New England Patriots links 3/29/18 - Second-year Cole Croston could conceivably contend at left tackle

TEAM TALK

• Don Banks suggests withholding judgment on the new helmet rule for now, as the league doesn’t have all the particulars sorted out yet.
• Don Banks reveals that in a final twist, the Colts and Patriots were both reportedly opposed to the tabled ‘McDaniels rule.’
• Angelique Fiske reports Ryan Wendell is taking on a new kind of challenge: Running the Boston Marathon.
• From pro day to prospect: Chris Hogan looks back on his run to the NFL. (1.23 min. video)
• From the NFL: Brad Stevens on his relationship with Bill Belichick. (2 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss gathers some of the main things learned about the Patriots after three days at the NFL annual meetng: While some see tension, Bill Belichick feels energy.
• Jeff Howe says that if you judge the Patriots by their actions this offseason, they appear to be operating as if Rob Gronkowski will return.
• Karen Guregian talks about how Marquis Flowers took a dip into free agency, generated some interest, but knew all along he wanted to remain a Patriot.
• Doug Kyed wonders if second-year Cole Croston, whom New England signed as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa last spring, could compete for the left tackle job.
• Mike Reiss notes Robert Kraft, with his fan hat on, thinks the Patriots obviously must think about drafting a quarterback.
• Mike Giardi profiles ex-lacrosse player and Virginia QB Kyle Lauletta as a possible heir to Tom Brady.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots Draft Profile: Sam Hubbard, Edge, Ohio State.
• Tom E. Curran is still trying to interpret how ‘the meeting’ went between Kraft, Belichick and Brady and knows that was reporters’ ‘one swing at the piñata’ for that question to be addressed.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Peter King thinks Tom Brady, Bill Belichick are ‘very close to the end’. “...one more year together or maybe two.”
• Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) A brief history of Patriots-influenced NFL rule changes. /Bookmarked already.
• Joy Manning (BostonSportsChick) Why does the NFL competition committee hate kickoffs: Is it because the Patriots are great? /No one values special teams like Belichick.
• Tom E. Curran takes Troy Vincent to task for being an idiot. /Good read, frustrating topic.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) How Troy Vincent, who suspended Tom Brady, may have influenced outcome of Super Bowl LII.
• Alex Reimer details the troubling discovery that the NFL applied the new catch rule to disputable Eagles touchdowns in Super Bowl LII.
• Ryan Hannable tells us why Bill Belichick was in the Miami Dolphins training facility yesterday.
• Tanya Ray Fox (PatriotsWire) Bill Belichick was spotted hanging at the Dolphins training facilities.
• Kevin Duffy explores what it would take for the Patriots to swing a trade for Odell Beckham Jr.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Why the Patriots and Johnny Manziel are an impossible match.
• Alex Reimer explains why Johnny Manziel’s second chance shouldn’t start with the Patriots.
• Tyler Sullivan (247 Sports) Report: Gronk cast in action movie with Mel Gibson.
• Kristin LaFratta reports one of three home break-in suspects at the home of Rob Gronkowski pleads not guilty in Wrentham District Court yesterday.
• FitzyGFY (YouTube!) Shit Pats fans say: 2018 offseason. (3.07 min. video), and The B-side with outtakes. (3.35 min. video)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) Re-print from March 2015: Fearing Bill Belichick only makes him stronger. /Still relevant 3 years later.
• Albert Breer (SI) Game Plan: Legal sports gambling is coming, and the NFL is getting ready to capitalize (of course it is).
• Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: An inside look at the 20 most notable contracts from free agency.
• Kevin Seifert (ESPN) Guide to NFL’s new rules: What to know about approved, tabled and rejected proposals.
• Kevin Clark (The Ringer) A brief history of NFL rule changes allegedly ruining football.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL didn’t tell NFLPA much about new helmet rule. /I bet.
• Mike Jones (USA Today) ‘It’s ridiculous’: NFL’s new targeting-style rule has defensive players alarmed.
• Albert Breer (SI) NFL’s new targeting rule expected to be only a minor adjustment for teams.
• Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) NFL’s new targeting rule is going to be a total disaster. /Hmm, Breer’s assessment or Freeman’s... I’m going with Freeman’s.
• Mike Jones (USA Today) NFL has right spirit with new hitting rule, but enforcement could become a mess.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) No one knows how strictly the NFL will enforce the new helmet rule.
• Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Head games: Rule confusion once again reigns in NFL’s unclear world.
• Jacob Feldman (SI) The NFL’s latest safety rule could be the most impactful yet.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Goodell: NFL is focused on not using the helmet as a weapon.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) NFL: New catch rule was not used in Super Bowl. /yeah, right.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) NFL closes overtime rule loophole.
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Mark Murphy: Kickoffs face elimination if the play doesn’t get safer.
• Tim McManus (ESPN) How the Eagles want QB Carson Wentz to mimic Tom Brady.
• Experts (ESPN) NFL Power Rankings: Risers, fallers after free agency. Pats still at no. 2.