TEAM TALK
- Patriots release DB Rashaan Melvin and LB James Vaughters.
- Paul Perillo notes the Patriots didn't add any running backs in the draft but coach Ivan Fears still offered plenty of thoughts on evaluating them.
- Paul Perillo notes Brian Daboll and Chad O'Shea expressed excitement over their new additions.
- Erik Scalavino highlights a refreshed Dante Scarnecchia discussing his 'retirement' and decision to return to coaching.
- Press Conference: Josh McDaniels (8.26 min. video) and Matt Patricia (3.24 min. video)
- Photos - April's best submissions from the "Lil' Pats Fan Photo Contest."
LOCAL LINKS
- Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Mitchell, Lucien give the Patriots youth, depth at WR.
- Mike Reiss looks at Bill Belichick's rationale for his trades on Day 3 of the draft.
- Doug Kyed makes an early Patriots 53-man roster projection: Only six rookies make the cut.
- Mike Petraglia notes Josh McDaniels sounds comfortable with the possibility of Jimmy Garoppolo starting the season as the Patriots QB.
- Karen Guregian hears from Bill Parcells and Charlie Weis, who both rave about new Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett.
- Ryan Hannable looks at what the drafting of Jacoby Brissett means for Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo.
- Matt Dolloff says Jonathan Cooper would have had to morph into John Hannah at offseason workouts for the Patriots to pick up that option.
- Mike Reiss notes there's no more uncertainty about Joe Thuney's position fit, thanks to blunt, pull-no-punches OL coach Dante Scarnecchia.
- Christopher Price tells us why Dante Scarnecchia's homecoming will straighten out the O-Line.
- Mike Petraglia notes Dante Scarnecchia says the Patriots and Bill Belichick made it 'easy' for him to return to coaching.
- Darren Hartwell reports Dante Scarnecchia says the Patriots were the only team he'd end retirement for.
- Doug Kyed shares some Patriots draft scouting notes: Malcolm Mitchell compares to Troy Brown.
- Chris Warner (Boston Sports Media) Patriots "that guy" 2016 draft review.
- Michael Felger presents three reasons why he likes the Patriots draft. (3.11 min. video)
- SportsNet Central guest Josh Norris gives his take on the best and worst picks from the Patriots in the 2016 NFL Draft. (3.28 min. video)
- Mike Reiss finds that having paid his dues the past four years, Steve Belichick is grateful for the opportunity to become the Patriots' safeties coach for his dad, Bill.
- Steve Hewitt notes Steve Belichick wants to be just like his father, right down to the hooded sweatshirts.
- Mark Daniels on 'The education of Stephen Belichick'. [From Oct.3, 3015]
- Matt Dolloff finds the purge of talent at ESPN continues, and next they may be deciding that Trent Dilfer isn't that good anymore.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Patriots won’t pick up Jonathan Cooper’s option.
- Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Joe Thuney an inside-out factor in Patriots' plans.
- Stephen Igoe (247 Sports) Former ECU TE Bryce Williams signs with Patriots.
- Nate Davis (USA Today) Ranking NFL teams' offseasons 1-32: Patriots, Broncos are losing the offseason.
- Brent Sobleski (Bleacher Report) NFL Power Rankings: How do experts stack up teams after the draft? No. 1. New England Patriots.
- Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) Collateral Damage: 20 veterans hurt by 2016 NFL Draft. No. 18 Aaron Dobson.
- Chris Burke (SI) Each NFL team's best undrafted free agent signing of 2016.
DEFLATEGATE DUMPSTER
- A.J. Perez (USA Today) NFL argues against delay in Deflategate case.
- Michael Hurley was amused by the NFL's latest motion, filed to prevent the NFLPA from being granted a 14-day extension: "Time remains of the essence."
- Peter Ott (Sports Law Biz) Deflategate update with Ian Gunn. (19.55 min. podcast)
- John Breech (CBS Sports) Tom Brady is all smiles in first public outing since being suspended.
- Tom E. Curran thinks it's unfair to criticize Robert Kraft for not supporting Tom Brady. (1.40 min. video)
- Mark Farinella does not like that the team is not liked by 'the rest of America,' and wants Robert Kraft to kowtow to Roger Goodell and stop enabling bad behavior by Tom Brady the football staff and the fans. /Seriously, what???.
- Doug Kyed reports that Moose, Pro Wrestler/Ex-Patriots OL, wants to spear Roger Goodell.
- Charles P. Pierce (SI) Knight, Schilling show what happens when sports and politics collide.
- Dan Glaun reports the father of Ron Brace suggests concussions led to his son's death.