New England Patriots links 2/21/20 - Depth Charge: Lawrence Guy, the ‘A’ player on the D-line

TEAM TALK

• Patriots 2020 Mock Draft Tracker.
• Combine Primer: Everything you need to know for 2020.
• Paul Perillo and Mike Dussault debate which position to watch at NFL scouting combine.
• Mike Dussault dives into some of the all-time best Patriots combine performances.
• Patriots Hall of Fame history lesson: Evolution of the logo, uniform and name.
• Road Warriors: The 1985 Patriots.
• Highlights: 2019 Patriots defense. (4.25 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered 2/20: 17 game season and expanding the playoffs; More. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Andy Hart’s State of the Patriots: Defensive line. Lawrence Guy leads the depth chart.
• Doug Kyed addresses his Friday Patriots Mailbag: Most unlikely WR trade candidates; The NFL is trying to rush through negotiations on their latest collective bargaining agreement, and hopefully, the players’ association slows down the process; More.
• Andy Hart gives us his Fast Friday 5: Is Stefon Diggs the Patriots’ answer?
• Michael Hurley has the updates from the latest episode of “As The Tom Brady Turns”: Tennessee Titans ‘the favorite right now’ in the NFL’s favorite guessing game.
• Andy Hart passes along ESPN’s take that it’s ‘more likely than not’ Tom Brady leaves the Patriots.
• Tony Massarotti thinks this is about Tom Brady wanting the right to decide where he plays, instead of Belichick.
• Jenna Ciccotelli tells us 5 things to know about Tom Brady’s free agency, according to NFL experts: “Organizations don’t have to wonder if Brady has it. We know he does.”
• Doug Kyed explains how the new CBA would affect timing restrictions of a potential Tom Brady deal.
• Nick O’Malley NFL free agency rumors: ‘Multiple teams’ waiting on potential new CBA to make moves; how does it affect Patriots and Tom Brady?
• Alex Barth reports Danny Shelton has hired super-agent Drew Rosenhaus to represent him ahead of free agency.
• Doug Kyed continues his Hidden Patriots series with an eye on DE Tashawn Bower, who went undrafted out of LSU in 2017 and recently signed to a futures contract in New England.
• Sean T. McGuire notes Pro Football Focus released a list of their top 25 free agents, including Tom Brady, Devin McCourty and Joe Thuney.
• Alex Barth would like the league to leave the playoffs alone.
• Matt Dolloff boils down the 17-game proposal to one simple fact: It’s another week of real games, even if they don’t count for much, and more football is better than no football.
• John Morgan (PatsFans) Today in Pats History: Original Patriot Walt Cudzik.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Thomas Murphy discuss the latest news on the potential CBA and what it means for the Patriots. (30 min.)
• Patriots Talk podcast: Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry debate if Patriots should go “all in” in 2020 & make one more run with Brady, or just draft wisely and hope that key contributors return to full health? (45.56 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Game Plan: Why it’s no surprise to see Drew Brees and Tom Brady playing into their 40s; Prospect rankings for Indy; More.
• Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) 2020 NFL Combine burning questions answered: Which prospects will erupt, who needs a big workout, and more
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Which teams can afford to wait for Tom Brady?
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) NFL 2020: These five teams are facing difficult personnel decisions, cap issues and more.
• Marc Sessler (NFL.com) 2020 NFL free agency matchmaking: One fit for each AFC team. Patriots: Tom Brady.
• Bryan DeArdo (CBS Sports) Each team’s most consequential NFL Draft pick ever.
• Jeremy Bergman (NFL.com) Top 10 compensatory picks from past 10 NFL drafts
• Jason Owens (Yahoo! Sports) Should the NFL expand the regular season and playoffs?
• Nancy Armour (USA Today) NFL’s proposed move to 17-game schedule, expanded playoffs not what it seems.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Under new playoff format, Steelers would have had four more playoff appearances in past 10 years. /Boo-hoo.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Jenny Vrentas (SI) NFL owners approve principal terms of new CBA, now players must vote.
• Zack Cox highlights the top takeaways from the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement proposal.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) What happens if NFLPA rejects current proposal?
• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Houston, we have a problem? J.J. Watt voices ‘hard no’ on NFL’s labor proposal.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Union says players will get $100 million more in 2020 if they accept deal now. /They car salesmen now?
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Training camp changes under CBA proposal include fewer padded practices.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Zac Taylor wants more physical training camp as proposed CBA moves away from it.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) New deal would allow for extra offensive lineman on game day.
• Curtis Crabtree (ProFootballTalk) Fifth-year options to be guaranteed in proposed CBA, no longer tied to draft slot.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Proposal would pay minimum-salary players at least $90,000 more in 2020.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL bumps funding rule credit to $15 million in 2020.
• Mercury Morris (AdvocacyForFairnessInSports) The NFL owners don’t want to pay benefits. [Some things stand the test of time, and this article is one of them.]