TEAM TALK
- Mike Dussault examines the free agent landscape from a Patriots perspective: Wide receivers. ‘The Pats inability to make plays in the passing game hurt them all season long as they never seemed to find their stride and maintain it.’
- Paul Perillo passes along a report that the Patriots plan to pick up Jason McCourty’s option.
- Community: DL Chase Winovich helps Norwood High School fuel up to Play 60. (1 min. video)
- Community: Young fan meets Rob Gronkowski at Gillette Stadium through Make-A-Wish. (1 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Matt Dolloff thumbnails 10 prospects on the Patriots’ radar who improved their draft stock at the combine.
- Nick O’Malley tells us how much salary cap space the Patriots have heading into free agency.
- Adam London says the Patriots need serious help at tight end, and Austin Hooper may be the best scheme fit.
- Zack Cox takes a look at special teamer Nate Ebner and puts his likelihood of return at ‘moderately high’.
- Doug Kyed takes a closer look at kicker Nick Folk, who is set to hit free agency. Likelihood of return: Low.
- Karen Guregian has the story of Brady and Belichick connecting by phone on Tuesday and their conversation about Brady’s pending free agency “didn’t go well,” per a source.
- Tom E. Curran reports that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick had a phone conversation Tuesday and tells us what his unnamed source him. /Heard it from a friend, who heard it from a friend, who...
- Alex Barth offers his take on what to make of the Brady-Belichick conversation. “Something as complicated as Brady’s 2020 plans isn’t going to be solved over one phone call.”
- Evan Lazar passes along what he heard from a source: Little chance Tom Brady returns to Patriots barring change of heart. “We don’t know for sure that Brady is or isn’t coming back and nobody is claiming that here. But it’s become clear that the Patriots need to make a strong pitch to the GOAT to keep him in New England.”
- Michael Hurley calls the ‘Brady-for-Jimmy QB swap’ a story straight out of Candy Land.
- Ryan Hannable gives us his reasons why Tom Brady should leave the Patriots. “By returning to the Patriots and playing well that would also benefit Belichick and the team, so what good is that? Also, expectations are so high with the Patriots.” /Wut???
- Conor Roche highlights Tom Brady talking with UFC president Dana White: “I don’t know what the future holds right now.”
- Nick O’Malley finds Tom Brady staying patient, going on vacation; becomes free agent in 14 days
- Andrew Callahan offers the best, worst and most bizarre teams Tom Brady could play for in 2020.
- Karen Guregian presents her version of the best, worst and most bizarre teams Brady could play for, too.
- Nick O’Malley passes along a report that the Patriots’ interest in Andy Dalton is ‘real;’ Bill Belichick believes QB has untapped potential. /Yeah, the same way Pinocchio points out untapped potential in that Geico commercial.
- Andy Hart shares the results of a poll that shows 49ers fans don’t want Tom Brady. /which means... nothing.
- Darren Hartwell NFL Rumors: Eight teams still in mix to sign Tom Brady in free agency.
- Christopher Mason passes along a report that Mohamed Sanu underwent successful ankle surgery on Tuesday.
- Alex Barth is wondering when the NFL is going to award compensatory draft picks.
- Nicole Yang reports Bill Belichick to receive key to the city of Annapolis in a special ceremony next weekend.
- Ricky Doyle relays longtime Dolphins writer Omar Kelly, who had a laughably bold take about the Patriots and the way they run their team.
- Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate talks with Karen Guregian about Brady to the 49ers and the future of the McCourty twins. (33 min.)
- Patriots Fourth and Two podcast: Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and Steve Balestrieri get down to business (after a little rant by Russ), to talk potential Patriots free agent targets and the combine. (1 hour)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Patriots offseason guide 2020: Key free agents, team needs, targets, salary cap & draft picks.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady stresses patience as he prepares for free agency.
- Tadd Haislop (Sporting News) Sounds like Tom Brady and Bill Belichick had a pretty awkward phone conversation.
- Justin Sayles (The Ringer) Tom Brady–to-the-49ers is a ridiculous proposition that makes too much sense to dismiss.
- Dan Bernstein (Sporting News) This ‘Brady to the 49ers, Garoppolo to the Pats’ trade rumor is peak NFL offseason.
- Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Tom Brady free agency: Are the 49ers a legitimate possibility? Let’s take a look.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Julian Edelman selling “Stay Tom” merchandise.
- Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) How Jaguars went from doorstep of the Super Bowl to a dysfunctional mess in just two seasons. “The Jaguars went off-script on a key third down in the AFC Championship Game and never righted the ship.” /Just another notch in the Patriots’ belt.
- Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: The five best teams at managing the salary cap and player contracts: Bill Belichick and Howie Roseman are superstars at roster construction.
- Albert Breer (SI) Mailbag: The five potential shockers of free agency. Plus, reader questions on whether the Colts will trade Jacoby Brissett, Derek Carr’s future in Vegas, gauging Washington’s interest in Tua, and much more.
- Jeremy Bergman (NFL.com) All 32 NFL teams’ RB situations ahead of free agency and draft.
- Matt Bowen (ESPN) Perfect scheme fits for top 2020 NFL free agents: Landing spots for Tom Brady, more.
- James Brady (SBNation) Every major NFL free agent rumor heading into the new league year.
- Christian D’Andrea (SBNation) The top 100 NFL free agents in 2020 and where they’re signing.
- Nate Davis (USA Today) NFL franchise tag primer: Breaking down options for all 32 teams in 2020.
- Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) Top NFL trade candidates.
- Adam Rank (NFL.com) Top NFL untradeable players.
- Eric Froton (Rotoworld) 2020 NFL scouting combine snubs - QB/RB/WR/TE.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Scouting combine ratings up only three percent.
- Dan Kadar (SBNation) 2020 NFL mock draft: How each team can address a major need in the 1st round. Pats pick Boise State Edge Curtis Weaver.
- Cynthia Frelund (NFL.com) 2020 NFL mock draft: Who would analytics pick? Pats: Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III.
- Eric Edholm (Yahoo! Sports) Post-combine NFL mock draft. Pats pick Iowa Edge A.J. Epenesa.
EXTRACURRICULAR
- NFL-NFLPA Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement 2020. (456 pages) /For your perusal.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) CBA voting begins.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA announces voting process.
- Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Titans Foundation donates $1 million to tornado relief effort in Nashville.
- Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Muhammad Wilkerson’s attorney addresses defensive lineman’s arrest.
- Adam London notes a 23-year-old sports bettor was charged after threatening Patriots players and other athletes.