New England Patriots links 4/17/18 - Edelman revolts against ‘revolt’, attends voluntary workout

TEAM TALK

• Press Release: Patriots Draft Primer.
• Highlights - On Patriot’s Day, players returned to Gillette Stadium for the start of voluntary offseason strength and conditioning. (1 minute video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss calls attention to a key player participating in voluntary sessions, Julian Edelman, whose appearance is not only good for the team, but it gets him closer to his $500K workout bonus. /Must’ve missed Brady’s memo about the ‘revolt’.
• Kevin Duffy offers his take on the Gronkowski situation: Expect negotiations between the Gronkowski camp and the Patriots. The team is better with him than without him, and if a few extra million will keep the big fella happy, the Patriots should cave and pay him.
• Tom E. Curran seems to desperately want the Rob Gronkowski situation to be more about atmosphere and culture (with the push-back led by Tom Brady) than money.
• Karen Guregian wonders if more money is enough to make Rob Gronkowski happy, and if that’s all it takes then “pay the man.”
• Michael Hurley explains why the Patriots trading Rob Gronkowski would be out of character for Bill Belichick.
• Ben Volin writes Monday’s practice marked the beginning of the Patriots’ voluntary nine-week offseason program and then rehashes the many ways ‘several veterans’ are weary of Belichick.
• Karen Guregian passes along an ESPN report that Tom Brady is electing to skip the entire voluntary portion of the Patriots offseason training program.
• Mike D’Abate (FullPressCoverage) Patriots Dispatches: Give me liberty, or give me...a raise??
• Zack Cox looks at when the Patriots have reached in the draft, and how often have the picks paid off. /Need that bawling emoji for Jordan Richards.
• Ryan Hannable notes Mike Mayock connects the Patriots to QB Lamar Jackson, in a Q&A with The Athletic.
• Phil Perry takes a hard look at the Patriots draft options at quarterback: Rosen, Lauletta check plenty of boxes.
• Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Should Patriots move up in draft for a quarterback?
• Jim McBride wonders if a rookie QB will join the team, and says a young signal-caller would benefit from hanging out with Tom Brady. /Brady’s too busy leading a revolt.
• Phil Perry offers a few reasons why the Patriots should make a run at Dez Bryant.
• Kevin Duffy notes the Patriots are checking in on some of the draft’s top running backs -- USC’s Ronald Jones II and LSU’s Derrius Guice.
• Doug Kyed profiles some running back options the Patriots could select in each round of this year’s draft.
• Darren Hartwell notes April 16th is a date that will forever link Bill Belichick with Tom Brady. Belichick was born on this date in 1952, and Brady was drafted by him in 2000.
• Darvence Chery posts an interview with ex-Pats LB Bryan Cox, who tells Colin Cowherd he backs Bill Belichick amid reports of offseason drama. (6.20 min. video)
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast: Interview with Boston Sports Journal’s founder Greg Bedard about the upcoming NFL Draft. (17.53 min. video)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Is Tom Brady leading a revolt against Bill Belichick? /What’s revolting is this theory.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Patriots schedule 2018: Nothing keeping New England from old AFC tricks.
• John Keim (ESPN) 20-year rewind: Boston’s dominance, Washington’s curse.
• Good Morning Football (NFL.com) Is there a lingering trust issue between Bill Belichick and his players? (3.41 min. video) /Pittsburgh can take them out this year because ‘lots of whispers.’
• Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) NFL’s top 18 games of the 2018 season: The must-see matchups.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Prisco’s 2018 NFL Draft Worse-Than Team: 10 guys I like less than the scouts do.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) NFL, NFLPA prohibit use of 10 helmet models after lab testing. Includes model used by Tom Brady.
• Jacob Feldman (SI) The taxing world of NFL players’ finances.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) After three more drafts, Mike Mayock may move on.
• Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Mock Draft 3.0. Pats pick Alabama LB Rashaan Evans and UCLA OT Kolton Miller.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Sheilla Dingus (AdvocacyForFairnessInSports) But – is it really fraud they’re objecting to or that they’re finding themselves caught in their own trap? /This website is fantastic resource for all interested in the NFL’s [mis]handling of the concussion issue.