New England Patriots links 10/04/19 - Pats-’Skins: New kicker, old TE, and time to jumpstart the run game

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Redskins Thursday Injury Report.
• Erik Scalavino passes along reports that post-Ghost, the Patriots add two kickers: Mike Nugent to the 53-man roster and Younghoe Koo to the practice squad.
• Mike Dussault shares the news, notes and locker-room buzz from Thursday at Gillette: Ben Watson back in the mix.
• Mike Dussault’s Keys to the Starting Lineup: Patriots at Redskins. 1. Finally get the running game going.
• Players to Watch: Patriots at Redskins.
• What They’re Saying: Washington Redskins.
• Coffee with the Coach: Belichick and Zo discuss the Buffalo win, Jake Bailey, and the Redskins. (2.22 min. video)
• One-on-One with Matthew Slater. (3.13 min. video)
• Duron Harmon’s Karaoke Night: Patriots players showed off their vocal skills in support of Autism Speaks. (1.10 min. video)
• Patriots host Day of Pampering for fifteen cancer survivors at Gillette Stadium. (2.15 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Evan Lazar’s Patriots Game Plan: Examining tendencies with the Patriots through 4 games. How the Patriots have shifted the offense without Rob Gronkowski and continue to lean on the secondary.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots–Redskins Week 5 key matchups: Who has the razor’s edge?
• Thomas Murphy (DiehardBostonSportsFans) Monster Keys to Pats-’Skins. 1. Own the line of scrimmage.
• Andy Hart’s Patriots 6-pack Preview: Redskins not ‘a good football team’.
• Michael Hurley says Sunday could be another historic day for Tom Brady.
• Dave D’Onofrio offers 13 thoughts on an in-flux Patriots roster: Lawrence Guy was officially credited with combining on four tackles at Buffalo, but he deserved credit for bulldozing two blockers and pushing Josh Allen into Van Noy’s arms for a sack near the end of the second quarter.
• Nick O’Malley’s Patriots anti-analysis: Julian Edelman’s story of his 1st Bill Belichick encounter keeps getting weirder.
• Mike Reiss points out Bill Belichick highlighted how Devin McCourty’s defensive value isn’t always quantifiable on the stat sheet. McCourty is in the spotlight for big plays, but the Patriots also appreciate his leadership, preparation and on-field communication.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Even after complicated breakup, Jamie Collins emerges a changed man and one of Patriots’ best.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Michael Bennett says it’s hard adjusting to what he calls the ‘zero role’.
• Phil Perry explains why the Patriots made the right choice signing Mike Nugent as Gostkowski’s replacement.
• Nate Weitzer tells us six things to know about new kicker Mike Nugent: He is 253-for-311 (81.4 percent) on field goals and 363-for-377 (96.1 percent) on extra points...
• Nick O’Malley notes the field goal unit is starting at ‘zero’; but Joe Cardona says ‘it’s not rocket science.’
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) The Patriots’ tough and quick transition from Stephen Gostkowski to Mike Nugent.
• Zack Cox talks about how the Patriots could expand Jake Bailey’s role with Stephen Gostkowski on IR.
• Marcus Kwesi O’Mard mentions DE Chase Winovich finished eighth in ESPN’s NFL rookie rankings vote.
• Jerry Thornton discusses the survey that says Patriots fans have lost confidence since last week. ‘What the hell?’
• Doug Kyed addresses his Friday Patriots Mailbag: How Tom Brady makes Stefon Diggs to New England unlikely.
• Nick O’Malley Patriots Notes: TE Ben Watson practices for the first time since his suspension; New kicker spotted with team.
• Michael Hurley gives us his Week 5 NFL picks, including a solid theory about why facing the Dolphins is bad for your health, and a few reasons why 16-0 talk is a waste of time.
• Nick O’Malley has the update on how former Patriots are doing with their new teams: Chris Hogan lands on IR; Malcolm Butler is turning things around.
• Kevin Slane writes about Boston sports legends Drew Bledsoe and Ray Bourque hanging out at North End restaurant Tresca on Wednesday night.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate talks Gostkowski to IR; Pats on to Washington. (28 min.)
• Patriots Fourth and Two podcast: Derek Havens and Steve Balestrieri discuss the latest Patriots news and Redskins preview. (43.29 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Devin McCourty is the AFC’s defensive player of the month.
• Rodger Sherman (The Ringer) What do Greg Schiano and Rutgers have to do with the Patriots’ defensive dominance?
• Albert Breer (SI) Game Plan: Jameis Winston, Bruce Arians and the Buccaneers’ quarterback situation; More.
• Jonathan Jones (SI) Morning Huddle: Let’s pump the brakes on the Arch Manning hype.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Brady can pass both Favre and Peyton for career passing yards on Sunday.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Case Keenum returns to practice.
• Robert Mays (The Ringer) NFL quarter-season power rankings: The Patriots and Chiefs are in control of their destinies.
• Danny Kelly (The Ringer) Sophomore Jump: The second-year NFL playmakers breaking out this season.
• Andy Benoit (SI) Is the Bills offense good enough to drive a playoff run?
• Bill Barnwell (ESPN) NFL quarter-season awards: Picks for MVP, best rookies and more.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Lawyer accuses Antonio Brown of ‘reprehensible behavior’ during deposition in luxury condo legal dispute.
• Samer Kalaf (Deadspin) Sports Illustrated eventually holds “transition meetings,” lays off half its staff.