New England Patriots links 3/07/18 - Patriots are on to team-building

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino tackles this week’s Ask PFW Mailbag: Anticipation builds for team-building.
• Andy Hart passes along a report that former Sun Devils coach Todd Graham could join the Patriots staff and was with New England at the Scouting Combine.
• Lauren Williams notes Danny Amendola, Patrick Chung and original cast member of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” helped raise money for the Lenny Zakim Fund this weekend.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss explains how if the Patriots kept Jimmy Garoppolo it would cause a financial freeze. /Good read.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) 5 Takeaways for Patriots from 2018 NFL combine. 1. Patriots (probably) subtly looking hard at quarterbacks.
• Mike Reiss offers his opinion that Kenny Britt’s return shouldn’t have an impact on Danny Amendola and his potential return.
• Ian Glendon (FullPressCoverage) Patriots pick up Kenny Britt’s option.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Patriots’ handling of Brian Flores speaks volumes.
• Ryan Hannable’s NFL combine takeaways: Why didn’t Josh McDaniels attend?
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Here’s a list of players who met with Patriots at 2018 NFL Combine.
• Doug Kyed takes a look at some first-round draft fits for the Patriots following the combine.
• Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Top 10 Patriots draft prospect traits.
• Stephen Sheehan (FanRagSports) How Patriots can replace Nate Solder if he leaves.
• Zack Cox says that at this point, it would be a surprise if Dion Lewis is in a New England Patriots uniform next season.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Examining how Cyrus Jones can upend his ‘bust’ label in 2018.
• Mike Clement (BostonSportsExtra) How the ‘Patriot Way’ handles the NFL draft.
• Jason Fitzgerald (OverTheCap) The 30 worst signings of 2017. Stephon Gilmore included.
• Michael Hurley points to the Steelers and Le’Veon Bell as another example of an AFC contender to currently be on shaky ground with one of their best players.
• Ryan Hannable reports episode 6 of Tom vs. Time will be released Monday on Facebook Watch and Tom Brady will also appear on Good Morning America to discuss the series.
• Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry’s Quick Slants the Podcast: Jerod Mayo on if Bill Belichick has turned into a dictator. (22 min.)
• Russ Goldman (PatsFans) Patriots Fourth And Two Podcast: Which players from the NFL Combine could be good fits for the Patriots. (63 min.)
• Joshua Schrock notes T.J. Houshmandzadeh jabs Bill Belichick for running the Patriots like a ‘dictatorship.’ /The ‘Bengals Way’ is sooo much better.
• Kevin Dillon shares Todd McShay’s mock draft. Patriots take Georgia OLB Lorenzo Carter.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Source: Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores to assume primary defensive play-calling role.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL free agency preview: Some intriguing options among top 20 skill-position players.
• Danny Kelly (The Ringer) The best NFL free agent at every position.
• NFL Insiders (ESPN) Answering biggest 2018 free-agency questions: Where will Malcolm Butler play in 2018? Mike Reiss: “Not in New England.”
• NFL Nation (ESPN) Rating how active every NFL team will be in free agency.
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) PFT’s Free Agent Top 100.
• Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 prospects for 2018 NFL Draft 2.0.
• Lorenzo Reyes (USA Today) Top 10 NFL free agents in 2018: Which players will spark spending sprees?
• Dan Graziano (ESPN) Winners and losers from the NFL franchise tag deadline.
• Conor Orr (SI) Another NFL combine is in the books. A look at the ‘risers/fallers’ myth.
• Nate Davis (USA Today) 40 things we learned from 2018 NFL combine.
• Conor Orr (SI) NFL franchise tag: Who’s tagged, who’s not and what does it all mean?
• Peter King (SI) Le’Veon Bell: Game-changing back who is absolutely not worth $14 million a season; MMQB Mailbag.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) 2018 QB situations for all 32 NFL teams: Depth charts, outlooks, more.
• Matt Harmon (NFL.com) Team-by-team CB picture: Patriots need upgrade; Saints solid.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Who’s under the most pressure to win Super Bowl LIII?
• Nate Bouda (NFLTradeRumors) Patriots waive DE Caleb Kidder.
• Dan Gartland (SI) NFL Referees Ed Hochuli and Jeff Triplette are retiring.
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Peyton Manning sells his stake in Papa John’s.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA reiterates players’ rights to protest.
• Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Mock draft 2.0. Pats pick Boston College OLB Harold Landry.
• Nate Davis (USA Today) NFL mock draft 2018: First round’s post-combine fallout. Pats pick Boise State OLB Leighton Vander Esch.
• Tank Williams (Yahoo! Sports) 2018 NFL mock draft 1.0. Pats pick LSU CB Donte Jackson.