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New England Patriots links 4/19/18 - Patriots ignore the noise, prepare for next week’s draft

Daily news and links for Thursday

By Marima
NBA: Playoffs-Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics
Robert Kraft supporting the Celtics in Game 2
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

TEAM TALK

LOCAL LINKS

  • Mike Reiss describes what the Patriots might be looking for at the off-the-line linebacker position in the draft, and puts the need rating at second.
  • Mike Reiss suggests it would be a good idea for the Pats to approach the 2018 draft with urgency to solidify their long-term plan at quarterback.
  • Ryan Hannable says the Patriots reportedly have conducted private pre-draft workouts with 2 potential Day 2 quarterbacks.
  • Doug Kyed identifies the tight ends the Patriots could select in each round of the draft.
  • Zack Cox tries to make sense of the Patriots’ reported interest in top receiver prospects.
  • Karen Guregian would like the Patriots ‘big three’ to get together, come to an understanding and get everyone back on the same page.
  • Ryan Hannable highlights Rob Ninkovich on WEEI: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski missing start of offseason program not a huge deal.
  • Doug Kyed NFL Rumors: Tom Brady wants new contract with Patriots, will play in 2018.
  • Bill Speros finds the choice easy if Brady is indeed leading a revolt against Belichick. /Sigh.
  • Mark Farinella envisions the Patriots’ future will be like the pre-Kraft ownership past and warns it won’t be pretty.
  • NBC Sports Boston reports two of Tom Brady’s teammates say that they’ve spoken to Tom Brady and he’s never indicated he wasn’t going to play in 2018. Article ends with bizarre reference to Gisele’s philosophical quote on Instagram as furthering the Brady speculation.
  • Tom E. Curran writes that none of the Patriots players know yet if Brady or Gronkowski will be returning to play this season and wants answers to what’s the endgame in the ‘Foxboro Cold War’. /I find that first statement hard to believe.
  • Steve Buckley believes all the crap as reported yesterday and urges fans to demand explanation for the “ever-growing pile of mystery meat in the shop window at 1 Patriot Place”.
  • Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: Three vie for Hall of Fame nod; Gronk invests in Gronk; Schedule unveiled tonight.
  • NBC Sports Boston also has the report that yes, Bill Belichick’s dog was indeed wearing a hoodie in public.

NATIONAL NEWS

  • Chris Wesseling (NFL.com) Tom Brady eyes revised Patriots deal before season.
  • Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady planning summer passing camp with teammates.
  • Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Making sense of the new Tom Brady report. /Excellent summation.
  • Jenny Vrentas (SI) Tom Brady can keep his old helmet for now.
  • Danny Kelly (The Ringer) Anatomy of a unique first round.
  • Albert Breer (SI) Game Plan: Jon Gruden? Now here’s a guy who’s ready to get back on a football field; Patriots drama continues; More.
  • Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) 10-Point Stance: Why is the NFL still so scared of Kaepernick?
  • Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Ask 5: What’s most natural team-prospect fit in 2018 NFL Draft? South Carolina TE Hayden Hurst: Patriots and Alabama WR Calvin Ridley: Patriots.
  • Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Could another 49ers-Patriots quarterback trade be looming?
  • Robert Mays (The Ringer) The first-round tight end is back in style.
  • Andy Benoit (SI) Draft needs: Finding the right fits for new defensive coordinators.
  • Tom Pelissero (NFL.com) NFL draft: Four prospects who could be surprise first-rounders.
  • Conor Orr (SI) How teams interview top quarterback prospects.
  • Rankings (NFL.com) Every team’s strength of schedule for 2018. (5.43 min. video) Patriots tied-22nd.
  • Marc Sessler (NFL.com) NFL draft: Ranking the top 10 team hauls of the past 25 years. 6) 1995 Patriots: Ty Law, Ted Johnson, Curtis Martin, Jimmy Hitchcock, Dave Wohlabaugh.
  • Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) GM power rankings: Howie Roseman, Kevin Colbert among best. 1. Bill Belichick.
  • Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Gronk the NFL player to buy a stake in Gronk the horse.
  • Ed Bouchette (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Bill Belichick talked to James Harrison about playing one more year for the New England Patriots, but “When it came down to it, I couldn’t take another year, 6-8 months, where I’m not there,’’ said Harrison, who lives with his family in Pittsburgh. “It just wasn’t worth it.”
  • Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Report: NFL moving kickoff times for night games slightly earlier.
  • Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Peyton Manning on turning down TV work: I don’t want to be a critic “at this point”.

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