New England Patriots links 6/22/16 - Biggest X-factors for the Patriots: Bennett, Garoppolo, Long

TEAM TALK

• Andy Hart tackles this week's Ask PFW Mailbag: What IF... Jimmy Garoppolo?
• Angelique Fiske reports the Patriots rookie class spent its first day out in the community at Boston Children's Hospital.
• Lauren Williams reveals Stephen Gostkowski is set to appear on the new CBS TV show 'American Gothic.'
• Photos - In honor of National Selfie Day, here are some of our favorite Patriots smiling for the camera.

LOCAL LINKS

• Drew Kennedy (ESPNNH) Patriots tight ends: Offseason analysis.
• Gabrielle McMillen (Sporting News) Tom Brady inspired gymnast Aly Raisman to attempt rare Olympic comeback bid.
• CSNNE posts a link to Tom Brady's latest Facebook post that takes us inside his freezer with the Avocado ice cream.
• Kevin Duffy looks at the roster and sees some question marks along the interior offensive line and at running back for the New England Patriots.
• Mike Reiss notes that Jonathan Cooper is still coping with a broken leg.
• Kevin Duffy explains why Arian Foster to New England makes a ton of sense.
• Mark Daniels looks at what Donald Brown can bring to the Patriots.
• Christopher Price finds that Hall of Famer Jackie Slater initially tried to keep his son Matt away from football.
• Phil Perry wonders how Denver LB Brandon Marshall's new deal will impact contract expectations for Hightower and Collins.
• Kirk von Kreisler (Musketfire) Lost History: The story of the 2007 Patriots and 2015 Warriors.
• Bruce Allen (Boston Sports Media Watch) WEEI commits mundicide: The Planet Mikey Show is no more.
• Stephen Whyno (AP) reports that some NFL teams are trying to reduce fumbles with beeping footballs.
• Shirley Leung and Laura Krantz report Robert Kraft’s hunt for a new home for the New England Revolution has led him to talks about building a soccer stadium in Dorchester.
  

NATIONAL NEWS

• Zach Petersel (Forbes) X-factors for New England Patriots heading into 2016 season.
• Mike Tanier (Bleacher Report) Tom Brady is under too much pressure, and it could crush the Patriots dynasty.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) 10 unanswered Patriots questions entering the summer.
• Dan Schmelzer (NFL Spinzone) Countdown to kickoff: Profile on New England Patriots No. 83 Martellus Bennett.
• Field Yates (ESPN) Rob Gronkowski breaks the mold for scouting tight ends.
• Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) Ranking the NFL's four best receiver groups. No. 3. Patriots.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Jonathan Cooper working to 'rewrite' his history with Patriots.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) 'Every single year was a battle' for Patriots target Chris Hogan.
• Mike Rodak (ESPN) AFC East Q&A: Is it time to question Rex Ryan's coaching style?
• Chuck Zodda (Inside the Pylon) Evaluating kickers in context of weather.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Bruce DeHaven: We need to change perception of kickoffs. /We do?.
• Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) 10-Point stance: Don't compare Steph Curry and Cam Newton.
• Andy Benoit (The MMQB) The 12 most problematic roster holes that opened this offseason, and how each team plans to address them.
• John Kosko (Pro Football Focus) 10 Best AFC offensive players right now. No. 1 Rob Gronkowski, No. 6 (of course) Tom Brady.
• Andrea Hangst (Sports on Earth) Linebackers under pressure in 2016.

DEFLATEGATE, DUMPSTER DIVE

• Daniel Werley (The White Bronco) How to "fire" Roger Goodell.
• Emily Kaplan (The MMQB) MMQB Mailbag: Q: When you say Tom Brady should admit to something, you are either assuming he actually deflated the footballs (does any rational person equipped with the facts still think this?) or you think he should lie. Not a tenable position.
• Michael Hurley isn't buying the Warriors' collapse to the 2007 Patriots comparison.
• Richard Rothschild (SI) Fifteen worst postseason failures of all time. /Guess who's No. 1?.
  
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Did NFL, NBA pressure Benson to settle lawsuit?
• Jim Weber (Awful Announcing) Here lies the ESPN career of Skip Bayless (2004-16) — lover of Tebow, friend of hyperbole, troll to all.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) At ESPN, criticism of Skip Bayless apparently was forbidden.