New England Patriots links 2/12/20 - On the defensive: Look of the D-line may change in 2020

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss sifts the facts from the fiction with Tom Brady, his contract negotiation with the Patriots and what his future in the NFL looks like. “For all the chatter, not much has changed over the last five-plus weeks.”
• Evan Lazar explains that Tom Brady testing the market isn’t the end to Patriots career, but the expiring CBA makes it tricky.
• Tom E. Curran looks back to Bill Belichick’s handling of Bernie Kosar to show how these moves are just business.
• Andy Hart revisits comments Robert Kraft made about the Tom Brady-Drew Bledsoe situation in 2001 and compares them to now. Upshot: Kraft didn’t stop Belichick from trading the franchise QB then, and he probably won’t now.
• Christopher Mason lists the other veteran quarterbacks scheduled to hit 2020 free agency.
• Adam London notes Brett Favre counters ‘so-called experts’ who say Tom Brady has declined.
• Zack Cox examines the defensive linemen depth chart before the Combine kicks off to see who stood out in 2019, who has work to do this offseason and who could be leaving town.
• Andy Hart takes a look at the state of the Patriots tight end position: The first year post-Rob Gronkowski in New England did not go well. They need an upgrade. /Yep.
• WEEI thumbnails the Patriots’ top positions of need for 2020 offseason.
• Zack Cox reports the Patriots signed ex-Packers CB Lenzy Pipkins ahead of NFL free agency.
• John Morgan (PatsFans) Today in Patriots History: Clive Rush is electrocuted. /Can’t make this stuff up, folks.
• Patriots All 22 podcast: Adam Kirkjian and Evan Lazar break down the top five needs for the Patriots this offseason and how they will address those position groups. (1 hour)
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate continues his AFC East crossover with a look at the Bills. (39 min.)
• Patriots Beat podcast: Mike Petraglia and Phil Perry discuss how the Patriots will approach free agency. (37 min.)
• Patriots Talk Podcast: Tom E. Curran and Jeff Darlington discuss whether the Raiders or Titans are the favorites for Tom Brady? (45 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• NFL Nation (ESPN) 32 NFL players who could use a fresh start this offseason, from QBs to injured stars. Patriots: WR Phillip Dorsett.
• Tim McManus (ESPN) Eagles on ‘All or Nothing’: ‘Tim’ Brady, trash talk and tinted windows. /Huge fail, lol.
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Does Dak Prescott think he’s worth $40 million per year?
• Robert Mays (The Ringer) Philip Rivers’s Chargers tenure has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean he’s done.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Flexing possibility suggests NFL has big plans for Monday Night Football.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Flexing Monday night games would be good for TV audience, bad for ticket holders.
• Curtis Crabtree (ProFootballTalk) Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority allots $2.4 million budget for hosting of NFL Draft.