TEAM TALK
- Mike Dussault talks about how with Tom Brady’s contract set to void, the Patriots now have two months to decide which direction they’ll go and there are two very different and distinct paths.
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss writes a personal blog post sharing some final thoughts from the Patriots 2019 season, and more. Good read, per usual.
- Isaiah Houde (PatriotsWire) 6 takeaways from the Patriots’ unpredictable 2019 season: 1. Tom Brady was frustrated, and wasn’t afraid to show it.
- Evan Lazar examines N’Keal Harry’s rookie campaign: Harry missed half the season due to injury, and then struggled in his first seven NFL games.
- Mike Reiss reports Patriots’ Joe Thuney could command a monster contract in free agency.
- Zack Cox explores a Tom Brady-to-Buccaneers scenario: Why it makes sense and why it doesn’t.
- Adam London tells us NFL writer Gregg Rosenthal ranks Tom Brady ninth among the top 25 free agents.
- 98.5 Sports Hub reports the Patriots brought CFL cornerback (and former QB) Tre Roberson in for a workout.
- Isaiah Houde (PatriotsWire) Melvin Gordon wants James White to pass this message on to Bill Belichick.
- Michael Hurley is puzzled how Bill Vinovich could be named Super Bowl referee after officiating the infamous missed pass interference call in the Saints-Rams championship round game last year.
- Adam London highlights Albert Breer on why Josh McDaniels doesn’t regret spurning the Colts.
- Ricky Doyle shares a video clip from Scott Pioli praising the culture in Foxboro. The footage shows Patriots staffers conducting early-morning player interviews ahead of the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl.
- Andy Hart tells us Patriots OL Ted Karras’ great-uncle has been elected to the Hall of Fame. /Cool!
- Patriots Roundtable: Is it now more likely Tom Brady comes back to the Patriots? (13.42 min. video)
- Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate is joined by ‘Pats Cap’ guru Miguel Benzan to talk Tom Brady and Patriots free agency. (43 min.) /Worth a listen, Miguel knows his stuff.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Jason Fitzgerald (Sporting News) Explaining Patriots’ salary cap crunch: How situation will impact Tom Brady decision, 2020 free agent signings. “in 2018 we saw Brady complain about his contract for the first time in his career.” /He did?
- Staff (ProFootballWriters.org) Baltimore’s Jackson PFWA NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year; New England’s Gilmore Defensive Player of the Year.
- Nate Davis (USA Today) Are Titans the next Patriots? Similarities are striking. /Patriots org waves its hands, “we’re still here, hellooo.”
- Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) The top 10 storylines for conference championship weekend. 10. Amazingly, this weekend will be the first time since Jan. 23, 2011 that an AFC championship game will be played without the Pats.
- Danny Heifetz (The Ringer) The conference title games are rematches. What do the first matchups tell us?
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Bill Vinovich set to referee Super Bowl LIV.
- Staff (NFL.com) Demi Lovato to sing national anthem at Super Bowl LIV.
- Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: 2019 Contract Awards, featuring NFL’s best and worst signings of the year.
- Albert Breer (SI) Good for Luke Kuechly, who’s stepping away from the NFL at 28 years old; MMQB Mailbag.
- Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) 10-Point Stance: How a single call changed Derrick Henry’s future; Josh McDaniels on the outside looking in again; More.
- Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) Top 25 NFL free agents of 2020: No shortage of intriguing QBs. Brady 9th, Joe Thuney 13th.
- Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Ranking NFL trades that most impacted the 2019 season: 30 deals, from worst to best. Patriots trading up to get punter Jake Bailey one of the best.
- Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report) Big-name NFL players who could get cut this offseason.
- NFL Nation (ESPN) NFL players considering retirement in the 2020 offseason: 16 who could walk away.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Analytics have an important role in football, but certain factors complicate things.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Ravens to coach AFC Pro Bowl squad.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Happy 41st birthday, Drew Brees.
- Kevin Hanson (SI) NFL Draft 2020 Big Board 2.0: Ranking the top 50 prospects after the CFP national championship.
- Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) Post-bowl season NFL mock draft: 4 QBs land in Round 1. Patriots select Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet.
- Zac Al-Khateeb (Sporting News) NFL Draft declaration tracker 2020: Full list of underclassmen leaving college football early.
- Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) 2020 AFC, NFC Championship picks: Packers upset 49ers, Chiefs roll Titans.
- Will Brinson (CBS Sports) NFL Conference Championship Playoff picks against the spread: 49ers, Chiefs roll big to Super Bowl.