New England Patriots links 3/18/19 - Resetting the roster heading into free agency Week 2

TEAM TALK

• Patriots 2019 Free Agent Tracker.
• Patriots sign six players; Release DE Adrian Clayborn.
• Patriots introduce us to their five newest players.
• Andy Hart and Paul Perillo debate whether the Patriots start to free agency this year has been a disappointment.
• Don Banks talks about the 7 non-playoff teams in 2018 that have improved their postseason chances the most.
• One-on-One with DL Mike Pennel (30 sec. video) - TE Matt LaCosse (30 sec. video) RB Brandon Bolden with his grandfather (4.55 min. video).

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Patriots’ influence across NFL creates challenge for team in free agency — it means more competition for the same types of players on the open market in free agency.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots news, AFC East notes: Adrian Clayborn’s release gives the team an extra almost $3.5 million dollars in salary cap room; More.
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski part of conversation with Patriots’ lack of offseason buzz; More.
• Doug Kyed takes time to assess the Patriots needs after the start of free agency. /Time for a shopping spree at Offensive-Tackles-R-Us.
• Kevin Duffy examines the Patriots roster after one week in free agency.
• Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) Pats Posits: Roster reset.
• Michael Hurley reminds us why the Patriots approach to the WR depth chart shouldn’t be surprising.
• Mark Dunphy tells us one thing to know about every player the Patriots have signed so far.
• Matt Dolloff shares the reported details on four of the Patriots’ newest free-agent signings.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) Donald Penn fits well with New England Patriots.
• Evan Lazar thumbnails the best remaining free agents and trade targets for the Patriots after the first week of free agency.
• Andrew Callahan gives us 10 potential Patriots targets to watch in Week 2 of free agency.
• Tom E. Curran urges New England to go the trade route for wide receivers.
• Tom E. Curran profiles potential Pats’ WR trade targets as an alternative to free agency.
• Ryan Hannable takes a look at which wide receivers are available for the Pats to potentially sign.
• Brent Schwartz (PatriotsWire) Why the Patriots aren’t done adding to their receiving corps.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Trainer shares workout video of Josh Gordon ‘flying on land and sea’.
• Ryan Hannable traces the blame for the Patriots’ current cap space problems back to poor drafting.
• Trevor Hass highllights what the experts are saying about the Patriots’ offseason so far.
• Karen Guregian NFL Notes: AFC competition heating up.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) Martellus Bennett will not return to football. /I figured.
• Karen Guregian reports the Patriots lose backup swing tackle LaAdrian Waddle to Buffalo.
• Ryan Hannable relays Trey Flowers on how Matt Patricia impacted his decision to sign with Lions. Along with the $56 million guaranteed, that is.
• Abigail Adams notes Ex-Pats CB Eric Rowe opened up about his decision to sign with the Dolphins, including the team’s hiring of Brian Flores and Josh Boyer.
• Abigail Adams notes ESPN Insider Mike Renner considers Trent Brown’s record-breaking contract with Oakland as one of the more overrated deals so far this offseason.
• NBC Sports Boston lists ex-Patriots free agents who cashed in after they left.
• Nick O’Malley notes Joe Flacco in his introductory presser responded to John Elway calling him ‘in his prime’ at 34: “... with Tom Brady now, quarterbacks are playing until they’re about 60 years old.”
• Alex Reimer’s Media Column: During NFL free agency, lies and mistruths flood the market.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Patriots are big favorites to win AFC East.
• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: Why 2018’s power teams are sitting out 2019 Free agency
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA: How the Odell deal got done, and an NFL free agency wet blanket.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) NFL Insider Notes: Browns win again with Kareem Hunt return date, impactful free agents still available and more.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Free agency winners often cautionary tales.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) 28 players still available on PFT’s Free Agent Top 100.
• Staff (The Ringer) The 2019 NFL offseason tracker: Fitzmagic is taking his talents to South Beach; More.
• Conor Orr (SI) Five inevitable storylines born out of this year’s NFL free agency frenzy.
• Bill Barnwell (ESPN) 2019 NFL free-agency and trade grades: Tracking every big signing and move.
• Andy Benoit (SI) The five best and five worst NFL free agent signings so far.
• Staff (TMZ) Tom Brady autograph prices higher than ever.
• Danny Heifetz (The Ringer) The Ryan Tannehill trade is the beginning of a long rebuild in Miami.
• Robert Klemko (SI) The Big Ben problem in Pittsburgh, according to two ex-Steelers.
• Staff (The Ringer) Mock Draft 3.0: Post free agency. Pats pick Alabama TE Irv Smith Jr.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) 2019 NFL mock draft. Pats pick Clemson CB Trayvon Mullen.
• Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports) Two-round 2019 NFL Mock Draft. Pats pick Mississippi State DT Jeffery Simmons at 32.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Q&A (SteelersTakeaways) Exclusive with former Steelers DL Chris Sullivan, 2000-2001. /Interesting read on his time with New England and difference between teams.
• Sam Mellinger (Kansas City Star) If Tyreek Hill allegation is true, everyone loses: son, mother, player, Chiefs, fans
• Charles P. Pierce (SI) Robert Kraft, Roger Goodell and the NFL’s discipline double standard.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Full text of memo from NFLPA to agents regarding March 11 meeting.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA, agents at odds as CBA talks near (and the owners love it).
• Sheilla Dingus (AdvocacyForFairnessInSports) NFL concussion settlement administrator defends right to audit claims at will.
• Sheilla Dingus (AdvocacyForFairnessInSports) The strange transformation of NFL concussion settlement claims administrator Orran Brown.
• Sean Wagner-McGough (CBS Sports) NFL players spend offseason on Capitol Hill, working on issues from the opioid crisis to brain injuries.