New England Patriots links 2/17/17 - Patriots best defensive player: Hightower or Flowers?

TEAM TALK

• Angelique Fiske notes Matthew Slater lent a hand to a local store and helped deliver special Super Bowl LI edition Pepsi cans.
• Angelique Fiske finds Julian Edelman is the next man up at the 'Seabass School of German'.
• PFW in Progress Recap 2/16: Free agency and potential Patriots.

LOCAL LINKS

• Doug Kyed goes through the screenshots to determine if Trey Flowers is actually the Patriots' best defensive player.
• Jeff Howe suggests that Tom Brady and the Patriots are mulling a new contract.
• Mike Reiss notes how Tom Brady's passion comes through when discussing his approach to health and being with Peter King, and being "a real ambassador for change in this area".
• Ben Volin takes a look at which Patriots players met their contract incentives this season.
• Ryan Hannable recognizes Julian Edelman is one of the top receivers in the NFL, and says it's time he gets paid like one.
• Mark Daniels analyzes the position groups: Wide receiver.
• Tom E. Curran looks at No. 2 on his Patriots to-do list: Pats shouldn't over-extend for Bennett.
• Tom E. Curran adds No. 3 to his Patriots to-do list: To tag, or not to tag Hightower.
• Phil Perry reports that the Patriots have a two-week franchise tag window to make a decision on whether or not to use it.
• Jim McBride and Ben Volin thumbnail the Patriots' free agents, and predict which ones will come back.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots free agent profile: Alan Branch - Martellus Bennett.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Adam Schefter thinks NFL team will 'pry' Jimmy Garoppolo away from Patriots.
• Zack Cox notes how two ESPN experts disagree on if the Patriots will trade Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason.
• The Herald offers some suggestions for who will play Tom Brady in the movie.
• Adam London reports how an Atlanta brewery makes good on its Super Bowl bet and releases Patriots Pale Ale.
• Michael Hurley is rooting hard for Tony Romo to wind up on the NY Jets.
• Ron Borges looks back at history and tells the supporters of Terrell Owens that they need to "open their fact books before they open their yaps."

NATIONAL NEWS

• Matt Bowen (ESPN) 20 plays every NFL coach should steal. Includes Patriots double-TE play-action, and the Patriots Naked boot.
• Danny Kelly (The Ringer) The NFL stability index: What's the most stable NFL franchise outside of New England.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) 2017 NFL strength of schedule: Colts have it easiest, Broncos face a slate of doom.
• Cameron DaSilva (fox Sports) The key player no one’s talking about in the Jimmy Garoppolo trade rumors.
• Tony Grossi (ESPN Cleveland) Here's a Patriots scenario that supports a trade of Jimmy Garoppolo.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady wants to finish career with Patriots.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady, Patriots have preliminary talks on contract extension.
• Fox Sports Live (YouTube) Randy Moss explains what makes Tom Brady great. (2.52 min. video) Brady attempted to play with a knee brace after tearing ACL.
• Jeremy Bergman (NFL.com) Bill Belichick to narrate World War II documentary.
• Pete Blackburn (Fox Sports) Casting the actors who should star in the Patriots’ Deflategate movie.
• Cameron DaSilva (Fox Sports) Patriots fan gets Tom Brady’s face tattooed on his butt cheek.
• Nick Schwartz (Fox Sports) Cris Carter: Kyle Shanahan has become a scapegoat for Falcons’ Super Bowl collapse.
• Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) On the bubble: AFC and NFC players who could be released.
• Gil Brandt (NFL.com) All-time best offenses: '99 Rams, '07 Patriots, '13 Broncos reign.
• Tim Rohan (The MMQB) For an Uber driver, the Super Bowl arrives two nights early.
• Amy Parlapiano (SI) Who should host Hard Knocks? Next summer's most enticing candidates.
• Dan Parzych (NFLSpinZone) 50 Best games of the 2016 NFL season. 42. Bills vs. Patriots, Week 4 - 39. Patriots vs. Cardinals, Week 1 - 5. Seahawks vs. Patriots, Week 10.

DUMPSTER DIVE

• Steve Serby (NY Post) This is rock bottom in Darrelle Revis’ fall from Jets legend.
• Amara Grautski, Jake Becker, Denis Slattery (NY Daily News) Jets corner Darrelle Revis charged with aggravated assault, robbery, conspiracy and terroristic threats after fight in Pittsburgh.
• Michael McCann (SI) Breaking down the charges against Jets CB Darrelle Revis, plus a look at the next legal steps.