TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino shares the news, notes and locker-room buzz from Thursday at Gillette: Practice intensity up during playoffs.
- Erik Scalavino scouts the playoff competition.
- Paul Perillo's Presser Points: Belichick: All about 'next Saturday night.'
- Press Conference Transcripts: Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
- Media Availability Transcripts: Hightower, Lengel, Andrews, Bennett, and Edelman.
LOCAL LINKS
- Brian MacPherson sees it as a good sign that Julian Edelman is healthy.
- Doug Kyed mentions how Logan Ryan was joking that Julian Edelman gets "real disrespectful" at Patriots practice.
- Ryan Hannable gathers from Julian Edelman's comments, that Michael Floyd is fitting in with the Patriots quite nicely.
- Chris Mason finds Martellus Bennett sold on the Patriots and success, while pitching his new line of "Football Marty" merchandise to reporters.
- Christopher Price reports Martellus Bennett makes his pitch to stick with the Patriots.
- Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Putting the Patriots 2016 defense in historical context.
- Tom E. Curran notes Bill Belichcik doesn't care about regular-season progress: 'It's where it'll be next Saturday.'
- Mike Reiss notes the return of "Playoff Bill" with his laser-like focus and edge.
- Ryan Hannable mentions how Bill Belichick managed to praise NFL referees and the media all in the same press conference. /Then he rinsed and spit.
- Jeff Howe tells us about Patriots TE coach Brian Daboll, who is next in line to Josh McDaniels and ready to step in when needed.
- Phil Perry gives us a practice update from Thursday: Mitchell (knee) returns, giving Brady five WRs to work with.
- Mike Cole points out how the Patriots' level of preparation can )expletive) frustrate opponents. Miami DL coach to his unit: "They're in the right protection every (bleeping) time!"
- Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Center David Andrews makes sure everything lines up right for Tom Brady and the offense; Practice update; More.
- Tom E. Curran reports Bill Belichick took time to praise Hall of Fame finalist Ty Law.
- Kevin Duffy wonders if Tom Brady can beat out Matt Ryan for the 2016 NFL MVP Award.
- Hayden Bird relays Tom Brady's explanation of the private letter he sent to the Riley family following the loss of their son, Calvin.
- Ryan Hannable tries to decipher whether or not Tom Brady is contemplating joining Twitter or Instagram. /Please, dear Lord, not Twitter.
- Kevin Duffy thumbnails the Patriots' most improved players in 2016.
- Nick O'Malley hands out his 2016 Patriots team awards.
- Doug Kyed Patriots Mailbag: Identifying potential postseason breakout stars.
- Matt Dolloff struggles to understand why Colts owner Jim Irsay will stick with Chuck Pagano and Ryan Grigson after two straight 8-8 seasons.
- Michael Hurley writes a love/hate letter to the NFL and makes his Wild-Card Weekend picks.
- Jim Lazar doesn't think Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia are too eager to say Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, hello Highway to Hell. Wild-Card Weekend Picks.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Martellus Bennett hopes to stay with the Patriots.
- Chris Chase (Fox Sports) Why the New England Patriots aren’t going to win Super Bowl LI. "The NFL's top team rarely wins the year-end knockout tournament." /2014 ring any bells?
- NFL 360 Roundtable (NFL.com) Who can challenge the Patriots? (5 min. video) /Everyone, apparently. The Pats defense let up a lot of yards dont'cha know.
- Marcus Hayes (Philly.com) The whole Eric Rowe business still makes no sense.
- Peter Botte (NY Daily News) Bill Belichick changed the fortunes of two franchises when he quit the Jets 17 years ago.
- Kurt Warner (NFL.com) Top 5 quarterbacks of 2016. (2.59 min. video) No. 2 Tom Brady.
- Dan Hanzus (NFL.com) Sleep like the great, most likely human, Tom Brady.
- Ike Taylor (NFL.com) Year-end cornerback rankings. /Malcolm Butler didn't even make the 'outside looking in' section.
- Nate Davis (USA Today) Three things to know: Dolphins (6) at Steelers (3) wild-card preview.
- Lorenzo Reyes (USA Today) Three things to know: Giants (5) at Packers (4) wild-card preview.
- Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Ready... Set... Playoffs!
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) PFT's Wild-card picks.
- Staff (SI) 2017 NFL playoff predictions: SI's picks for Super Bowl LI.
- Dave Dameshek (NFL.com) Wild Card Spoiler Alert!: Steelers, Texans, Pack, 'Hawks advance.
- Mina Kimes (ESPN) A sketchy 2016 NFL playoffs preview.
- Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Beware, No. 1 seeds, hot teams poised to slice through NFL playoffs.
- Chris Wesseling (NFL.com) AFC playoff teams: Biggest strengths and weaknesses.
- Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) NFC playoff teams: Biggest strengths and weaknesses.
- Jarrett Bell (USA Today) One pressing question for every team in NFL playoffs. 1. What makes the Patriots such an enticing Super Bowl favorite?
- Cameron DaSilva (Fox Sports) Every NFL team’s 2016 MVP.
- Cameron DaSilva (Fox Sports) Final 2016 season grades for all 32 NFL teams. Patriots A+.
- Bucky Brooks* (NFL.com) Five rookies that will make biggest impact in 2017 NFL playoffs.
- Kevin Seifert (ESPN) 2016 NFL officiating awards: Best and worst calls, most-penalized player and more.
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today) NFL rebuild rankings: Which teams are in best shape for 2017?
- Brad Gagnon (CBS Sports) Here are the 12 biggest moments that helped shape the 2016 NFL regular season. 7. Tom Brady lights up the Browns in return from suspension.
- Brett Smiley (Fox Sports) Every NFL team’s season described by a movie title. New England Patriots: The Usual Suspects.
- Sean Wagner-McGough (CBS Sports) Jets GM says catching up to the Patriots is 'not unattainable.' "It's funny. In my phone, I think I have Tom's birthday logged in there, so every time his birthday comes up, I know he's getting one year older. I'm just joking." /Is he?
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) No traction to change rule regarding the hiring of assistant coaches.
- Joe Flint (Wall St. Journal) NFL ratings declines ease after election: TV viewership falls 8% for full season, raising questions about the lack of competitive early matchups, over-saturation and anthem protests.
- Emily Jackson (Financial Post) NFL lobbied prime minister’s office, MPs to overturn CRTC Super Bowl ad decision.
- Chris Baldwin (Paper City Mag) Roger Goodell's personal Houston Super Bowl playland will morph into the city's ultimate staycation resort.