TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino reports Chris Long and Terrance Knighton are fitting in fast.
- Paul Perillo takes a look at some first impressions of the Patriots OTA session: Martellus Bennett got the bulk of the work with Rob Gronkowski missing; More.
- Andy Hart finds Dont'a Hightower focused on improvement over all else as the Patriots close out their first week of OTAs at Gillette Stadium.
- Angelique Fiske finds that Bill Belichick topped all other head coaches in the NFL, according to this list.
- Patriots Today - First look at Patriots OTAs. (2.53 min. video)
- Press pass: Devin McCourty - Chris Long - Terrence Knighton.
- PFW in Progress Recap 5/26: Patriots OTAs; Jim Brewer.
LOCAL LINKS
- PJ Wright notes Tom Brady is already throwing touchdowns to Martellus Bennett.
- Jeff Howe suggests Jimmy Garoppolo might be the second-best quarterback in the AFC East after reviewing his performance at OTAs.
- Christopher Price notices that Martellus Bennett is gaining early entry in Tom Brady's circle of trust.
- Kevin Duffy notes that for Patriots DT Terrance Knighton, conditioning is a lifelong challenge.
- Adam Kurkjian observes that at the very least, it appears Terrance Knighton has the right attitude, making it clear yesterday that he's here to learn.
- Mark Daniels talks with Terrance Knighton, who appears to have found plenty of motivators.
- Kyle DaLuz reports run-stuffing NT Terrance Knighton knew he was joining a team that has been the most dominant, consistent group in the NFL for the past decade.
- Mark Daniels reports Chris Long says he has been leaning on Rob Ninkovich to get up to speed.
- Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook:Gronkowski heads list of players absent from workout; Patriots are known to be cautious with injured players this time of year; Hightower is not talking contract, says it won't be a distraction; More updates from Thursday's OTA.
- Mike Reiss informs us the Patriots are getting plenty of reps for backup quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Jacoby Brissett as well as Tom Brady, and all threw well.
- Ben Volin offers some very early observations from practice: 'Patriots did a pretty good job of giving Brady and Garoppolo an almost equal amount of reps with the ones and twos, while Brissett played almost strictly with the threes. All three took a lot of snaps.'
- Mark Daniels shares his observations from OTAs: Several starters missing as Martellus Bennett shines.
- Kevin Duffy on Patriots OTAs: Martellus Bennett impresses with Rob Gronkowski absent.
- Mike Petraglia and Chris Price cover it all from Tom Brady, Patriots OTA observations and deflategate. (9.33 min. video)
- Ian Logue (PatsFans) Recapping Thursday's Patriots OTAs session.
- CBS Boston posts some observations from their first glimpse of the 2016 Patriots Thursday: Bill Belichick was in mid-season form.
- Mike Reiss tells us how Bill Belichick lambasted players yesterday for ending a practice drill too early.
- Tom E. Currran notes that neither Jamie Collins nor Dante Hightower was very forthcoming about their contracts.
- Danny Picard asserts that whether or not Arian Foster plays for the Patriots, is ultimately up to him.
- Alex Guarino (Dirty Water Media) Danny Amendola’s Celebrity Waiter Night.
- Henry McKenna passes along this tidbit that whenever Robert Kraft goes to Dunkin' Donuts he buys everyone coffee.
- Bryanna Cappadona suggests 12 actors who should play Tom Brady.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Oliver Thomas (247Sports) Five sleepers to keep an eye on at Patriots OTAs.
- Dan Schmelzer (NFL Spin Zone) Five bold predictions for the 2016 New England Patriots.
- Zac Wassink (NFL Spin Zone) Just give the New England Patriots the AFC East title.
- Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) Biggest weak spot for each AFC team heading into 2016: Patriots' depth on D-line. "Expect teams to try to run against New England."
- Analysis team (Pro Football Focus) 2016 Offseason grades for every NFL team. Patriots earn a B.
- Steven Ruiz (USA Today) Ranking all 32 NFL head coaches, from worst to first. BB #1.
- Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) The story of how the Patriots found themselves in a fourth-and-63.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Who will be in room when league office consults with on-field officials?
- Jim Vickers (NFL Spin Zone) 2016 NFL rules affect kicking game, player safety.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Associated Press considering changes to All-Pro team.
- Terence Moore (Sports on Earth) The downside of hero worship.
- Richard Deitsch (SI) Chris Berman to leave longtime ESPN gigs at end of 2016 NFL season.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Chris Berman's agent denies report of looming retirement.
- Matt Yoder (Awful Announcing) Chris Berman might be retiring after this NFL season.
DEFLATEGATE, DUMPSTER DIVE
- Test (Harvard.edu) Deflategate: 100-Question test for anyone who might still believe that Tom Brady cheated.
- Michael Hurley details why the Patriots' amicus brief, treated by the public largely as a ceremonious, PR effort, was a calculated decision that could make a major impact.
- Jerry Thornton explains why the Patriots amicus brief is glorious.
- Ryan Hannable reports three NFL owners have expressed "extreme disappointment" in Robert Kraft and the Patriots after they filed an amicus brief in support of Tom Brady.
- Jason Cole (Bleacher Report) Owners unhappy at Kraft's deflategate letter of support for Brady. (1.04 min. video) 'If he meant it, he wouldn't have sent it.'
- Jeff Zrebiec (Baltimore Sun) NFL penalizes Ravens for violating practice rules. "NFL came down hard on the Ravens..." /What???.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Fines imposed against Harbaugh, Ravens show NFL didn’t think there was a "mistake".
- Matt Dolloff points out the 'shockingly appropriate' penalty the NFL gave the Ravens for their rules violations.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Goodell letter reaffirms $30 million commitment to NIH.
- Steve Petrella (Sporting News) Adam Silver again makes Roger Goodell look foolish when it comes to sports betting.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Most NFL teams play near a casino.
- Zachary Zagger (Law 360) Whistleblower says Calif. town hid deficit to attract NFL.