New England Patriots links 12/08/17 - Win over Fins puts Pats in

TEAM TALK

• Patriots - Dolphins Thursday Injury Report.
• Erik Scalavino shares the practice notes and locker-room buzz from Thursday at Gillette: Butler back, Van Noy still out.
• Paul Perillo scouts the matchups: No Gronk, no problem.
• Press Conference Transcript: Duron Harmon.
• What they’re saying: Miami Dolphins.

LOCAL LINKS

• Thomas Murphy (SportsXMedia) Monster keys to Patriots stomping the swamp. 1. Set the damn edge.
• Ryan Hannable reports that with a win on Monday, the Patriots will clinch their ninth-straight AFC East title.
• Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Can Rivers or Roethlisberger finally knock off Brady just once in playoffs?
• Adam Kurkjian notes Rob Gronkowski's teammates had his back and defended him against the harsh criticism from Buffalo CB Tre-Davian White.
• Mike Reiss notes that while Gronk's teammates wouldn't directly address Tre'Davious White’s comments, they were quick to defend him and his character.
• Mike D'Abate (FullPressCoverage) Patriots 3 Hot, 3 Not: The Good, The Gronk and the Brady. "There is almost never a happy medium with the Patriots."
• Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Is Patriots' run defense a fatal flaw? Season film review.
• Zack Cox finds Dwayne Allen preparing to fill Rob Gronkowski's 'huge shoes' vs. Dolphins.
• Doug Kyed talks about how Eric Lee plans to build on and continue his sudden success with the Pats.
• Mike Reiss notes the players hope their indoor heated practice helps them acclimate in Miami.
• Mike Reiss describes what the players look forward to on 'Fat Fridays': Whether it's burgers, sushi or fried chicken, the surprise Friday meal in the Pats' cafeteria is a welcome high-calorie event to end the work week.
• Tyler Sullivan (247 Sports) Report: Tom Brady to play Week 14 despite missing two practices. /Was it in doubt?
• Kevin Duffy passes along a report that Nate Solder was nominated for NFL Man of the Year award.
• Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: With Rob Gronkowski out, Dwayne Allen has big shoes to fill.
• Jeff Howe's Friday Football Mailbag: Patriots have plenty of reasons to play Rob Gronkowski in Week 16 vs. Bills.
• Doug Kyed Patriots Mailbag: New England's biggest over and under achievers of 2017.
• Zack Cox points out all five Patriots RBs were recognized as Practice Players of the Week.
• Jeff Howe thinks Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead are playing their way to a lucrative free agency offseason.
• Ryan Hannable looks ahead to this upcoming offseason and free agency, and says the Patriots could actually keep Malcolm Butler.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Bill Belichick gets choked up talking about his father.
• Tyler Sullivan (247 Sports) Julian Edelman trolls Falcons in book release teaser video.
• Tom E. Curran writes that the owners are getting what they want with six more years of Roger Goodell doing their bidding.
• Jim Lazar says Rob Gronkowski feels more guilty than not, and makes his Week 14 picks. Pats over Fins 27-13.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Suh on Brady: “My job is to piss him off”. /Brady’s job is to win.
• Mike Rodak (ESPN) Tre'Davious White clears protocol, calls Rob Gronkowski 'dirty player'.
• Cameron Filipe (Football Zebras) Week 14 referee assignments. Patriots at Dolphins: Pete Morelli.
• Marc Sessler (NFL.com) AFC playoff picture: Need clarity? The Faith Factor Scale is here!
• Robert Mays (The Ringer) The impact of the NFL's injured superstar class.
• Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Contender kryptonite: Biggest weaknesses on NFL's top 14 teams. Patriots: Run defense.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Philip Rivers has no problem with “competitive banter”.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) NFL announces 32 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominees.
• Kevin Clark (The Ringer) The Browns make it easy for the rest of the NFL.
• Mark Schultz (Football Zebras) The time has come for Walt Coleman to call a Raiders game.
• Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) NFL Week 14 game picks. Pats win 36-14.
• Staff (USA Today) Week 14 NFL picks. Five of five pick Pats to win.

VIEW FROM MIAMI

• Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinel) Five keys for the Miami Dolphins to defeat the New England Patriots. 1. Dolphins must run the ball effectively.
• Armando Salguero (Miami Herald) Can Dolphins (winless against New England under Gase) solve the Patriots riddle? /Hint: No.
• Jason Lieser (Palm Beach Post) Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh out to cause chaos for Patriots’ Tom Brady.
• Dave George (Palm BeachPost) Cutler’s return has only paid off for the QB: It would’ve been a surprise if Jay Cutler lifted Dolphins to playoffs.
• Chris Perkins (Sun-Sentinel) Dolphins running back Damien Williams (shoulder) still sidelined; Moore could be out a while.
• Barry Jackson (Miami Herald) Miami Dolphins receiver Parker upset with himself: ‘I’ve been playing badly’.
• Adam H. Beasley (Miami Herald) How the first meeting with the Patriots still has the Dolphins hurting for rematch.
• Reporters (Sun-Sentinel) Staff predictions: Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots. Six of seven pick Pats to win.
• Greg Cote (Miami Herald) Expect 7 big upsets in NFL Week 14. But will Dolphins-Patriots be one? /Hint: No.