New England Patriots links 6/19/18 - Gronk at No. 15 shows NFL ‘Top 100’ list is ‘silly’

TEAM TALK

• Key dates on the 2018 NFL / Patriots calendar.
• From NFL Network - Top 100 Players of 2018: No. 15 Rob Gronkowski (2.26 min. video)
• Angelique Fiske recaps the Tom Brady sit-down interview with Oprah.
• Lauren Williams tells us how the Patriots celebrated Father’s Day.
• Angelique Fiske notes Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter says ‘we like to call ourselves the Tom Brady of pop music.”
• Photos: A look at our favorite posed player photos from Patriots head shot day.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss takes a look at how the Patriots’ offseason program unfolded, how they fared and the questions still lingering: Who will emerge at receiver?
• Phil Perry reviews the running back position in advance of training camp: In replacing Dion Lewis, rookie Sony Michel could bring a different dimension.
• Phil Perry says it feels as though the new kickoff rules may encourage the Patriots to continue to load up on players who thrive in the kicking game.
• Ian Glendon (FullPressCoverage) NFL Top 100: Gronkowski ranks 15th among his peers.
• Michael Hurley highlights a few drives from 2017 that show why the NFL putting the best tight end in football at No. 15 makes this a pretty silly list.
• Michael Hurley picks 15 of the biggest takeaways from Tom Brady’s wide-ranging interview with Oprah Winfrey, including the podcast. /No. 16 should have been that oh-so-awkward handshake... clasp, whatever that was.
• Tom E. Curran concludes that Tom Brady is just not that into football the way he was.
• Mike Cole NFL Rumors: “We don’t know how close the Patriots came to trading Rob Gronkowski, but there certainly were conversations, according to reports.” /I do: 0.0% chance.
• WEEI listens to Mike Giardi on ‘Not Sunday podcast’ with Giardi explaining how real the Rob Gronkowski rumors were and how badly he wants to glean from the timeline that they were true. /I gleaned from this the sense he’s practically willing all the offseaon tension reports into reality.
• Karen Guregian notes Devin McCourty is not disappointed in Tom Brady for not being more outspoken on social issues.
• NBC Sports Boston reports Brandin Cooks showed he’s “forever grateful” for his short tenure with New England by showing off his AFC championship ring on Instagram.
• Nick O’Malley digs up which NFL teams have the most PED suspensions. Panthers, Bucs lead the list.
• Staff (BostonSportsExtra) Patriots send heartwarming Father’s Day message to dying fan.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Oliver Thomas (Forbes) Rising tide awaits Patriots guard Shaq Mason in 2019 NFL free agency.
• Skarekrow (Buffalo Rumblings) Plays that defined 2017: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, Week 16.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) NFL offseason rewind: Best moves, looming questions for all 32 teams. Patriots put in ‘Average’ category.
• Mike Jones (USA Today) 10 takeaways of the NFL’s offseason heading into training camps.
• Mike Tanier (Bleacher Report) Super Bowl or Bust? For NFLers, putting winning above life isn’t always so easy.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady explains decision to finally accept #DeflateGate punishment.
• Scott Polacek (Bleacher Report) Tom Brady comments on LeGarrette Blount’s Instagram post of 3 Super Bowl rings.
• Highlights (NFL.com) Top 100 Players of 2018: Best play from players Nos 20-11. (3.21 min. video) No. 15 Rob Gronkowski (2.26 min. video)
• Dave Birkett (Detroit Free Press) Detroit Lions discussed trading for Rob Gronkowski, report says.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Which teams have a chance to win the next two Super Bowls? (11.51 min. video) Chris Simms: Saints, Mike Florio: Patriots.