New England Patriots links 1/06/21 - Ch-ch-changes ahead in Foxboro, on-field and front office

TEAM TALK

• Mike Dussault reports on Richard Seymour being named as a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist.
• Mike Dussault addresses 21 burning questions for the Patriots in the offseason. 1. Will the opt-outs return?
• Paul Perillo’s Week 17 NFL Notes: Time to move on.
• Patriots locker room sound following the victory over the Jets. (1 min.)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares his gut feeling on each player in the Patriots’ free-agent class: Expect lots of change in 2021.
• Luke Ervin (PatsBuzz) Predicting stay or leave with the Patriots 2021 free agents.
• Zack Cox looks at the biggest question facing each position group entering the offseason.
• Doug Kyed identifies the Patriots’ top veteran options at quarterback via trade and free agency.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) What’s next for Cam Newton? Considering 4 scenarios.
• Chad Finn digs around for the “one stat guaranteed to convince you” that Cam Newton should return in 2021. “That’s right. Guaranteed.”
• Zack Cox notes WEEI guest Adam Schefter believes Cam Newton is in line for a massive raise with his next team, most likely with Washington.
• Aidan Curran considers what will happen with Julian Edelman in 2021.
• Dakota Randall highlights a Greg Bedard column (Boston Sports Journal) in which he claims the Patriots reportedly have internal ‘concern’ over Chase Winovich and his apparently active mouth.
• Nick Goss reports the Patriots signed 10 players to future contracts, including three WRs.
• Chad Finn, unlike some Pats fans, won’t be pulling for Tom Brady and the Bucs this postseason.
• Phil Perry explains why Pats fans should be happy the ‘Fins are committing to Tua. 1. Dolphins won’t be competing in the draft for a QB.
• Darren Hartwell notes Charlie Weis defends Bill Belichick’s excuse for the Pats’ disappointing season.
• Doug Kyed points out how the Patriots’ front office has been ransacked over the last three years with Nick Caserio the latest to leave. Here’s who’s left to replace him. 1. Assistant director of player personnel Dave Ziegler.
• Zack Cox NFL Rumors: Nick Caserio not the only Patriots exec drawing GM interest. The Broncos reportedly requested to interview Dave Ziegler.
• Mark Daniels [from Jan 21, 2017] explains how Nick Caserio’s fingerprints are all over the Patriots’ run of success.
• Tom Westerholm notes Tom Brady wrote a letter supporting Richard Seymour’s Hall of Fame candidacy last year.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Steve Balestrieri discuss the young talent in the defensive backfield, the possibility of a shift on the OL, and repairing the void at TE. (37 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Schedule (NFL.com) NFL 2020 Super Wild Card weekend schedule.
• Danny Heifetz (The Ringer) Seven burning questions entering the NFL playoffs.
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Texans have agreement in place to make Patriots executive Nick Caserio next GM.
• MMQB Staff (SI) NFL Awards 2020: Picks for MVP, Rookies of the Year, Coach of the Year and More. Pats safety Kyle Dugger [Stats] came in 7th for defensive rookie of the year.
• Andrew Brandt (SI) Business of Football: It’s time to change the model when it comes to GM candidates.
• Wilton Jackson (SI) 15 Finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2021. Richard Seymour included.
• Adam Rank (NFL.com) Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists: My picks for Class of 2021. ’I will hear arguments for’ category: “Richard Seymour was also pretty fantastic. ...But at some point, we need to start getting in more representatives from the greatest dynasty in NFL history.”
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Home field was no advantage, home teams went 127-128-1 in 2020 season.
• Nora Princiotti (The Ringer) What happened to NFL home-field advantage?
• Michael Rosenberg (SI) The NFL needs a draft lottery. The NFL’s problem is bigger than whether the Eagles tanked: It’s that the Eagles had good reason to tank. The league’s structure incentivized them to do it.
• Jordan Dajani (CBS Sports) NFL coaching carousel: Ranking the top candidates for all six head coach openings.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Chan Gailey resigns as Dolphins offensive coordinator.
• Brian Costello (NY Post) Jets opening door to Sam Darnold trade.
• Kaelen Jones (The Ringer) The timeline of the Legion of Boom’s rise and fall—and how the Seahawks are still primed to compete.