New England Patriots links 1/26/18 - Rebuilt defensive front features immovable Malcom Brown

TEAM TALK

• Super Bowl LII Patriots-Eagles Thursday Injury Report.
• Erik Scalavino shares the news, notes and locker-room buzz from Thursday at Gillette: Pats commence bye week practices.
• Media Availability Transcripts: David Andrews, Malcolm Butler, Patrick Chung, Brandin Cooks, Phillip Dorsett, Dion Lewis, Devin McCourty.
• Press Release: Patriots invite fans to Super Bowl send-off rally on NRG Plaza outside The Hall at Patriot Place on Monday, Jan. 29 at 9:00 A.M.
• Angelique FIske posts the first chapter of “Tom vs. Time” video that sets up the 2017 season.
• Angelique Fiske checks out some of her favorite gif-able highlights from the year.
• Press Pass: Even with all the hoopla of the Super Bowl, the players know that the center of their attention remains football. (1.11 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Jeff Howe remembers where the Patriots have seen the Eagles’ multi-look offense before: Week one against the Chiefs.
• Doug Kyed explains why the Patriots had their eye on the Eagles long before Super Bowl LII. /Any Pats fans surprised about this?
• Adam Kurkjian talks up the Patriots’ rebuilt defensive front that has already exceeded expectations.
• Ian Glendon (FullPressCoverage) James Harrison signing already paying dividends.
• Joe Fitzgerald writes how the Patriots run of glory is a bit less popular among its foes.
• Chris Warner (BostonSportsMediaWatch) Patriots Thursday observations, AFC Championship review.
• Mike Reiss mentions how a hard-working and fiery Brandin Cooks has earned the respect of his teammates.
• Mike Reiss tells the story behind the framed Eagles jersey at the home of Danny Amendola.
• Mike Reiss notes James Develin recalls how it stung when the Patriots beat his hometown Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. Now, “it’s come full circle a little bit,” he said.
• Mike Reiss says Super Bowl media night won’t be as much fun without Gronk at a podium.
• Ricky Doyle passes along a rumor that Rob Gronkowski will ‘absolutely be good to go’ for Super Bowl LI.
• Jeff Howe notes Malcolm Butler is ready for what could be the final time he wears a Patriots uniform. “Yeah, it crossed my mind.”
• Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Brandin Cooks looks to build off strong AFC title game.
• Rich Thompson sees the Pats out to break the hex of scoreless first quarters in their Super Bowls.
• Tom E. Curran addresses the whispers (not outright accusations, of course) suggesting something illegal behind Tom Brady’s post-40 greatness.
• Michael Goodpaster (TheGruelingTruth) Is the NFL rigged for the Patriots? Patriots conspiracy? Or are people just stupid? /I’ll go with option B.
• Tom E. Curran talks about lowlifes like ESPN’s Dan LeBatard and Fox Sports Radio’s Clay Travis who speculate about Brady and PEDs. /‘not saying, just saying’
• Steve Buckley takes the fact that Tom Brady still has his deflategate suspension letter as proof he’s not a robot and he loves revenge just as much as we do. /Difference is, to Brady revenge means winning.
• Adam Kurkjian reviews the first installment of “Tom vs. Time”: Brady reflects on sacrifice, Alex Guerrero influence.
• The Herald Staff sees the NFL Pro Bowl as a gathering place for the brokenhearted.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Dave Archibald (Inside the Pylon) All the reasons that QB Tom Brady should be named NFL MVP.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Breaking down Super Bowl 52: Preview, analysis, prediction.
• Bill Pennington (NY Times) It’s the Patriots’ stage; All the rest are merely players.
• Vincent Verhei (Football Outsiders) Quick Reads Bonus: Keys to beating New England.
• Edward Lewis (NFL.com) LeGarrette Blount in straight enemy mode vs. Patriots.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) James Harrison hopes he can prove people wrong with his play in the Super Bowl.
• Anthony Olivieri (ESPN) Every matchup that matters for Super Bowl LII.
• Bob Grotz (DelcoTimes) Eagles Notebook: Birds know beating Brady is 60-minute mission.
• Michael McCarthy (Sporting News) Miracle man Tom Brady, underdog Eagles save NBC from worst-case scenario.
• Charles McDonald (Football Outsiders) Film Room: Eagles offense.
• Report (AP) Eagles remind, we beat Brady in 2015.
• Tim McManus (ESPN) Doug Pederson’s message for Eagles: Focus on today, not Pats’ mystique.
• Tyler Greenawalt (Yahoo! Sports) Tom Brady could be first quarterback to break ‘Madden Curse’.
• Bill Bender (Sporting News) Patriots conspiracy theories cheat truth about latest Super Bowl run.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Patriots test player supplements to ensure no PEDs.
• David Carr (NFL.com) How Tom Brady uses his eyes to trick defenses. (2.37 min. video)
• Kenneth Arthur (Sports on Earth) Biggest NFL midseason additions.
• Chris Wesseling (NFL.com) Patriots’ top 10 personnel moves of Bill Belichick era. /Interesting.
• Jordy McElroy (FanRagSports) Would Rob Gronkowski still have the same stats without Tom Brady?
• Jacob Feldman (SI) Morning Huddle: 100 Defining moments of the 2017 season.
• Jay Busbee (Yahoo! Sports) Best of the best, worst of the worst: The NFL’s highest and lowest moments.
• Mike Sando (ESPN) Ranking the Super Bowl MVPs. No. 1 Tom Brady, Super Bowl LI.
• Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Playoff stability guide: How all 12 teams are about to change.
• Alden Gonzalez (ESPN) Lessons from a letdown: Why teams stumbled after rapid rises.
• Michael McCann and Robert Raiola (SI) Jimmy Garoppolo will earn more from Super Bowl 52 than Tom Brady. Really.
• Josh Dubow (Yahoo! Sports) NBC’s Al Michaels prepares for 10th Super Bowl broadcast.
• Staff (The Ringer) How could the XFL persuade you to watch?