New England Patriots links 2/25/19 - Hey, how about that NFL Scouting Combine?

TEAM TALK

• 2019 NFL Scouting Combine Primer: Everything you need to know.
• From the NFL - Mike Garafolo reports the latest on the NFL futures of Devin and Jason McCourty. (1 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss writes an excellent piece on his personal blog, sharing some lessons to be learned from the 2018 Super Bowl champion Patriots.
• Kevin Duffy takes a look at the Patriots’ top five offseason priorities. 1. Replenish young talent.
• Ryan Hannable believes the Patriots ‘desperately’ need to add young talent. They “have done an outstanding job over the years of turning over their talent to have success year-after-year. Right now, that isn’t totally the case.” /Suddenly they don’t know how to build a team?
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots news; AFC East notes: Trey Flowers should be allowed to set his own worth.
• Ryan Hananble’s Sunday 7: Why the Patriots can afford to lose Trent Brown via free agency.
• Bruce Allen (BostonSportsMediaWatch) Round-by-round review: Pats Draft, 2019.
• Kevin Duffy reports New England was awarded four compensatory picks in the 2019 Draft.
• Doug Kyed questions whether the Patriots already have their quarterback of the future.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Pro Football Focus: Rob Gronkowski barely grades out as AFC East’s best TE.
• Evan Lazar points out how Devin McCourty in 2018 ranked 11th among safeties with an 80.5 grade from Pro Football Focus (considered a “high-quality starter”), and he did it by playing just about everywhere in the back seven.
• Ryan Hannable notes Jason McCourty reminds everyone he’s playing in 2019 and was never comtemplating retirement.
• Jordy McElroy (PatriotsWire) 5 safeties the Patriots should target in free agency.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) Patriots free agent targets: DE Brandon Graham.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Trey Flowers’ free agency situation will likely parallel that of Nate Solder.
• Karen Guregian NFL Notes: Time to start taking shots at Tom Brady successor.
• NBC Sports Boston notes Chris Hogan grades as the Patriots’ worst outside receiver, per PFF.
• Tom E. Curran highlights the McCourty brothers on Greg Schiano’s addition to the coaching staff.
• Nick O’Malley highlights Gisele Bundchen, speaking to a reporter at the 2019 Hollywood for Science Gala, on not pressuring Tom Brady to retire: ‘Whatever he wants to do, I’m just gonna support him’.
• Andrew Callahan offers a roundup of 2019 NFL mock drafts: Patriots take Boston College pass rusher, wide receivers in new first-round projections.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Jason McCourty: “Would be awesome” to remain with Patriots.
• Peter King (NBC Sports) NFL Scouting Combine: Names to know in Indy.
• Jeff Diamond (Sporting News) Why NFL Combine is tedious, expensive and overrated in the eyes of a team president.
• Tadd Haislop (Sporting News) NFL Combine records: Top 40 times, bench press reps, more.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Compensatory picks help the rich get richer.
• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: After solicitation charges, where does Robert Kraft go from here?
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA: The Combine names to know and how NFL might handle Kraft.
• Jeremy Bergman (NFL.com) Top 10 most impactful compensatory picks of the decade.
• Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Fully guaranteed contracts in the NFL? Five players I’d lock up.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Who were the best players to ever be traded?
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Scouting Combine ban encompasses convictions only.
• Arthur Weinstein (Sporting News) NFL committee to discuss expansion of instant replay, report says.
• Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today) NFL mock draft 2019: Combine could help sort out first round. Pats pick Iowa TE Noah Fant.

DUMPSTER

• Tom E. Curran explains all the ways Robert Kraft is now in for a rough ride.
• Tom E. Curran hears from Devin McCourty on the Robert Kraft situation: ‘Let it play out.’
• Kevin Duffy reports Robert Kraft “categorically” denies he solicited sex.
• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Robert Kraft, prostitution case threaten to steal NFL scouting combine’s spotlight.
• Karen Guregian takes a look at what happens when owners get in trouble with the law.
• Arthur Weinstein (Sporting News) NFL plans ‘appropriate action’ against Robert Kraft, won’t ‘interfere’ with investigation.
• Michael McCann (SI) Robert Kraft charged with soliciting prostitution: Potential defenses, how the NFL might respond.
• Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Opinion: Robert Kraft owed due process, but NFL must hold Patriots owner to high standard.
• Andrew Callahan looks at what’s next in Robert Kraft’s criminal case, what are his potential penalties and whether he will go to trial.
• Jenny Vrentas (SI) What we know about Robert Kraft’s charges of soliciting prostitution.
• Kevin Seifert (ESPN) What charges could mean for Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
• Kevin Clark (The Ringer) How will the NFL respond to the charges against Robert Kraft?
• Jonathan Jones (SI) If video evidence surfaces, it may be best for Robert Kraft to fade to black.
• Michael Rosenberg (SI) The Robert Kraft story is no laughing matter.
• Tom Keegan wonders what’s a man like Robert Kraft doing in a place like that.
• Jane McManus (NY Daily News) NFL must ban Robert Kraft if sex trafficking allegations are true.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Florida authorities have “no idea” regarding the “biggest name” report.