New England Patriots links 10/13/17 - Defense, run game still works in progress

TEAM TALK

• Patriots - Jets Thursday Injury Report.
• Erik Scalavino shares his locker room notes from Thursday at Gillette: In limited role, David Harris still makes a positive impression.
• Angelique Fiske reports Drew Bledsoe's Doubleback Winery is selling bottles from its wine library to raise money for California wildfire victims.
• What They're Saying: New York Jets.
• Patriots make changes to the practice squad.

LOCAL LINKS

• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots-Jets key matchups: Who has the razor's edge?
• Mike Reiss demonstrates how Bill Belichick paints the Jets as a contender for the Super Bowl, rather than the No. 1 pick in April.
• Ron Borges writes 'Tom Brady's aching left shoulder will remain a sore spot until he gets protection."
• Zack Cox hears that Kony Ealy plans to use Tom Brady's tips against him this Sunday.
• Matt Dolloff warns that Brady and the Patriots should not take the Jets' playmaking rookie safeties lightly.
• Mike Reiss points to the challenge of keeping Danny Amendola healthy with all the extra snaps.
• Ryan Hannable sees Danny Amendola as a perfect example of how fan perception can change.
• Rich Garven points to the ways the defense is still a daunting improvement project at all three levels.
• James Conway (PatsPropaganda) Coffin Corner: Matt Patricia’s White Whale – 3rd and 2.
• Rich Thompson reports Devin McCourty feels confident the Patriots have become better at communicating - and executing - since the Carolina debacle.
• Rich Garven notes Devin McCourty's hustle inspires his teammates and coaches.
• Ryan Hannable expects Dont'a Hightower to continue to see more time in the middle of the defense.
• Kevin Dillon notes Dont'a Hightower says his conditioning is not where he wants it to be.
• Kevin Dillon reports Devin McCourty called Patrick Chung the Patriots' "most versatile player".
• Doug Kyed looks at the high praise David Harris gets from everyone on the team, including Bill Belichick.
• Kevin Duffy mentions the Patriots RBs are glad to see LeGarrette Blount shining with the Eagles.
• Mike Reiss shares some Patriots-related thoughts while watching TNF: The Patriots lack the type of hard-charging running back they had in LeGarrette Blount.
• Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Malcolm Butler knows defense must build off momentum from Tampa Bay win; Dont'a Hightower vouches for David Harris, "whenever his number is called, David is going to be ready."
• Rich Garven Patriots Journal: Jets expect Stephon Gilmore to be at his best.
• Jeff Howe's Three-and-Out, Friday Mailbag: Examining the Pats' IR-return candidates, Gronk's quest for 69 records.
• Doug Kyed Patriots Mailbag: Should Pats have kept Blount, Bennett and Sheard? More.
• Mike Reiss affirms the game in Mexico City is still on and notes the Patriots contributed $200K towards disaster relief efforts.
• Michael Hurley points out Bill Belichick has outlasted 17 fellow head coaches in Boston sports.
• Ryan Hannable highlights Robert Kraft's wide-ranging interview with BBC.
• Alex Reimer talks about the 'strange space-themed video' posted to social media of Tom Brady hawking UnReal chocolate.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) James Develin tribute: The engineering meathead fullback.
• Jim Lazar tells Super Bowl LI to step aside. The Patriots are about to play the biggest game in AFC East history! Week 6 picks. Patriots win 31-16.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Dennis Waszak Jr. (AP) Here's how the Jets defense plans to stop Tom Brady. “We have noticed that Tom Brady holds onto the ball a little bit longer than he usually does”.
• Dennis Waszak Jr. (AP) Todd Bowles: "Brady will probably be playing after I’m long retired at the rate he’s going right now".
• Reporters (NFL.com) Notebook: AFC East in turmoil, Adrian Peterson in Arizona, test for Chiefs.
• Andy Benoit (SI) 10 Things I think I think: Jets D playinig Bowles' way, Giants staring at SNF disaster, Carson Palmer is NFL's toughest QB. /Um... no.
• Kenneth Arthur (Sports on Earth) The NFL's most surprising stats.
• Will Leitch (Sports on Earth) NFL Confidence Pool: Week 6.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Andrew Beaton (Wall St. Journal) Roger Goodell has a secret defender on Twitter: His wife.
• Michael Hurley finds it 'magnificently humorous that the wife of the man who has proven to have either operated deceitfully or flat-out lied in some of the NFL’s most publicized moments over the years has taken issue with what she deems to be inaccurate reporting.' /Exactly!
• Michael McCann (SI) Ezekiel Elliott suspension: Breaking down legal options.
• Mike Florio (The Ringer) Ezekiel Elliott’s Texas lawsuit “not over” yet.
• Danny Heifetz (The Ringer) Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension reinstated following appeals court ruling.
• Zack Cox notes Robert Kraft encouraged the Patriots to 'do what they thought was correct' during the Anthem.
• Eric Schiffer (Fox News) The NFL and its owners salute one flag: The dollar.