New England Patriots links 10/24/19 - Aftershock: Making sense of the mid-season moves

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Browns Wednesday Injury Report.
• Broadcast Info: Patriots vs. Browns.
• Patriots place Josh Gordon on IR.
• Mike Dussault shares the news, notes and locker-room buzz from Wednesday at Gillette: Sanu, Bethel make Patriots practice debuts, Gordon reportedly to injured reserve.
• Press Conference transcripts: Bill Belichick - Devin McCourty - James White.
• Sights and Sounds: Week 7 vs. Jets. (4.31 min. video)
• Belichick Breakdown: Top plays vs. Jets. (8.56 min. video)
• NFL Explained: Evolution of rules throughout the last 100 seasons. (16.18 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss clarifies the Josh Gordon to IR situation: “The Patriots used the “minor” injured reserve designation with him, signifying a more minor injury, which means the team has to release him upon his return to health. If this happens after Tuesday’s trade deadline, Gordon would be subject to waivers, any team could put in a claim for him, and he could be on a roster at that time.” /Learned something new.
• Doug Kyed gives us seven takeaways from the surprising decision to place Josh Gordon on IR. 2) The Patriots never intended to count on Gordon. /Good read.
• Ryan Hannable says there’s apparently a lot more to Josh Gordon being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) How Josh Gordon news affects Patriots wide receiver depth chart. No matter how good Sanu and Harry are, this offense will always run through Julian Edelman.
• Phil Perry says that with Josh Gordon on IR, N’Keal Harry now has a big chance to shine once he’s activated.
• Ryan Hannable points out how the Patriots’ offensive identity has changed, and it began Monday vs. Jets.
• Matt Dolloff’s Notes from Foxboro: Opportunity (finally) knocking for Patriots’ rookie receivers.
• Rian Queen (LastWordOnSports) Analyzing the Mohamed Sanu Trade.
• Nick O’Malley highlights Bill Belichick explaining how the Patriots will work Mohamed Sanu into offense in the middle of the season.
• Matt Dolloff wonders if Mohamed Sanu will play Sunday vs. Browns: ‘I’m ready if they want me to go.’
• Mike Reiss spotlights the rare feat of Bill Belichick closing in on his 300th NFL win.
• Andrew Mahoney reports the Patriots announced the release of Eric Tomlinson and Jordan Richards to make room for Mohamed Sanu and Justin Bethel.
• Mike Reiss notes Michael Bennett said he’s voiced his opinion about his decreased playing time, and now it’s time to move on from his weeklong suspension. “There’s no love lost,” he said. “It’s just how it is.”
• Nick O’Malley relays Devin McCourty on how the Patriots defense has only had 7 games, and won’t be talked about as great if they stink the rest of the season.
• Ryan Hannable reports Shaq Mason was among 4 Patriots to miss Wednesday’s walk-through practice.
• Zack Cox tells us what Bill Belichick was saying to the defense in those sideline huddles vs. the Jets.
• Ty Anderson reports Browns QB Baker Mayfield is ‘good to go’ vs. the Patriots this Sunday. A hip injury won’t keep him out.
• Doug Kyed looks at how Baker Mayfield can avoid ‘seeing ghosts’ while facing the Patriots defense.
• Patriots Press Pass: Alex Barth and Evan Lazar scout Baker Mayfield ahead of the Patriots matchup. (7.24 min. video)
• Zack Cox hears from Cleveland head coach Freddie Kitchens on how the Browns are not expecting ‘normal’ challenge vs. Patriots’ defense.
• Scott Edwards Jr. notes Ex-NFL coach Jack Del Rio believes Bill Belichick should have a trophy named after him.
• Zack Cox reveals what Bill Belichick tells Odell Beckham Jr. before games.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Jason Fitzgerald (OverTheCap) The Patriots, CBA loopholes, and Josh Gordon.
• Adam Maya (NFL.com) Pats place Josh Gordon on IR, will likely waive WR.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) Who’s the real NFL MVP so far? The entire Patriots defense, and here’s why it’s not even close.
• Sam Monson and Solomon Wilcox (Pro Football Focus) Reacting to Mohamed Sanu, Emmanuel Sanders trades. (7.21 min. video)
• Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) 10-Point Stance: Trade deadline could redefine NFL season.
• Scott Polacek (Bleacher Report) Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, OBJ lead top NFL merchandise sales.
• Mike Giardi (NFL.com) Patriots’ Tom Brady acknowledges uncertainty about future. /Uhh.... this is news?
• Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) For the first time there is uncertainty in Tom Brady’s future.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) Bill Belichick admits he exploited a loophole in the NFL rulebook that should ‘probably be closed’.
• Barry Werner (TouchdownWire) NFL Week 8: 11 bold predictions. 2. The Browns will test the Patriots. 5. Sanders will have a bigger game than Sanu.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) Biggest Week 8 injury questions for all 32 NFL teams. Patriots: RG Shaq Mason.
• Staff (USA Today) 100 greatest NFL players of all time. Tom Brady No. 2.
• Conor Orr (SI) Is Sam Darnold’s ghost game the new butt fumble?

VIEW FROM CLEVELAND

• Mary Kay Cabot (Cleveland.com) With the 2-4 Browns up next, the 7-0 Patriots have beat up mostly on bad teams so far.
• Andrew Gribble (ClevelandBrowns) Baker Mayfield excited to face Tom Brady but is more focused on matchup with vaunted Patriots defense.
• Terry Pluto (The Plain Dealer) Cleveland Browns: Here’s how they can stop being the team of doubt.
• Ellis L. Williams (Cleveland.com) Film Review: Revisiting Odell Beckham Jr.’s lone game vs. Patriots: How might Bill Belichick defend him?
• Mary Kay Cabot (Cleveland.com) Odell Beckham Jr. dreamed of playing for Bill Belichick, Tom Brady: ‘I was willing and ready to go over there at any point in time’.
• Mary Kay Cabot (Cleveland.com) Odell Beckham Jr. admits an early internal battle but vows ‘to do more’; Baker Mayfield’s hip better.
• Andrew Gribble (ClevelandBrowns) News & Notes: Greedy Williams, Denzel Ward full go at Wednesday’s practice; Damarious Randall sidelined.