TEAM TALK
- Press Release: Patriots sign six of nine 2018 NFL Draft selections; Sign nine rookie free agents; Release OL Tony Garcia.
- Erik Scalavino hears from Brian Flores on how he sees his role as a coach: “This is going to sound like a Bill Belichick-coached team: tough, smart, dependable, cool under pressure.”
- Angelique Fiske notes Brian Flores opens up about his mother’s strength before Mother’s Day.
- Highlights: Josh McDaniels, Brian Flores, Dante Scarnecchia and Joe Judge addressing the media. (2.14 min. video)
- First Impressions: OL coach Dante Scarnecchia and RB coach Ivan Fears share their thoughts on Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel. (1.22 min. video)
- Happy Mother’s Day! Patrick Chung, Matthew Slater, Duron Harmon and the Hollister and McCourty twins tell us what their moms mean to them.
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Patriots coaches share life lessons learned from their mothers; More.
- Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: What a difference a few months make when it comes to Patriots coaching staff.
- Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots news, AFC East notes: Ivan Fears was smiling when talking about fellow first-round pick and Georgia Bulldog Sony Michel; More.
- Kevin Duffy passes along a report from Ben Volin that the Patriots are taking an unconventional approach to improving their pass rush, in hiring martial arts expert Joe Kim as a consultant for the 2018 season.
- Karen Guregian NFL Notes: Tom Brady absence no concern to ex-teammates.
- Karen Guregian finds Josh McDaniels also unconcerned with the absences of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.
- Kevin Duffy notes Rex Burkhead’s first season in New England was interrupted twice by injury, but the team, and Ivan Fears, liked what they saw, “Rex is something special.”
- Ryan Hannable reports Brian Flores doesn’t care about titles or a ‘personal imprint,’ and says he’ll try to put the team imprint on his players.
- Phil Perry notes Brian Flores has never run a defense before, but what he’s looking for - ‘tough, smart, dependable’ defenders - sounds awfully Belichickian.
- Mike Reiss addresses his weekly Patriots Mailbag: Has Georgia become the Patriots’ new go-to college program?
- Doug Kyed empties his Patriots Mailbag: Could cornerback switch positions to boost safety depth?
- Rich Thompson Patriots Notebook: WR coach Chad O’Shea has positive thoughts about the arsenal he’ll develop for Tom Brady; More.
- Mike Reiss notes that the Patriots’ release of LT Antonio Garcia creates a void at left tackle.
- Stephen Hewitt points out the offensive line is unsettled heading into OTAs because of injuries.
- Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Locks, bubbles and long-shots: A post-draft 53-man roster look.
- Phil Perry points out how the Patriots continue to dive into the SEC undrafted pool.
- Tom E. Curran chats with Jerod Mayo about whether there’s a culture change going on in New England, and what contracts have to do with it.
- David Latham (LastWordOnSports) Patriots best remaining free agent fits.
- Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Best of social media: The Patriots celebrate Mother’s Day.
- Alex Reimer explains how the Patriots didn’t know about Matt Patricia’s arrest: Under Massachusetts law, it is illegal for employers to ask about arrests that did not lead to convictions.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Brian Flores not concerned with his title on Patriots staff.
- Christian D’Andrea (SB Nation) The 1 position each NFL team should be worried about heading into the 2018 season. The Patriots need pass rushers.
- Zack Rosenblatt (NJ.com) Ranking NFL teams by best offensive skill players. Patriots 5th. /Hmm.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Isaiah Wynn among four Patriots linemen who won’t take part in OTAs.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady’s next goal: 1,000 career rushing yards.
- Peter King (SI) Monday Morning QB: Matt Millen fights for his life: ‘It’s getting late. We need a big stop.’
- Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Ins and Outs: Eli Manning set up for renaissance; Lamar Jackson creating buzz; The truth about Rob Gronkowski and the Patriots; More.
- Justis Mosqueda (Bleacher Report) Projecting every NFL team’s starting lineup for 2018.
- Jordan Raanan (ESPN) The crazy underworld of NFL undrafted free agency.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Absence of May 16 rule will help plenty of draft picks and UDFAs.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Adam Vinatieri now has teammates born after he played his first NFL game.
- Pat Leonard (NY Daily News) Memorabilia fraud case involving Eli Manning, Giants returns to court Monday.