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New England Patriots links 5/20/21 - The $316 million team that Bill Belichick built

Daily news and links for Thursday

By Marima

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New England Patriots Media Availability Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TEAM TALK

LOCAL LINKS

  • Andrew Callahan takes a look at what we learned from how Bill Belichick built the Patriots: Three hundred sixteen million dollars. One hundred thirty-six days and counting. Eight draft picks. One giant rebuild.
  • Khari Thompson writes ‘the Patriots come into this year ranked among the slowest offenses in the NFL’ but might be gearing up for another year of bully ball in 2021.
  • Ryan Hannable looks at a few ways the Patriots can spend their $15 million in cap space. One of them is adding a big-name wide receiver.
  • Andy Hart counters the straw-man argument that Cam Newton will get the starting nod to open the new season ‘because he’s owed that much’. /Whoever’s saying he’ll get it because the Patriots owe him doesn’t know Bill Belichick. If Cam’s the starter, it’s because he was the Patriots best option — as Belichick has always built the roster.
  • Evan Lazar talks about how recent moves to replace Patrick Chung led Kyle Dugger to Rodney Harrison
  • Sean T. McGuire reports the Patriots agree to terms with fourth-round draftee RB Rhamondre Stevenson.
  • Doug Kyed notes the Patriots filled one of the remaining roster spots by signing long snapper Wes Farnsworth.
  • Alex Barth discusses long snapper Wes Farnsworth, who is entering his third NFL season. Farnsworth will back up Joe Cardona who has held the position since 2015 and is under contract through 2022.
  • Doug Kyed offers an inside look at the moment the Patriots drafted Tre Nixon, Ernie Adams’ final pick. /Good read.
  • Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) 4 of 8 Patriots who opted out in 2020 are no longer on the team.
  • Danny Jaillet (PatriotsWire) Patriots can open Gillette Stadium at 100% capacity starting May 29.
  • Ian Logue (PatsFans) Patriots news and NFL notes: 5 Things to know. 2) John Morgan, provides some terrific historical tidbits for various players and he posted a thread highlighting the fact that Patriots QB John Friesz turned 54, along with some other interesting bits that went along with it. Friesz was the club’s back-up QB behind Drew Bledsoe back in 2000, which was obviously the same year Tom Brady was drafted.
  • Ricky Doyle tells us where Tom Brady and Cam Newton land in PFF’s QB rankings for 2021.
  • Karen Guregian hears from Rob Gronkowski on returning to New England in Week 4. “It’s definitely going to be emotional for sure, I would say. I just had a great nine years (in New England). Probably the best nine years of my life. It was the beginning of basically my whole football career there. It’s definitely going to be heartfelt when I go back.”
  • Scott McLaughlin hears from Ray Bourque explaining what Tom Brady can expect as a Boston legend returning to face his old team.
  • Jordan Cohn discusses the Twitter debate that erupted after a PFF analyst suggested that Chiefs speedster Tyreek Hill may be the greatest deep threat in NFL history; Randy Moss fans wanted a word.
  • Ian Logue (PatsFans) Jim McMahon fires off another shot at Belichick, reveals he assaulted Mike Lombardi.
  • Adam London highlights NFL analyst Matt Bowen explaining how the Patriots can help out Mac Jones in the QB’s rookie season.
  • Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate is joined by John Williams (Locked On Sooners) to get some expert insight on Ronnie Perkins and Rhamondre Stevenson. (30 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

  • Albert Breer (SI) Mailbag: How High Is Daniel Jones’s Ceiling? Plus, what will determine when Kellen Mond and Justin Fields see action, the price you should pay for a star QB and much more.
  • Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) From Zach Wilson to Mac Jones, there’s no holding back rookie QBs in 2021 ... for better or for worse: Making sense of when the five QBs taken in the first round should debut in 2021.
  • Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: Packers could pay the price for Aaron Rodgers rift when it comes to new deal with Davante Adams.
  • Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) Ranking the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates. No Pats.
  • Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Greg Olsen starting Tight End University summit. Jonnu Smith plans to participate.
  • Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Patriots sign long snapper Wes Farnsworth.
  • Doug Farrar (TouchdownWire) How soon we forget: Randy Moss was the best deep threat in NFL history. /Preach!
  • Corey Seeley (TheDraftScout) Very early NFL 2022 Super Bowl bets. Three teams have caught my eye as sleepers to place early bets on. Patriots included.
  • Michael DiRocco (ESPN) Tim Tebow signs with Jacksonville Jaguars as tight end.
  • Scott Gleeson (USA Today) Texans sign QB Jeff Driskel to one-year deal amid Deshaun Watson’s uncertain future.
  • Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Aaron Rodgers will make a media appearance — and it’s going to send a message regardless of what he says.

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