TEAM TALK
- Post Game Notes: Rob Gronkowski plays in the preseason for the first time since 2012.
- Erik Scalavino offers his observations from the press box at NRG Stadium: Stars appear but backups shine.
- Paul Perillo Game Observations: Starters get feet wet in Houston.
- Andy Hart's Stock Watch: Running backs step up, defense falters.
- Post Game Transcripts: Patriots and Texans.
- WEEI Patriots Monday: Tom Brady (17.24 min.)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Rex Burkhead's bond with Jack Hoffman still strong from Nebraska days; Tom Brady has his front-row parking spot back; More.
- Ryan Hannable Sunday 7: Will Patriots look to make trade before start of regular season?
- Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots Sunday news, AFC East notes: Rivers loss a costly one in the short term.
- Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Monday Morning Pats regroup.
- Nicole Yang Morning sports update: Tony Dungy said he doesn’t think the Patriots will repeat as Super Bowl champs.
- Phil Perry sees Jimmy Garoppolo's accountability a winning sign in the loss.
- Mike Reiss observes Jimmy Garoppolo was able to bounce back strong after taking a huge hit, which was a positive sign on a night when all didn't go right.
- Mike Reiss notes Tom Brady ended his night on a high note in return to Super Bowl site.
- Jeff Howe talks up Rex Burkhead, who had the best night among the starting group's limited workload.
- Mike Reiss notes Cyrus Jones hopes his performance Saturday allows him to leap forward, after a tough rookie season.
- Karen Guregian puts the focus on the Patriots' thin defensive end depth.
- Mike Reiss identifies some potential DE trade targets for Patriots around the NFL.
- Phil Perry discusses if the Patriots will turn towards trade market to shore up DE depth; Albert Breer calls DE position 'legitimate weakness'. (3.16 min. video)
- Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Rob Gronkowski a surprise participant in preseason play.
- Jeff Howe reminds armchair analysts everywhere that the Patriots defensive scheme in Week 2 was set to 'bland'.
- Doug Kyed Patriots-Texans film review: How does Rex Burkhead fit into offense?
- Nick O'Malley tells us what we learned from Week 2 Pats-Texans, a game full of hits and misses: The Pats are done resting their starters (for now).
- Hayden Bird offers 5 takeaways from the Patriots' preseason loss to the Texans: The Patriots’ offensive starters are a work in progress.
- Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Pats Posits: A last minute drive in Houston finally falls short.
- Mike Reiss picks his initial Ups and Downs from Week 2: Dion Lewis delivers, Malcolm Butler struggles.
- Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Texans down Patriots 27-23 in preseason Week 2, observations.
- Karen Guregian thinks the Texans are one of few teams who have the ability to keep the Patriots from scoring a ton of points.
- Ryan Hannable reveals his next Patriots 53-man roster projection: What things look like following Derek Rivers injury, second preseason game.
- Kevin Duffy passes along a report from Ian Rapoport that Elandon Roberts did not suffer a fractured rib in Saturday's loss to the Texans.
- Mike Reiss mentions the Patriots raised the Gillette Stadium sign, providing a hint of how they plan to fit their 5th championship banner.
- Nicole Yang notes the Patriots found Super Bowl confetti at NRG Stadium in Houston.
- Brent Schwartz picks the top 5 AFC contenders to beat the Patriots in a playoff game in Foxboro.
- Christopher Matias (90min) Tom Brady posted a super weird 'No Days Off' video on Instagram this weekend.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Peter King (SI) Monday Morning QB: Even in New NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers embrace physicality of football; Bill Belichick's fan club members speak out; More.
- Mike Tanier (Bleacher Report) Monday Morning Digest: Quarterback fear factor.
- Mark Maske (Washington Post) 1st and 10: The NFL again is talking about shortening the preseason. Will it ever happen?
- Robert Mays (The Ringer) There is more to becoming an elite route runner than meets the eye: What distinguishes the NFL’s best route runners from its novices?
- Jenny Vrentas (SI) Life on the edge of the 53.
- Danny Kelly (The Ringer) How to fix the NFL’s imbalanced divisions.
- Staff (The Ringer) The rule changes we’d make to improve the NFL.
- Matt Clapp (The Comeback) Anquan Boldin retiring after just 2 weeks with Bills to focus on humanitarian work.
DUMPSTER DIVE
- Mark Maske (Washington Post) Roger Goodell on verge of five-year contract extension through 2024.
- Darren Hartwell highlights Tom Brady's reaction to Roger Goodell's contract extension report: "Nope. I don't have any thoughts." /If you can’t say something nice...
- Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) Elliott the latest flashpoint in increasingly uncivil war between union, NFL.
- Kathy Wise (DMagazine) On the Zeke Elliott suspension: Even a liar can be beaten and choked.