New England Patriots links 12/07/17 - McDaniels takes his talent to South Beach for MNF showcase

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino shares the practice news, notes and locker-room buzz from Wednesday at Gillette: Practice absences adding up.
• Transactions: Patriots re-sign LB Jonathan Freeny, and re-sign OL Jason King to the practice squad.
• Conference Call Transcript: Bill Belichick.
• Press Conference Transcript: Devin McCourty.
• Press Pass: Chris Hogan makes his way back to the practice field and the Patriots prepare for MNF without Gronkowski. (1.43 min. video)
• Belichick Breakdown: Top Plays against the Bills. (6.44 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Karen Guregian says Josh McDaniels’ talent will be on display Monday night, in a challenging, prime-time situation.
• Mike Reiss reports Bill Belichick changes things up by holding practice in the heated fieldhouse to prepare for Miami.
• Tom E. Curran tells us what to know about the talented but undisciplined Miami Dolphins.
• Nick O'Malley previews Pats-Fins by scouting the edge at each position.
• Doug Kyed mentions how the Patriots are pretending they didn't just play the Dolphins two weeks ago.
• Danny Cox profiles the Dolphins: Pats will face a different team when they travel to Miami.
• Rich Thompson reminds us Dolphins DE Cameron Wake has delivered several of his finest pass rushing performances against the Patriots.
• Ryan Hannable reports Chris Hogan considers himself day-to-day, trying to play Monday vs. Dolphins.
• Mike Reiss sees the good timing of Chris Hogan's return (after missing more than a month with a shoulder injury) with Rob Gronkowski suspended.
• Mike Reiss spotlights the role of third-year guard Shaq Mason and the boost he’s given the resurgent running game.
• Nick O'Malley states Jacob Hollister is not Rob Gronkowski. He knows it, we know it, the Miami Dolphins know it. Still, he needs to help fill the void.
• Doug Kyed finds rookie Jacob Hollister is making progress, but not only as a tight end.
• Jeff Howe finds DT Malcom Brown was bothered more by not being able to help the team, than he was by his badly sprained ankle.
• Phil Perry observes the Patriots' trust in Jonathan Jones is obvious when you look at how he has been used.
• Zack Cox notes Eric Rowe is starting from the bottom after his seven-game absence.
• Kevin Duffy notes that after a three-month hiatus, Jonathan Freeny returned to the Patriots locker room on Wednesday. "It's like second nature."
• Phil Perry gives us a practice update and the status of player injuries.
• Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Chris Hogan is possible to make a timely return; Eric Rowe was excited to return Sunday; Pats re-signed LB Jonathan Freeny.
• Mike Reiss notes the Patriots are stressing discipline as play gets chippy.
• Zack Cox takes a look at how the Patriots can clinch the AFC East title this weekend.
• Michael Hurley tells us why Week 14 may be the final significant chapter in the Brady-Wentz MVP race.
• Michael Hurley brings up how Tre'Davious White is talking about how out in Buffalo, the 'whole hood' is out to get Rob Gronkowski.
• Alex Reimer offers his thoughts on why Robert Kraft and John Mara are no longer in the same class, especially after the embarrassing Eli Manning fiasco.
• Ron Borges wants Ron Meyer to rightfully be remembered as a winner. "He was better than they thought he was and better than he got credit for, frankly."
• Report (AP) Tom Brady photos slow down drivers in school zone. It "absolutely" worked.
• CBS Boston points out Cleveland Browns OL Joe Thomas took to Twitter to ask if Roger Goodell's $40M per year salary mean he's twice as valuable as Tom Brady ($20M per year).

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mark Maske (Washington Post) Josh McDaniels will be in demand again. But does he want to leave the Patriots?
• Albert Breer (SI) Game Plan: Pete Carroll credits people, not program for Seahawks success; Why now for Roger Goodell's extension; Patriots could be involved in Giants' GM search in more ways than one; More.
• Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) 10-Point Stance: 6. No more free passes for Gronk.
• Michael Rothstein (ESPN) Golden Tate said of Rob Gronkowski's hit: 'He's a better player than that'.
• Adam Rank (NFL.com) Unpopular Opinions: Pittsburgh is NOT a lock for AFC title game.
• Around the NFL (NFL.com) NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 14.
• Gil Brandt (NFL.com) Tom Brady leads tight MVP race heading into final stretch of 2017.
• Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) QB Index, Week 14: Ben Roethlisberger, Phil Rivers up. No. 1 Tom Brady, "my runaway choice for MVP."
• Jay Busbee (Yahoo! Sports) What's the ideal Super Bowl matchup?
• Daniel Rapaport (SI) NFL to consider instating targeting rule. /Refs can’t determine what’s a catch or pass interference, but yeah... add this.
• Conor Orr (SI) Morning Huddle. The NFL player safety war rages on: Roger Goodell faces impossible fight.
• Peter King (SI) Inside Roger Goodell's contract extension, explained by Arthur Blank.
• Adam Kilgore (Washington Post) NFL players should let Roger Goodell keep his sweeping disciplinary powers.

VIEW FROM MIAMI

• Adam H. Beasley (Miami Herald) Think the Dolphins’ history with the Patriots is ugly? Check out Jay Cutler’s.
• Hal Habib (Palm Beach Post) Stats don’t lie: Breaking down areas of focus for Miami Dolphins vs. Patriots.
• Chris Perkins (Sun-Sentinel) Dolphins tight end Julius Thomas quietly putting up respectable numbers.
• Dave Hyde (Sun-Sentinel) DeVante Parker isn't producing - worse news is why he's playing on ankle.
• Barry Jackson (Miami Herald) The reasons behind Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake’s success as a starter.
• Andy Cohen (MiamiDolphins) Young players finding another level.
• Greg Cote (Miami Herald) Brady No. 1, Rivers hot, Siemian dreadful in Herald’s NFL season quarterback rankings.
• Dave George (Palm Beach Post) Adam Gase would do well to follow Bill Belichick’s learning curve.
• Adam H. Beasley (Miami Herald) Patriots coach Bill Belichick on dirty hits: ‘Nobody wants to see’ them.
• Adam H. Beasley (Miami Herald) The No. 1 way in which the Dolphins’ 2018 season cannot be like 2017 (or 2016).
• Omar Kelly and Matt Lincoln (Sun-Sentinel) Should Dolphins tank their final four games for a better draft pick? (17.57 min. video)
• Omar Kelly and Matt Lincoln (Sun-Sentinel) What lessons can be learned from Patriots-Dolphins’ first meeting? (9.56 min. video)