New England Patriots links 4/18/18 - Media admits Brady will play in 2018 but reports he may not

TEAM TALK

• Press Release: Inside the numbers: 2018 NFL draft.
• Press Release: Patriots history of draft picks #23 and #31.
• Erik Scalavino tackles this week’s Ask PFW Mailbag: Dreaming of the draft.
• John Rooke’s View from Above: Let’s stop playing games, Gronk.
• Press Conference transcript: Matthew Slater (plus 10.43 min. video)
• From the NFL - Ian Rapoport explains why Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski aren’t participating in Patriots offseason workouts. (1.48 min. video) /Lot’s of ‘maybe’ ‘perhaps’ ‘left to guess’ ‘speculation’ ...

LOCAL LINKS

• Karen Guregian notes Matthew Slater puts emphasis on team-building at workouts.
• Mike Reiss highlights Matthew Slater passionately defending the kickoff.
• Ryan Hannable reports Matthew Slater is ‘very thankful’ to return to the Patriots following his free-agent visit to Pittsburgh.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Matthew Slater is a huge fan of Cordarrelle Patterson.
• Ryan Hannable offers a reminder of why it takes a special player to play for Bill Belichick.
• Ryan Hannable speculates that Tom Brady is choosing to do the strength and conditioning portion of voluntary workouts with Alex Guerrero instead of with the team.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Is Tom Brady really mulling retirement?
• Kevin Dillon highlights Seth Wickersham telling WEEI’s Kirk & Callahan show that he is not sure if Brady and head coach Bill Belichick will resolve their issues.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Report: Patriots hosting first-round WR Calvin Ridley.
• Mike Reiss examines what the Patriots might be looking for at the running back position in the draft, and puts the team’s ‘need rating’ at fifth.
• Tom E. Curran looks at the tight end position in the draft and wonders if the Patriots could go after some Gronk insurance.
• Doug Kyed thumbnails the top receiver fits for the Patriots with each of their eight draft picks.
• Tanya Ray Fox (PatriotsWire) One WR for the Patriots in every round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
• Tanya Ray Fox (PatriotsWire) One LB for the Patriots in every round of the draft.
• Ryan Hannable is suggesting a Bill Belichick turn-the-tables draft where he selects a QB and a TE just to show Brady and Gronk he’s still the boss.
• Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Pats Propaganda draft big board.
• Bill Reynolds wonders if this is the beginning of the end for the Patriots. ”And we have coach Bill acting more and more detatched.” /seriously.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Wednesday Patriots Notebook: Brady’s future in question; Slater vocal on kickoffs.
• Mike Cole NFL Rumors: Robert Kraft contributed to Patriots’ Alex Guerrero inconsistencies.
• Terri Bey (EdgeRules) Patriots fans need to chill, and other pre-draft tidbits.
• Kevin Dillon’s latest NFL mock draft. Pats pick Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch and Texas OT Connor Williams.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Adam Schefter (ESPN) Sources: Tom Brady has yet to commit to playing ‘18 season for Pats.
• Danny Kanell and Hakem Dermish (CBS Sports) Discussion: Tom Brady reportedly not committed to playing in 2018 and what it means. “First sign of the end of the Patriots dynasty.” (3.40 min. video)
• Larry Lambert (DiaryofaChicagoSportsFan) Patriots superiority in the AFC East starts with Tom Brady.
• Mark W. Wright (The Undefeated) Undefeated athlete of the week: Malcolm Mitchell’s appetite for reading has created an army of book lovers.
• Around the NFL (NFL.com) NFL to release 2018 regular-season schedule Thursday.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Today’s the last day for pre-draft visits.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Dear NFL: Go ahead and get rid of the kickoff.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NBA tanking leading to tension between owners and coaches.
• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Here’s where things can get contentious between Aaron Rodgers and Packers. /Would you say, Rodgers is revolting?
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Report: Aaron Rodgers frustrated with being frozen out of personnel decisions.
• Danny Kelly (The Ringer) NFL Mock Draft: What could happen if Josh Allen goes No. 1. Pats pick Notre Dame OT Mike McGlinchey and Stanford FS Justin Reid.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Chris Chavez (SI) Roger Goodell deposed In Colin Kaepernick collusion case, QB sat through the hearing.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Brett Favre failed Monday Night Football audition.
• Daniel Goldblatt (The Blast) NFL Sued by former security officers for age discrimination.