New England Patriots links 12/17/20 - Patriots-Dolphins key matchups: Belichick vs. Tua Tagovailoa

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Dolphins Wednesday Injury Report.
• Mike Dussault’s Unfiltered Notebook 12/16: Pats size up another impressive rookie quarterback.
• Players to Watch: Patriots at Dolphins.
• Press Conference transcript: Bill Belichick.
• What they’re saying: Miami Dolphins.
• Press Conferences: Bill Belichick (11 min. video) - Devin McCourty (10 min. video) - Adrian Phillips (8 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered 12/16: Previewing the Dolphins; More. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss looks at Bill Belichick’s dominance vs. rookie QBs and if it will continue facing Tua Tagovailoa.
• Danny Jaillet (PatriotsWire) Gimmie Him: Tua Tagovailoa would solve Patriots quarterback woes.
• Sravan Gannavarapu (LastWordOnSports) This season is Bill Belichick’s most difficult as head coach in the NFL.
• Matt Dolloff reports the Patriots were practicing indoors with frigid temps and a big snowstorm descending on New England.
• Phil Perry sees plenty of similarities between the 2019 Dolphins and the 2020 Patriots and looks at whether New England can replicate Miami’s rapid rebuild into playoff contention.
• Tom E. Curran says that with Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins are where the Patriots want to be.
• Doug Kyed explains the Patriots might have found something special in undrafted free agent CB Myles Bryant.
• Isaiah Houde (PatriotsWire) Bill Belichick gives insight to lack of production from Patriots’ rookie tight ends.
• Thomas Carannante (MusketFire) Patriots’ recent failure to develop talent on full display with Colts CB Kenny Moore.
• Sean T. McGuire talks with Adrian Phillips who is eagerly awaiting his first-ever snow storm.
• Evan Lazar looks into what the future holds for N’Keal Harry who, for several reasons, hasn’t lived up to the billing of a first-round pick.
• Jerry Trotta (MusketFire) Bill Belichick finally had something positive to say about N’Keal Harry.
• Zack Cox notes N’Keal Harry’s trainer believes Cam Newton deserves blame for Harry’s lack of Year 2 improvement.
• Darren Hartwell mentions N’Keal Harry’s trainer clarifies his controversial comments on Cam Newton.
• Zack Cox reports Julian Edelman returns to practice and could play Sunday vs. Dolphins. Edelman has not played since Week 7. Here is how he looked on his first day back.
• Jerry Trotta (MusketFire) Julian Edelman coming back for final three games makes no sense.
• Zack Cox Patriots Injury Report: Damien Harris fully healthy after scare vs. Rams.
• Danny Jaillet (PatriotsWire) Gunner Olszewski shares his opinion of best car in a snowstorm.
• Michael Hurley relays Aqib Talib telling a hilarious story of how he confronted Greg Schiano which lead to his trade to the Patriots.
• Yvonne Hew (LastWordOnSports) 2020 AFC playoff picture: How it’s shaping up.
• Darren Hartwell calls out some 2020 coach rankings that list Adam Gase over Bill Belichick. /If your proprietary analytics spit out this result, your analytics are wrong.
• Karen Guregian believes Brian Flores will break through when it comes to Bill Belichick’s coaching tree.
• Zack Cox examines why Brian Flores is succeeding where other Patriots assistants have failed.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Bill Belichick was very blunt during his postgame chat with Sean McVay.
• Ryan Hannable notes Robert Kraft reportedly is not with Roger Goodell in shortening the preseason to two games.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate discusses ‘The Dynasty’ and more Patriots talk with author Jeff Benedict. (41 min.). /Terrific listen! Bought a bunch of his books as gifts this year.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) NFL Mailbag: Will the Patriots finally spend money in free agency?
• Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: Contract year players who have helped themselves entering 2021 offseason.
• Cody Benjamin & Jordan Dajani (CBS Sports) Week 15 NFL injuries. Patriots: James White (foot), Jonathan Jones (neck), J.C. Jackson (knee), Lawrence Guy (shoulder), Nick Folk (back), Shaq Mason (calf).
• Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) Week 15 NFL QB power rankings. 26th Cam Newton: “This year has not been all on him, but goodness, if you’re the Patriots, how can you even be excited at the prospect of running it back in 2021? Newton is dealing with a lot of issues, but he’s just not inspiring on his own, either.”
• Kevin Clark (The Ringer) The 2020 NFL RedZone rankings.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) 2020 NFL Playoff Picture: Here are the projected postseason chances for all 32 teams heading into Week 15.
• Rich Cimini (ESPN) Could Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, projected No. 1 NFL draft pick, spurn the New York Jets?
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) NFL owners approve formula for determining potential 17th game.
• Jordan Dajani (CBS Sports) NFL owners reach agreement on how 17th game would work if season expanded in 2021.
• Staff (Sporting News) NFL makes a rule change after the Dez Bryant COVID-19 test debacle.