New England Patriots links 8/17/17 - At 31, Julian Edelman as dangerous as ever

TEAM TALK

• Broadcast Information: Patriots vs. Texans.
• Paul Perillo's Blogservations: Intensity picks up in West Virginia.
• Erik Scalavino shares some news and notes from camp: Brady makes time for Watson; More.
• Angelique Fiske reports Julian Edelman gets to work in new Samsonite commercial.
• Press Conference Transcript: Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
• Scenes from Day 2 of Patriots-Texans Joint Practices in West Virginia. (1 min. video)
• Tom Brady fulfills a big wish for a little fan with cancer. (1 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Dan Roche Camp observations: Tom Brady still on quest for perfection; Julian Edelman shows no signs of slowing down - as dangerous as ever.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Edelman: Joint practices helps with “the brother syndrome” of camp.
• Jeff Howe observes the 'Pats offensive machine took the Texans' most valiant shot during two days of joint practices but still got the better of the battles'.
• Jeff Howe Patriots camp observations: Texans challenge Patriots again as Gilmore returns.
• Phil Perry's Postcard from Camp Day 15: Rivers leaves practice with apparent leg injury.
• Kevin Duffy recaps Patriots vs. Texans Day Two: Chris Hogan creating separation in battle for No. 3 WR job.
• Mike Reiss says that after two days of tough, physical joint practices, the Patriots and Texans showed their respect for each other with a handshake line.
• Casey Bannon (PatriotsWire) What Patriots fans should know about Texans ahead of preseason Week 2.
• Kevin Duffy examines how the roster competition is shaping up for eight open spots.
• Mike Reiss notes that for a veteran quarterback like Tom Brady, who is now entering his 18th season in the NFL, training camp is no longer really a grind.
• Karen Guregian notes Texans rookie QB Deshaun Watson had a chance to pick Tom Brady's brain a bit following yesterday's workout.
• Ryan Hannable hears Tom Brady explain why he gets so fired up during training camp practices: 'I ask guys to dig a little deeper'.
• Mike Giardi spotlights Tom Brady showing his competitive attitude in Wednesday's joint practice.
• Karen Guregian witnessed Tom Brady and old friend Mike Vrabel deep in conversation before leaving the field.
• Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Stephon Gilmore responds to Tuesday ‘break’.
• Jeff Howe reports Derek Rivers left practice yesterday with a left leg injury, but the team is hopeful it's not severe.
• Ryan Hannable relays Bill Belichick giving a [vague] injury update on Dont'a Hightower.
• Ian Glendon (Cover32) Injuries begin to mount for the Patriots.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Time for Patriots to sign Dwight Freeney or Mario Williams?
• Ryan Hannable offers one plausible theory as to why Jimmy Garoppolo performs better in games than in practice: He doesn't have Tom Brady looking over his shoulder.
• DJ Bean suggests the Patriots should have drafted Jimmy Garoppolo in the first round, because then he'd have him for an extra year on his rookie deal.
• Karen Guregian reports Bill Belichick welcomed a few more famous coaching guests to Wednesday’s practice.
• Michael Hurley is thrilled to have discovered 'the White Whale of Belichick videos' that now exists online.
• NESN mentions how Brady Stevens is turning Celtics' Gordon Hayward into a Tom Brady fan.
• Doug Kyed looks at who are the Patriots' 10 best undrafted free agents of all time.
• Ricky Doyle highlights Rob Ryan as a guest on FS1's 'The Herd' with Colin Cowherd, on why he believes Bill Belichick is the greatest coach of all time.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report) New England Patriots preseason Week 2 matchup preview.
• Aaron Wilson (Houston Chronicle) Long after most pros have faded away, Patriots QB Tom Brady still runs the show at 40.
• Dan Pompei (Bleacher Report) Preparing to be a Pat: Brandin Cooks determined not to waste shot at greatness.
• Aaron Wilson (Houston Chronicle) Working against Patriots offense gives Texans a good test.
• John McClain (Houston Chronicle) Texans' Deshaun Watson learning from his time with Tom Brady.
• Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Tom Brady gives rookie Deshaun Watson pointers after Patriots-Texans joint practices.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady still not willing to give quarterbacks from other teams pointers.
• Aaron Wilson (Houston Chronicle) Tom Brady on Texans' Deshaun Watson: 'He has a great future'.
• NFL Total Access (NFL.com) When should New England consider trading Tom Brady? (5.23 min. video)
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Julian Edelman credits Wes Welker for inventing his position.
• Conor Orr (NFL.com) Ten people, places, things that'll define '17 NFL season. Patriots perfection.
• Adam Schein (NFL.com) NFL Preseason Week 2 primer: Nine things I'm looking to see.
• Sporting News Canada (Sporting News) The 15 hottest-selling NFL jerseys in Canada. No. 1 Tom Brady.
• Staff (WeAreFanatics) NFL dating deal breakers. Pats are the No. 1 'Least datable franchise fans' /What, football fans don’t want to date winners??.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Jets sign Kenbrell Thompkins.

DUMPSTER DIVE

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA “seething” over accusation of victim shaming.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL’s attack on NFLPA raises several questions.
• A.J. Perez (USA Today) Commissioner Roger Goodell tasks former NFL executive Harold Henderson to hear Ezekiel Elliott's appeal.
• Mike DeCourcy (Sporting News) 20 most hated NFL players in 2017: The disrespected and the downright dirty. No. 20 Julian Edelman (because he ‘embodies the Patriot way) - No. 12 Rob Gronkowski (jackass image, still waiting for Gronk to grow up) - No. 1 Tom Brady (doesn't carry himself like Aaron Rodgers. has a raging-jerk sideline demeanor, throws underinflated footballs, "We saw the texts, man." and quotes some random twitter guy: "there's something snakey and dishonest buried there." /well then...