New England Patriots links 8/23/17 - Belichick on fringe players: Stress is what you sign up for

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino shares some notes from the locker room: Hightower, Solder, Gillislee, Daniels and Wise returned to practice.
• Erik Scalavino tackles this week's Ask PFW Mailbag: What to do at DE, QB?
• Press Release: NFL fans across the country experience "Random Acts of Kickoff"
• Press Conference Transcript: Bill Belichick.
• Press Pass: Devin McCourty (11.06 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Tuesday Patriots practice report. (1 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Are Patriots experimenting with Dont'a Hightower at DE?
• Brent Schwartz offers 3 ways the Patriots could overcome a subpar pass rush: 1. Move Dont'a Hightower to the edge.
• Brent Schwartz suggests this is the year Geneo Grissom is finally ready to step up for the Patriots defense.
• Kevin Duffy hears Dont'a Hightower recall his 'stressful' free agency process.
• Phil Perry takes another stab at a 53-man roster projection: Opportunity opens for Ealy.
• Rich Garven says the backup spots on the offensive line are all up for grabs.
• Karen Guregian talks about how Cyrus Jones has been resurrecting himself and trying to get out of his own way.
• Ryan Hannable notes Cyrus Jones calls some of his critics 'fair-weather fans'
• Stephen Hewitt hears from Rob Gronkowski, how his new routine and diet has him in good health.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Mike Gillislee says he's '100 percent' after rehabbing hamstring.
• Michael Hurley thinks the running backs should be the secret weapon in a laughably potent passing game.
• Mark Daniels notes David Andrews hopes to prove his worth after receiving an early contract extension.
• Mark Farinella wonders if James O'Shaughnessy might be the next unheralded player to step out of the shadows for the Patriots.
• Zach Cox writes Bill Belichick has no room for players who can't handle preseason pressure.
• Doug Kyed shares the important news that Bill Belichick plans to watch the Chiefs before Week 1.
• Ryan Hannable reports from the stretching and individual drill portion of Patriots practice on who was present, and who was not.
• Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Devin McCourty keeps his protest option open; Dont'a Hightower removed from PUP; More.
• Nick O'Malley issues his Patriots rookie report card: Where do the draft picks and UDFAs stand halfway through preseason?
• Zack Cox lists some of Tom Brady's pre-Patriots not-so-glamorous summer jobs.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Tom Brady wishes his son a Happy 10th Birthday.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Heath Evans (NFL.com) Predicting how the 2017 Patriots offense will distribute the ball.
• Danny Kelly (The Ringer) Presenting the NFL’s skill-set poster boys.
• Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) 2017 NFL All-Pro Team projections: Tom Brady top QB.
• Dan Hanzus (NFL.com) Eight teams have had same QB for at least 10 seasons.
• Jack Dickey (SI) NFL preseason hype: Stories we see season after season.
• Chris Burke (SI) Building an NFL expansion team.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Report: Little urgency from owners to reduce preseason.
• Will Leitch (Sports on Earth) 2017 NFL Previews: The NFC South. /On the Pats schedule in '17.
• Kenneth Arthur (Sports on Earth) How the Colts squandered Luck.
• S.T. VanAirsdale (SacTownMag) Q&A: Sports agent Don Yee.

DUMPSTER DIVE

• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Cyrus Mehri announces bid to challenge DeMaurice Smith for NFLPA leadership.
• Arthur Weinstein (Sporting News) NFLPA president: I don't care if NFL 'dies out in 20 years'.
• Andrew Brandt (SI) Roger Goodell maintains status as 'conduct commissioner' with Ezekiel Elliott's suspension.
• Matt Yoder (Awful Announcing) ESPN has a new ad agency that will lead rebranding efforts. /No more 'This is SportsCenter' ads, the station's only bright spot.