TEAM TALK
- Patriots sign second-round draft pick DB Kyle Dugger.
- Paul Perillo passes along a report that the Patriots, Patrick Chung agree to extension
- Erik Scalavino gives us an in-depth look at the football journey of 2020 sixth-round draft choice Cassh Maluia.
LOCAL LINKS
- Zack Cox reports the Patriots officially sign Kyle Dugger, making the entire 2020 draft class now signed.
- Doug Kyed looks at the reason Chad O’Shea was fired and says the Patriots would benefit from simplifying their offense this season.
- Lauren Campbell NFL Rumors: Dolphins’ Chad O’Shea fired after Patriots offense too hard to learn.
- David Latham (LastWordOnSports) Patriots receiving corps ranked 30th in NFL, per PFF.
- Andy Hart and Ryan Hannable debate what is the biggest question facing New England in 2020 besides quarterback.
- Mike Reiss introduces us to rookie DT Bill Murray, a ‘priority free agent’ player who could have been drafted but slipped through. Making the roster would make him the Patriots’ latest Cinderella story.
- Mike Reiss gives us the details of Patrick Chung’s two-year extension that includes a $3 million signing bonus and creates $925,000 in cap space.
- Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Why Patriots WR N’Keal Harry was made for the mounting pressure.
- Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) 11 Patriots veterans who will be on the roster bubble in 2020
- Isaiah Houde (PatriotsWire) 9 remaining free agent options the Patriots can explore.
- Andy Hart highlights a Boston Globe (paywall) article that puts Bill Belichick in the ‘high risk’ category who would need to take extensive health precautions to return to his job.
- Tom E. Curran talks about Tom Brady’s offseason practices in Tampa Bay, and explains why it’s not proof that Brady had checked out here in Foxborough. “It’s not that simple.” /Indeed.
- DJ Bean admits he was sick of Tom Brady at the end in New England.
- Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Tom Brady can’t help but laugh at this perfect 28-3 meme on Twitter.
- Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate ditches reality for fantasy talk, with Kyle Senra of Full Press Fantasy Football. (42 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Albert Breer (SI) Mailbag: Covering Peyton Manning’s free agency from Indianapolis to Denver. Plus, questions about Jarrett Stidham, Cam Newton, training camp his career path and more.
- Ben Linsey (Pro Football Focus) Projecting all 32 NFL starting lineups ahead of the 2020 season
- Ben Linsey (Pro Football Focus) Ranking every receiving corps heading into 2020. Patriots 30th. /Ouch!
- John Breech (CBS Sports) One Patriots player is already raving about Tom Brady’s potential replacement Jarrett Stidham. Rex Burkhead says he is “very impressed.”
- Barry Jackson, et al (Miami Herald) The backstory on why the Dolphins changed offensive coordinators and how it went down
- Nate Davis (USA Today) 20 rookies who could make instant impact from 2020 draft class. No. 15 TE Devin Asiasi.
- Gil Brandt (NFL.com) Locks to play better in 2020. Sony Michel included.
- Chris Roling (Bleacher Report) 7 Under-the-radar NFL breakout candidates in 2020. No Pats.
- Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) NFL quarterback tiers 2020: Franchise guys, rising stars and stopgaps; here’s where your team’s starter ranks. Jarrett Stidham in last place “Tier 7: The Verdict is Out”.
- Kevin Seifert (ESPN) Why the three-point stance could become a football thing of the past.
- Pete Prisco (CB Sports) Top 100 NFL Players of 2020. Patriots: No. 6 Gilmore, No. 65 Joe Thuney.
- Report (ESPN) Maya Moore, Jason and Devin McCourty, Nelson Cruz, Kevin Love, Titus O’Neil up for Muhammad Ali award at ESPYS.
- Staff (ESPN) Tom Brady, sports world jump on board latest 2020 meme. /Figures ESPN sees this as bad, lol.
- Marc Sessler (NFL.com) NFL Hot or Not: Chiefs, Broncos sizzle; Dwayne Haskins icy.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Last call for bids on the Robert Kraft Super Bowl LI ring. Now at $1.025 million.
EXTRACURRICULAR
- Sean Wagner-McGough (CBS Sports) NFL owners approve resolution that allows assistant coaches to interview for coordinator positions.
- Jonathan Jones (CBS Sports) Coronavirus and the 2020 NFL season: FAQs about how COVID-19 affects football
- Staff (ESPN) CFL announces regular season won’t start until at least September.
- Jonathan Jones (CBS Sports) NFL’s Rooney Rule additions are a positive step forward, but more teeth needed.
- Tyler Conway (Bleacher Report) NFL teams to host fellowship coaching program geared toward minorities and women.
- Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Marvin Lewis: Draft incentive plan was “definitely offensive.”
- Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Here’s what the NFL needs to do — and not do — to address diversity hiring problem.
- Patrik Walker (CBS Sports) Cowboys’ Aldon Smith conditionally reinstated to NFL for 2020.