New England Patriots links 6/06/19 - Minicamp mob-servations: Gilmore shuts down WRs; Harris impresses

TEAM TALK

• Patriots sign third-round pick RB Damien Harris.
• Paul Perillo’s Minicamp Blogservations, Day 2: Free agent wideout Maurice Harris enjoyed another strong day.
• Meghan O’Brien catches up with Braxton Berrios, the 2018 6th-round receiver who spent 2018 on IR, spending time at the facility, studying the playbook and getting to know his teammates. “I hate to lose more than I love to win.”
• Press Conference transcript: Bill Belichick.
• Don Banks recognizes 16 QBs under the most pressure in 2019. Jimmy G. included.
• Patriots Minicamp: Day 2 Debrief with Megan O’Brien and Paul Perillo wrapping up today’s coverage. (2.28 min. video)
• Press Pass: Julian Edelman (6.50 min. video)
• Sneak Preview: Patriots get their Super Bowl rings tonight. (30 second video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Doug Kyed’s Patriots Minicamp Day 2 Observations: Stephon Gilmore locks down wideouts; More.
• Phil Perry sends a Day 2 Postcard from Minicamp: Stephon Gilmore picks up where he left off; Maurice Harris continues to be impressive; Pats worked on ball security; More.
• Mike D’Abate (FullPressCoverage) Gilmore, Harris ‘squared,’ impress on Day Two of Patriots minicamp.
• Evan Lazar’s Minicamp Notebook: Seven observations from day two. A two-hour practice session that included a full-field hurry-up drill for warmups, four-on-four, seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 team drills.
• Stephen Balestrieri (PatsFans) Mini-camp Day 2 Observations: Gilmore steps up; Damien Harris and Brandon Bolden saw a lot of work in the running game with Michel still out; Jarrett Stidham is firmly entrenched (for now) in the #3 QB; More.
• Andrew Callahan’s Patriots minicamp observations: Tom Brady develops chemistry with a new receiver and more from Day 2.
• CBS Boston’s Patriots Minicamp Day 2: Sony Michel still absent, while WR Maurice Harris shines; Joe Thuney has been taking reps as the starting left tackle; More.
• Zack Cox reports Sony Michel headlined the list of seven players who did not participate on Wednesday’s practice. All seven also were absent from Tuesday’s session.
• Mike Reiss helps us get to know top-of-the-TE-Depth-Chart Matt LaCosse, who referred to himself a “multiple guy,” noting he can play “inside, outside” and even in the backfield and on special teams.
• Phil Perry sees N’Keal Harry carrying his perfectionist approach from Arizona State to Patriots minicamp
• Adam London highlights Stephon Gilmore sharing his first impressions of N’Keal Harry, who is learning the hard way in his first NFL minicamp, going up against Stephon Gilmore in practice.
• Zack Cox notes Julian Edelman expects N’Keal Harry to make an immediate impact.
• Tom E. Curran notes Julian Edelman is impressed with how N’Keal Harry is navigating the learning curve.
• Doug Kyed suggests that perhaps we all underestimated Maurice Harris when the Patriots signed the veteran receiver on the first day of free agency.
• Ryan Hannable says Sony Michel’s absence from on-field activities is beginning to become real storyline.
• Andy Hart finds Joe Thuney is embracing his reps at left tackle in minicamp.
• Zack Cox wonders if a bulked up Stephen Anderson can capitalize on the Patriots’ opportunity at tight end. ‘Anderson, who, after spending nearly all of last season on New England’s practice squad, is doing all he can to separate himself.’
• Nick O’Malley hears from rookie QB Jarrett Stidham on what it’s like coming in and playing behind Tom Brady.
• Andrew Callahan spotlights Gunner Olszewski, the Patriots’ greatest underdog in years taking his shot.
• Doug Kyed explains why Gunner Olszewski was moved from D-II cornerback to slot receiver.
• Evan Lazar and Alex Barth discuss Day 2 of Patriots minicamp: Continuation of a contested WR battle; Young QBs going head-to-head, and Tom Brady running the two minute drill. (4.42 min. video)
• Chris Grenham shares the Patriots preseason schedule, with dates, times and opponents.
• Ricky Doyle NFL Rumors: Patriots sources aren’t buying Rob Gronkowski’s retirement.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Matt LaCosse: I haven’t earned anything yet.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Chase Winovich: I’m a rookie, so I’ll shut my mouth and try to make the team. /kid making veteran moves already.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Rookie coach Jerod Mayo gets to call some plays.
• Mike Giardi (NFL.com) Explaining Sony Michel’s absence from Patriots minicamp. (1.03 min. video) Speculates it’s a knee issue.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Bill Belichick: Rules for Hail Mary plays “a tough problem”.
• Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) 10-Point Stance: Are we seeing the downfall of Todd Gurley; No one believes Gronk is really retired; More.
• Andy Benoit (SI) Deep Dive: The NFL All-Over-30 Team.
• Robert Mays (The Ringer) Taking stock of the five teams stuck in NFL no-man’s-land.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL can cut the preseason, but hasn’t.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Phil Simms: Players want 18 games. /Wut?
• Damichael Cole (SI) Raiders, Packers to play preseason game in Winnipeg. The NFL will return to Canada for the first time in six years.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Dave Brown calls attention to how the Federal Gov’t is helping classless Tom Brady steal a generic nickname from Tom Seaver. “If it is not Brady’s fault that uninventive sports scribes and announcers have spent the last 18 years calling Brady “Tom Terrific” when many of those same people had already spent 30 years calling Seaver the same name, then whose fault could it possibly be? Classless”.
• Alex Reimer tells us the New Yorkers’ Tom Brady nickname protest was even sadder than expected.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Le’Veon Bell loses more than $500,000 in jewelry heist.