New England Patriots links 1/24/20 - Roster reasons to be excited about 2020: Chase Winovich

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino & Mike Dussault debate which they’d prefer: The NFL’s proposed 4th-and-15 rule or keeping kicks the ay they are.
• Patriots Unfiltered: 2020 free agent class, Eli Manning retirement, Hall of Fame talk and more. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Matt Cassel paints a picture of how it would look for Tom Brady to fit in another NFL offense.
• Phil Perry notes the Patriots need to have a plan in place well before free agency begins so they’re not playing catchup like they did when Rob Gronkowski retired.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) 9 burning questions about Tom Brady’s free agency decision.
• Tom E. Curran mentions how Raiders’ Derek Carr knows Tom Brady represents a threat in free agency.
• Brent Schwartz (PatriotsWire) The case for and against Tom Brady with the Browns.
• Sean T. McGuire posts a video clip of Stephon Gilmore grabbing two interceptions in the Pro Bowl skills showdown.
• Ryan Hannable explains why it’s important for the Pats that Matthew Slater plans on playing again in 2020.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) Free agent team fits: Amari Cooper.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Report: Patriots scouts overheard gushing over SMU WR.
• Doug Kyed addresses his Friday Patriots Mailbag: Why Chase Winovich should generate excitement in Year 2.
• Nick Stevens gives us 5 reasons Eli Manning is not a Hall of Famer.
• Zack Cox hears from Devin McCourty on why he ‘wasn’t a fan’ of the Aaron Hernandez documentary. /All legitimate points.
• Marcus Kwesi O’Mard notes Rob Gronkowski released a Super Bowl party promo that rejects Roger Goodell.
• Mike Cole tells us Mel Kiper Jr.’s first NFL mock draft pick for the Pats at No. 23: Alabama S Xavier McKinney.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Game Plan: How Zac Taylor and the Bengals will determine the NFL Draft’s No. 1 Pick; also storylines to watch ahead of the Super Bowl, players to watch in Mobile and the one thing no one is talking about.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) Every NFL team’s projected 2020 starting QB: Where Tom Brady could land, and what it means for the other 31.
• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) In a Tom Brady free agency, the only thing to expect is something unexpected.
• Russell S. Baxter (Fansided) New England Patriots free agency 2020: Top 5 targets.
• Sean Wagner-McGough (CBS Sports) Patrick Mahomes doesn’t have Tom Brady’s comeback stats, but his history should terrify 49ers.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Jimmy Garoppolo: I’ll try to transfer Tom Brady’s approach to my game.
• Ryan Hannable notes Jim Gray explains his weekly interviews with Tom Brady, and what he’s learned.
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Stephon Gilmore hopes to take home Defensive Player of the Year.
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Derek Carr addresses Raiders QB rumors, owner’s chat with Tom Brady; plans to take ‘first snap’ in Vegas. ‘Carr seems a bit irked by the rumors.’
• Justin Terranova (NY Post) What Tom Brady’s weekly interviewer has learned about legendary QB.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Drew Brees: Not a given I come back, but it will be for Saints if I do.
• Will Brinson (CBS Sports) Super Bowl 2020: Slotting Patriots-Rams into our definitive ranking of every single Super Bowl 53-1.
• Nate Davis (USA Today) The 54 greatest teams to play in the Super Bowl: 49ers have three in top 10, but not No. 1.
• Tim Dahlberg (AP) Without the Patriots, the Super Bowl might finally be fun again: Brady is getting old and so is Belichick’s bullying act. /Troll alert (or maybe gambling angle... either way, stupid)
• Bryan DeArdo (CBS Sports) Pro Bowl Skills Challenge: Jarvis Landry leads Team AFC to victory over Team NFC.
• Danny Heifetz (The Ringer) Eli Manning’s career is incomparable. “The Giants quarterback, who is set to retire Friday, was exceptional when he had to be and mediocre the rest of the time. How should we remember the playing days of the NFL’s most average dynasty destroyer?”
• Staff (ESPN) From ‘Seeing ghosts’ to ‘Mozart’s paintings’: These are the best quotes of the NFL season. /Belichick included.
• Jenna West (SI) Number of reported concussions increased in 2019 from previous season.
• Chase Goodbread and Lance Zierlein (NFL.cm) 2020 Senior Bowl: Top 7 NFL draft winners from week of practice.
• Danny Kelly (The Ringer) Size, speed, and sloppy play: Five takeaways from Senior Bowl practices.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) There’s another Lamar Jackson on the way to the NFL.
• Josh Edwards (CBS Sports) 2020 NFL Mock Draft. Patriots select Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Conor Orr (SI) The deep end of the pool: The bizarre case of the Super Bowl squares kidnapping.
• Jenna West (SI) Mr. Peanut suffers a noble but tragic death in Planters Super Bowl commercial.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Judge orders mental health evaluation for Antonio Brown.
• Report (TMZ) Antonio Brown faces judge in handcuffs ... attorneys fiercely argue in court.
• Ryan Boysen (Law360) Seeger Weiss to spend $5M of concussion education fund.