New England Patriots links 4/02/20 - And then there were two: Kessler out, newbie QB in?

TEAM TALK

• Patriots release QB Cody Kessler.
• Mike Dussault breaks down the most popular mock draft picks for the Patriots.
• Angelique Fiske posts the video of Bill Belichick sharing gratitude, words of wisdom amid Covid-19 pandemic: ‘We will get through this together’.
• Angelque Fiske reports Brandon Copeland is hosting a virtual ‘Life 101’ for NFL players amid pandemic.
• Together While Apart: A message from Patriots coaches and football staff. (6.54 min. video) /Stay in shape, don’t get fat. (...I kid, I kid)

LOCAL LINKS

• Zack Cox tells us how N’Keal Harry and Jarrett Stidham are staying connected and prepping for the season.
• Ty Anderson says Jarrett Stidham reportedly has the ‘inside track’ on starting job.
• Evan Lazar’s Patriots Draft Preview: Examining Eason, Hurts, and Fromm as quarterback options.
• Zack Cox NFL Rumors: Patriots hold virtual meeting with potential first-round tackle, Houston LT Josh Jones.
• Phil Perry profiles prototypical Patriots for the draft: Cornerback.
• Tom E. Curran looks at if the Patriots are losing their grip on the AFC East now that Tom Brady is gone
• Jeff Howe (The Athletic) Patriots mock draft simulations: Exploring several directions for Bill Belichick.
• Matt Dolloff supports the idea that more football is better than no football.
• Doug Kyed assesses the Patriots 2018 NFL draft using Bill Belichick’s grading scale.
• CBS Boston reports Julian Edelman is set to lead an at-home workout for Planet Fitness.
• Doug Kyed NFL Rumors: Tom Brady renting house in Tampa area, built by Derek Jeter.
• Andrew Callahan puts together a Patriots 7-round mock draft.
• Dakota Randall posts a throwback video from Matt Light with Tom Brady and the ‘Mustache Men’ and it’s the most awkward, awesome thing you’ll ever watch. (2.20 min video)
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Steve Balestrieri talk Patriots draft prospects and the next phase of free agency. (26 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Report (ESPN) Patriots’ plane bringing 1.2 million masks to United States.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Patriots release Cody Kessler.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Nepotism or not, Steve Belichick rises in the coaching ranks.
• Mike Sando (The Athletic) Execs unfiltered on every NFL team’s free agency moves and trades
• Dan Hanzus (NFL.com) 2020 Graybeards: Squad of leftover free agents strong at QB.
• Bill Barnwell (ESPN) NFL free agency lessons: No record-setting deals, a weak corner market, and more.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) Most impactful moves and offseason goals for all 32 teams.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) NFL considering tweak to allow teams more time to complete a trade during draft.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Will “small war rooms” for draft mesh with stay-at-home orders?
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Report: Competition Committee now supports idea of sky judge.
• Kevin Seifert (ESPN) NFL playoff expansion to 14 teams: Everything you need to know.
• Aaron Schatz (ESPN) Expanded NFL playoffs are here: Ranking the best just-missed teams of the past 30 years.
• Lindsay Jones (The Athletic) Post-free agency NFL Power Rankings: How QB changes impact Bucs, Colts, Pats.
• Reid Foster (SI) Which college program is now Wide Receiver U. and Offensive Line U.? What the analytics say..
• Kevin Hickey (ColtsWire) Colts heavily scouted Tom Brady before signing Philip Rivers.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Is this Drew Brees’ “final season”? /Finally! A Drew Brees ‘window closing’ article.
• Darrelle Lincoln (TotalProSports) Peyton Manning used to purposely get rival players drunk so they’d reveal secrets.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) NFL mock draft , two-round edition. Pats pick LSU Edge/OLB K’Lavon Chaisson at 23.
• Kevin Hanson (SI) 2020 NFL Mock Draft 12.0. Pats pick Iowa Edge A.J. Epenesa at 23.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Bill Speros reports Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have reportedly firmed up plans for The Match II, a distant replay of their historic mano-a-mano golf event that occurred on Black Friday in 2018 at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. This time, they’ll be joined by Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Schefter criticizes NFL for conducting draft with “carnage in the streets”.
• Michael Hurley wonders if it’s optimism or arrogance that’s behind NFL’s plans to play a full season with full stadiums.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Cancellation of Wimbledon doesn’t bode well for NFL’s London games.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA give players advice for physical and mental well being during pandemic.
• Dan Graziano (ESPN) NFLPA: Reid’s claim that CBA is invalid ‘completely false.’