New England Patriots links 2/01/17 - Super Bowl LI: Patriots backfield getting little attention

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino shares the news, notes and buzz from Houston: Young Falcons unfazed by the Patriots.
• Paul Perillo mentions how the Patriots backfield hasn't received the attention of its Atlanta counterparts but the tight-knit group deserves it.
• Angelique Fiske talks about how reporters 'bring the weird' at Super Bowl opening night.
• Andy Hart highlights Bill Belichick's Tuesday presser: Tom Brady a 'great role model for all of us.'
• Patriots Quotes from Tuesday.
• Press Conferences: Bill Belichick (video) - Tom Brady (video) - Julian Edelman (video).

LOCAL LINKS

• Karen Guregian gives credit to Bill Belichick for doing a masterful job putting a winning team together this season.
• Karen Guregian recaps all the wheelings and dealings from the Patriots this season.
• Rachel G. Bowers relays Tom Brady's excellent response to being labeled a system quarterback.
• Chad Finn talks about how in the circus of media day, Tom Brady keeps it real.
• Tom E. Curran mentions that a Brady family source says Tom Brady’s mother, Galynn, has been dealing with health issues for the past 18 months, and her illness has been a major concern for him and his family.
• Dan Shaughnessy writes about Tom Brady's family situation weighing on him more than revenge, politics or his place in football history.
• Tony Massarotti thinks Tom Brady cheated, needs to explain his political beliefs, rails on fans' unwavering adoration of him, ... and now wants to warn us that he's human? /We already knew that, Mazz.
• Phil Perry notes that according Tom Brady, the phrase 'personal legacy' will never be a part of his vocabulary. It's about his teammates, his coaches, his family, his friends and his fans.
• Zack Cox notes that Robert Kraft has been like a 'second father' to Tom Brady during his Patriots career.
• DJ Bean highlights Bill Belichick's Tuesday presser, where he talks about his motivation to work: "This actually beats working."
• Dan Ventura talks with Bill and Steve Belichick about being a coach's son.
• Ron Borges hears from Dante Scarnecchia on why he came back to coaching and the Patriots.
• Jeff Howe scouts the key matchups: Marcus Cannon vs. Vic Beasley.
• Mike Reiss points out how Julian Edelman, who drew little interest in free agency four years ago, has a shot to move to No. 2 on the NFL's career playoff receptions list Sunday.
• Jeff Howe focuses on Nate Solder and how he is making a difference for those battling cancer.
• Jonathan Lyons (DirtyWaterMedia) Logan Ryan is essential to slowing down Atlanta.
• DJ Bean notes Patrick Chung learned from his one-year sojourn to Philly, that the grass isn't always greener.
• Bob McGovern reports the NFL has scrubbed references to President Trump and Roger Goodell from official transcripts of Super Bowl week interviews, and booted pro-Patriots blog Barstool Sports from any media events.
• Jim McBride Patriots Notebook: Glenn Gronkowski thrilled to be part of the Patriots.
• Bob Socci’s Notebook: Alan Branch settles in without fitting in to typical Patriots mold.
• Julian Benbow Falcons Notebook: Bryan Cox appreciated his days with Bill Belichick.
• Adam Kurkjian notes Dan Quinn wants his Falcons prepared for the Patriots' 'big playbook'.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (The MMQB) The New England Patriots' unspoken mission.
• Playbook (The Ringer) How to beat the Patriots: They're not as invincible as they seem.
• Playbook (The Ringer) How to beat the Falcons: Stopping Julio Jones is the first key.
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) What about the defense? Falcons have big task ahead.
• Judy Battista (NFL.com) Dan Quinn faces Belichick-Brady Patriots in another Super Bowl.
• Staff (ESPN Stats & Information) Top 10 stats on Patriots, Falcons heading into Super Bowl LI.
• Staff (NFL.com) Patriots happy to be at Super Bowl; Falcons prep for physical D.
• DJ Bean gives us 10 takeaways from Super Bowl Opening Night.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady’s emotion tied to mother’s medical condition.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Julian Edelman: It’s an honor to play with Tom Brady, I wanted to be him.
• Dieter Kurtenbach (Fox Sports) Ray Lewis describes what makes Tom Brady the greatest quarterback of all time.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Bill Belichick compares signing Chris Long to Corey Dillon, Randy Moss.
• Steve Politi (NJ.com) Steve Belichick comfortable following in his father's famous footsteps.
• Marc Sessler (NFL.com) Scarnecchia's return, teaching methods key Pats' O-line revival.
• Mike Reiss and Sarah Barshop (ESPN) Patriots CB Malcolm Butler: I'll always keep Super Bowl MVP truck.
• Max Meyer (NFL.com) Devin McCourty on Julio Jones: He's a tough guy to stop.
• Matt Lombardo (NJ.com) Patriots' CB Eric Rowe still doesn't know why Eagles traded him.
• Thomas Neumann (ESPN) For these foreign-born players, Super Bowl was out of this world.
• Jerry Izenberg (NJ Star-Ledger) When it comes to Super Bowls in Houston, something crazy is usually in the cards.
• Nunzio Ingrassia (Fox Sports) This stat shows how tough it will be for Dan Quinn to beat Bill Belichick in Super Bowl.
• Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Falcons' Kyle Shanahan temporarily loses gameplan when reporter takes backpack. "But before you suspect the New England Patriots were behind this, lighten up." /What?
  
• Mike Tanier (Bleacher Report) Unsung heroes paved Falcons' way to Super Bowl, and they know it.
• Mike Pereira (Sacramento Bee) Super Bowl is all about the ring for officials, too.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Referees Association complains about players complaining about refs.
• Mary Kay Cabot (Cleveland.com) Browns buzz on Jimmy Garoppolo, Deshaun Watson and Mitch Trubisky at the Senior Bowl.
• Manish Mehta (NY Daily News) Rex Ryan on his NFL coaching future: It’s got to be a real situation, I’m ‘tired of getting f--ked’.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) 2017 Super Bowl pick: Matt Ryan outduels Tom Brady, Falcons top Patriots. Falcons 34-27.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports)2017 Super Bowl pick: Not even Belichick's Patriots can stop Falcons. Falcons win 35-31.

VIEW FROM ATLANTA

• Staff (AP) Coaches, QBs lapped by Brady/Belichick marvel at success.
• Kelsey Conway (AtlantaFalcons) Quinn: Falcons rush must impact Brady.
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) What about the defense? Falcons have big task ahead.
• Staff (AP) For Patriots QB Brady, a curated look behind the curtain.
• Vaughn McClure (ESPN) Matt Ryan seeks advice from Peyton and Eli Manning before Super Bowl week.
• Steve Hummer (AJC.com) Falcons take their philosophy to the street.  /Wild guess... 'brotherhood'?
  
• Jonathan Cox (AJC.com) Who tweets more, fans of the Falcons or Patriots?
• Michael Cunningham (AJC.com) Falcons to test Pats D like never before.
• Andrew Hirsh (AtlantaFalcons) Falcons' versatile offense will be tough to defend.
• Vaughn McClure (ESPN) Dan Quinn, Thomas Dimitroff partnership leads Falcons to Super Bowl.
• Jeff Schultz (AJC.com) Falcons to block most of staff from Shanahan; Chip Kelly a legit option.
• D. Orlando Ledbetter (AJC.com) 5 Super Bowl questions with Taylor ‘Turbo’ Gabriel.
• D. Orlando Ledbetter (AJC.com) 5 Super Bowl questions with Keanu Neal.
• D. Orlando Ledbetter (AJC.com) 10 Super Bowl questions with Grady Jarrett.

DEFLATEGATE, DUMPSTER DIVE

• Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) Robert Kraft wants everyone to know the Patriots apologize for nothing.
• Michael Hurley presents a primer for Roger Goodell's 'State of the NFL' address this afternoon.
• Sheilla Dingus (Advocacy for Fairness in Sports) Painkiller abuse in the NFL Part III: A tale of two lawsuits.
• Exclusive Report (AP) Falcons worried about handling of painkillers.
• Mary Pilon (Bleacher Report) Inside the NFL's domestic violence punishment problem.
• Molly Shea (NY Post) Scientists: Tom Brady’s diet is total BS.
  
• Barry Petchesky (Deadspin) I'm fed up with Tom Brady.