New England Patriots links 1/20/21 - There is no Brady-Rodgers GOAT debate

TEAM TALK

• Mike Dussault reports three Patriots were honored by the Pro Football Writers Association’s end-of-year awards: Jake Bailey, Gunner Olszewski and Michael Onwenu.
• Paul Perillo tackles this week’s Patriots Unfiltered Q&A: In search of a quarterback.
• Paul Perillo shares his NFL Notes: Divisional Round edition.
• Belichick, Brady and Tippett share their letters to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee on Richard Seymour.
• Bryan Morry believes it’s time for Richard Seymour to complete the climb. “He was smart, thick, quick, powerful, and like a mountain, immovable. His impact for the Patriots was immediate when he arrived in 2001 as the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft, and his selfless willingness and ability to play different positions along the front and dominate at any of them is his legacy. Now a gold jacket should cement that legacy.”
• Highlights: Richard Seymour in New England. (1.25 min. video)
• From NFL Network: Scott Pioli reflects on the 19th anniversary of ‘The Snow Bowl’. (1.23 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered 1/19: Divisional Playoff takeaways, Conference Championship rooting interests; More. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Doug Kyed looks into whether the Patriots’ recent perceived draft struggles are accurate, with a look at how they’ve fared over the last five years.
• Zack Cox reports New England is projected to receive one of the NFL’s best compensatory pick packages after losing Tom Brady and other free agents.
• Luke Ervin (PatsBuzz) Ranking five hypothetical Patriots’ QB scenarios for 2021.
• Darren Hartwell is hearing Josh McDaniels may be one of two finalists for the Eagles’ HC job.
• Evan Lazar points out Tom Brady is putting the “system QB” label to bed once and for all.
• Zack Cox compares Aaron Rodgers’ 2020 resurgence for the Packers to Tom Brady’s in 2014, calls it ‘the Garoppolo effect’. /These two QBs are self-driven.
• Doug Kyed calls the Brady-Rodgers ‘GOAT’ debate a waste of time. Only one QB in the NFL has any chance at catching Tom Brady for “GOAT” distinction, and it’s not Aaron Rodgers.
• Sean T. McGuire remembers when Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was not on Tom Brady’s side during deflategate: “… I’ve always had a lot respect for him, but also I lose a lot of respect for people who cheat.”
• Hayden Bird highlights how Bob Kravitz, the reporter who broke ‘Deflategate’ story, admitted he has ‘just a seed’ of doubt over Patriots’ guilt.
• Justin Leger notes Linda Holliday didn’t take too kindly to a comment on her Instagram account remarking, “Too bad Bill let Tom go!” /Filed under inconsequential stuff some people will make a big deal of.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Steve Balestrieri discuss the Pats’ plans if McDaniels leaves, the loss of Nick Caserio in preparation for the draft, and the Hall of Fame case for Richard Seymour. (44 min.)
• Patriots Talk podcast: Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry debate what the best move is for Josh McDaniels, and who will be the next Patriots OC if he leaves. (30 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Andrew Brandt (SI) Business of Football: Of course the Eagles chose Carson Wentz over Doug Pederson.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) 2021 NFL playoff picks, schedule: Aaron Rodgers outduels Tom Brady in NFC title game, Bills stun Chiefs in AFC.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL conference championship picks: Do blowouts in the first meetings matter for the rematches
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Super Bowl 55 odds: Chiefs and Packers still lead the way, Buccaneers hold intriguing value.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) Free agency 2021: Biggest upcoming player decision for all 32 teams. Patriots: David Andrews.
• Marc Sessler (NFL.com) 2021 NFL turnaround candidates: Don’t sleep on Cowboys, Jets. /Pats not included.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) We were robbed! Most memorable officiating controversies for all 32 NFL teams. Patriots: Hamilton roughs the passer, Dec. 18, 1976. /Can’t argue with that one. Dolphins: The Snowplow Game, Dec. 12, 1982. /Heh heh.
• Conor Orr (SI) Top 10 landing spots for Deshaun Watson.
• David Carr (NFL.com) Four teams that should pursue Texans QB Deshaun Watson. No. 2 Patriots.
• Rodger Sherman (The Ringer) Forget the AFC Championship game. It’s finally time for a Patrick Mahomes vs. Josh Allen throwing contest.
• Report (ESPN) Philip Rivers retires from NFL, ending 17-year career spent with Chargers and Colts.
• NFL Throwback (NFL.com) Chargers QB Philip Rivers plays the undefeated Patriots on a torn ACL in the 2007 AFC Championship Game. (2.19 min. video)
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Salary cap could be in the range of $180 million.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) NFL had nine positive COVID-19 tests last week.