New England Patriots links 4/06/20 - Time to tank the tank talk

TEAM TALK

• Patriots 2020 Mock Draft Tracker.
• Paul Perillo & Mike Dussault debate if the Pats should trade up for Tua.
• Erik Scalavino shares the story of New England’s famous 767 bringing back more than a million much-needed medical masks for health care workers in the Northeast.
• New England Patriots and Fanatics sign 10-year e-commerce partnership.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Unlike the Tom Brady years, Patriots can aim high at QB in the draft.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots news, AFC East notes: How will the Patriots value the LBs in the draft?
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: Patriots’ early exit in playoffs turning into more of a positive for NFL Draft
• Karen Guregian points out the huge challenge facing Josh McDaniels to prep Tom Brady’s successor.
• Andrew Callahan explains how the Patriots can create more salary cap space and give themselves some financial wiggle room.
• David Latham (LastWordOnSports) 7 New England Patriots quarterback options in NFL draft.
• Doug Kyed selects a quarterback for the Patriots in each round of the draft.
• Doug Kyed profiles which edge rushers the Patriots are most likely to take, based on their draft history.
• Zack Cox ranks Bill Belichick’s best (and worst) Patriots drafts ahead of the 2020 edition.
• CBS Boston reports the Patriots held a videoconference meeting with quarterback James Morgan.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) 4 trade-up scenarios for Patriots to land Tua Tagovailoa.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) 8 crazy ideas for the Patriots at quarterback.
• Phil Perry believes the Patriots waited too long to trade Jimmy Garoppolo, a decision with long-lasting ramifications.
• Michael Hurley begins his series of “forgotten” playoff games with the Patriots’ divisional round win over Steve McNair’s Titans in 2003. /Can’t believe I forgot about some of these plays.
• Sean T. McGuire spotlights an absurd stat that sums up the Patriots’ two-decade run of dominance.
• Scott Edwards, Jr. continues his Top 20 Tom Brady moments countdown: Nos 20-7.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) The story of the secret meeting between Tom Brady, Peyton Manning.
• Ryan Hannable relays ESPN’s Todd McShay on his believe that Jarrett Stidham is not ready to lead the Patriots.
• Ryan Hannable hears from Bills’ Isaiah McKenzie: ‘Our team is stacked, time to take over in AFC East’. /yawn.
• Matt Vautour reports the Patriots and Fanatics announce a 10-year merchandising, online retail deal.
• Chris Mason notes the league is streaming 2019 Red Zone broadcasts from April 6-21. Here is the schedule.
• Tom E. Curran says Patriots fans want the team to prioritize these needs according to his poll.
• Phil Perry issues his latest seven-round Patriots mock draft: Searching for Gronk’s replacement.
• Ryan Hannable posts a mock draft roundup to check in with who the experts have the Patriots selecting in the draft.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate is joined by Tanya Ray Fox (FS1) to discuss the Patriots 2020 perspectus. (33 min.)
• Entitled Town podcast: April Fubar. Mike Irons & Dave Brown examine a world where Tom Brady is the only sports story. Every day. Bill Simmons infects Ben Volin with misinformation. (85 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: Jeffrey Lurie and Robert Kraft step up; Trouble with canceled physicals; Draft notes.
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA: Amidst stunning 2020 draft possibilities, how one NFL team cuts through the mayhem to get ready.
• Andrew Brandt (SI) Business of Football: Tom Brady great for business in Tampa Bay; Bill O’Brien in over his head.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) PFT Sunday mailbag: Will we have football in September?
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) Can we stop with the talk that the Patriots could tank for Trevor Lawrence? It’s ridiculous. /And obvious. Amen.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Could Bill Belichick and Cam Newton coexist?
• Rick Stroud (Tampa Bay Times) Bucs had code name for pursuit of Tom Brady: Operation Shoeless Joe Jackson.
• Ian O’Connor The Bucs built it, Tom Brady came. Now what? Inside the GOAT’s ultimate gamble. “Tom was Belichick’d out after 20 years” /Says more anonymous sources.
• Robert Mays (The Ringer) The top 15 player performances to rewatch on NFL Game Pass. Tom Brady’s 2011 annihilation of the Dolphins.
• Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) Ranking the 10 worst moves of 2020 NFL offseason: Texans’ DeAndre Hopkins deal trumps them all.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) 2020 circumstances underscore value of working out at Scouting Combine.
• Reid Foster (SI) Who is the new Defensive Back U? and Tight End U? We crunched 10 years’ worth of data to find out.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Penn State coach says prospects would benefit from NFL delaying the draft.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) EA Sports to create virtual meetings between Roger Goodell, drafted players.
• Elizabeth Swinton (SI) Report: NFL team officials preparing to conduct draft virtually.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Report: ESPN, NFL Network could team up for draft coverage.
• Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports) Seven-Round 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Chargers pass on quarterback, Patriots grab Jordan Love.
• Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today) NFL mock draft 2020. Pats pick LSU WR Justin Jefferson.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Michael McCann (SI) Explaining the legal dispute between Eric Reid and the NFLPA over the CBA ratification.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) President’s call with sports commissioners will include Dana White, Vince McMahon.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) As offseason programs open, workout bonus issue remains unresolved.
• Mark Morse (PatsFans) Pandemic wreaking havoc on teams’ NFL draft preparations.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) President Trump believes NFL season should start on time.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) California governor “not anticipating” football in full stadiums this year.