New England Patriots links 6/03/16 - Robert Kraft loves great depth, great spirit in locker room

TEAM TALK

• Andy Hart notes that Malcolm Butler's contract situation is similar to Tom Brady's around 2002.
• Press Conference Transcript - Robert Kraft.
• Player Interviews - Malcom Brown (4.17 min. video) and Matthew Slater (10.13 min. video)
• Photos: Then & now: Headshot day.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss notes that Robert Kraft was happy to talk about what he liked about the 2016 team: "There is a great spirit in the locker room. I think we have great depth..."
• Mike Reiss reports Tom Brady made a surprise appearance at the end of Thursday's Myra Kraft Community MVP event at Gillette Stadium.
• Mike Petraglia relays 93-year-old Ida May Molitor tells Tom Brady to 'keep up the good work.'
• Henry McKenna discovers Tom Brady made a surprise appearance at the Kelley for Ellie breast cancer benefit Wednesday night.
• Ryan Hannable finds Tom Brady looks back on his baseball playing days in his latest Facebook post.
• Kevin Duffy hears from Matthew Slater, who is 'very disappointed' in talk of eliminating kickoffs.
• Mark Daniels reports Matthew Slater disappointed in new touchback rule.
• Mark Daniels writes that Jabaal Sheard didn't know what to expect with the Patriots when he was brought in last year, but now he is engrained in the system and feels at home.
• Mike Petraglia notes Malcom Brown credits his family for playing a big, big role in his maturity and ability to handle responsibility.
• Doug Kyed notes Matthew Slater is the latest Patriot to praise Malcom Brown's leadership.
• Michael Felger discusses who stays and who goes, as contract decisions loom for the Patriots.
• 98.5 Sports Hub Zolak & Bertrand worry that Julian Edelman may not be fully cleared for contact until November, based on Dez Bryant's timeline.
• Doug Kyed Patriots Mailbag: Chris Hogan could have biggest impact among free agents.
• Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: Robert Kraft deflects Deflategate talk in favor of new-season enthusiasm.
• CSNNE Sports Tonight guest Ben Volin thinks Jamie Collins is going to want to break the bank. (1.26 min. video)
• Jaclyn Reiss reports Tribune Publishing is changing its corporate name to Tronc — which rhymes with Gronk, and people are taking notice.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Greg A. Bedard (SI) After 2016, Patriots’ future murky as cap and free agency questions loom.
• Erik Frenz (Bleacher Report) Should the Patriots wait on Malcolm Butler contract extension?
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Rob Gronkowski reportedly a steady presence at Patriots workouts.
• Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) GM: in NFL, LeBron James would have been 'Rob Gronkowski before Rob Gronkowski'.
• Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb (The Score) Flashback: Expos draft high school catcher Tom Brady.
• Ethan Young (Inside the Pylon) Data based approach to drafting kickers and punters.
• Countdown (NFL.com) Top 10 Randy Moss moments. (2.31 min. video)
• Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent's Take: How to make Andrew Luck the highest-paid player in NFL history.
• David Steele (Sporting News) Brock Osweiler needs to cut petty act with Broncos and appreciate White House visit.
• Chris Chase (Fox Sports) An open letter to three NFL quarterbacks who've overplayed their hands.
• Brett Smiley (Fox Sports) 5 NFL QBs who've had their feelings hurt this offseason.

DEFLATEGATE, DUMPSTER DIVE

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Law professors become the latest to file brief in support of Brady.
• Oliver Thomas (247 Sports) Robert Kraft opts not to discuss Patriots' amicus brief Thursday.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Stephen A. Smith swings at De Smith, misses. /Good take-down.
  
• Mike Tanier (Bleacher Report) 5 Reasons you should keep paying attention to deflategate. /Snark-heavy.
• Ron Borges calls out a lot of people as phonies and hypocrites on deflategate, but forgets Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson were guilty. /Hate-heavy.
• David Steele (Sporting News) NFL's 'hypocrisy' shows with Vegas push and gambling fight, says N.J. politician.