New England Patriots links 5/31/17 - Dont'a Hightower and the Patriots: Who needed who more?

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino tackles this week's Ask PFW Mailbag: Roster rumblings.
• Andy Hart helps us get to know Derek Rivers.
• John Rooke's View from Above: Butler's big adventure...celebrate or educate? And contenders for the Patriots' crown should be easy to see...

LOCAL LINKS

• Ryan Hannable asserts the Patriots needed Dont'a Hightower just as much as Dont'a Hightower needed the Patriots.
• Jeff Howe reports Dont’a Hightower continues to do right by his mother, as he hosted another event last night to raise diabetes awareness.
• Ryan Hannable notes Dont'a Hightower hosted a private screening of "Wonder Woman" for a group of women who have diabetes. "My mom is my Wonder Woman."
• Hector Longo (All22) Quarterback Tom Brady was better than Matt Ryan in 2016; did we really need a metric?
• Stephen Hewitt notes Tom Brady was listed at No. 21 on ESPN study of the world's most famous athletes.
• Ian Glendon (Cover32) How special can the Brady to Cooks connection be?
• Ryan Hannable looks at which Patriots WR will benefit the most from the addition of Brandin Cooks.
• Mike Reiss mentions how James White has become the Patriots' go-to guy in the all-important "passing back" role, a scenario not envisioned by many last offseason.
• Hector Longo (All22) Will Patriots alter offense for running back Mike Gillislee; or has he made adjustments?
  
• Hector Longo (All22) Despite additions, Dion Lewis remains Patriots’ igniter on offense.
  
• Doug Kyed tells us where Malcolm Butler and Stephon Gilmore rank among top cornerback tandems.
• Doug Kyed presents his 53-man roster projection.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) 5 breakout candidates for Patriots' 2017 season.
• Mike Reiss notes the Patriots have few players with something to prove, but their fans would like to see Rob Gronkowski prove he can stay healthy for an entire season. /Eh... I'd like that too, but wouldn't put Gronk in that category.
• Ian Glendon (Cover32) Patriots’ offensive line will look to duplicate 2016 success under Dante Scarnecchia.
• Phil Perry explains the Patriots-Arkansas connection.
• Tom Curran looks at the NFL dynasties that the Patriots have ruined by simply existing. (4.38 min. video) /Great premise, talk gets hung up on the Eagles. No mention of the Colts.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Best of social media: The New England Patriots honor Memorial Day.
• Russ Goldman (PatsFans) Patriots Fourth and Two Podcast: Who will be the Patriots starting quarterback for the 2018 season? (67:41 min.)
• Kevin Dillon revisits the 20 best NFL touchdown celebrations of all time: From the pylon putter to the Ickey Shuffle.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report) Grading New England Patriots' 5 most improved positional units.
• Chris Burke (SI) High-profile players under pressure even before the 2017 NFL season begins.
• Andy Benoit (The MMQB) Death of the Blind Side and rise of the plain-sight pass rush.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) All-breakout team, offense: 11 NFL players set for big second seasons.
• Cameron DaSilva (Fox Sports) 11 recent NFL Draft picks on the verge of becoming busts.
• Michael McCarthy (Sporting News) NFL insider John 'The Professor' Clayton out at ESPN.
• Adam Stites (SB Nation) NFLPA is warning players to start saving money now for a 2021 lockout.