Earth) NFL free agency's biggest upgrades.
• Marc Sessler (NFL.com) Collateral damage: Players hurt by free agency.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Five years of NFL free agency: The best and worst teams since 2011.
• Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) NFL Power Rankings: Free agency takes toll on Denver Broncos.
• Staff Report (USA Today) Power Rankings. Pats 2nd.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) Super Bowl LI odds: Patriots on top, Raiders up big after free agency.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) It’s time to dump the franchise tag.
• Andrew Bucholtz (Awful Announcing) Tony Siragusa is gone from Fox Sports after nine NFL seasons, but many won’t miss him.

DEFLATEGATE, DUMPSTER DIVE

• Andrew Brandt (The MMQB) The 'when' and [possibly] 'what's next' of the deflategate appeal decision. /Decision by the end of April?.
• Patrick Hruby (Vice Sports) If the NFL thinks football is linked to CTE, then its concussion settlement should pay for the disease.
• Matthew Futterman (Wall St. Journal) NFL lawyer plays down brain-disease admission.
• Bob Glauber (Newsday) What’s next for NFL after acknowledging link between football and CTE?
• Lindsey Foltin (NY Post) Roger Goodell may have screwed up his last NFL suspension.