New England Patriots links 5/25/21 - Rumor Ramrod: OTAs! Cam’s arm! Jersey numbers! Julio Jones! More!

TEAM TALK

• Patriots announce veteran jersey numbers.
• Photos: Patriots kick off 2021 OTAs.
• Paul Perillo tackles this week’s Patriots Unfiltered Q&A: Julio Jones trade, breaking down the QBs and more.
• Paul Perillo’s NFL Notes: Patrick Chung still part of the action; More.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss calls Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry the key to the Patriots’ two-tight end renaissance.
• Ryan Hannable addresses the number of questions at key positions heading into OTAs, which make this the most intriguing offseason for them in years.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) 9 burning questions for the Patriots during OTAs. 1. How much command does Cam Newton have of the offense?
• Doug Kyed gives us his top takeaways from the pictures posted by the Patriots of their first OTAs practice session: Who was present; Cameron McGrone in a helmet; Rookies wearing numbers in the 50s; More.
• Doug Kyed thumbnails eight new players to monitor during spring practice OTAs, noting the team will be unrecognizable at some positions this year.
• Alex Barth suggests what to watch for during OTAs and minicamp. 1. Who is in attendance? 2. QB throwing order.
• Logan Mullen notes Josh Uche posted a photo of himself listening intently to Bill Belichick on the first day of Patriots OTAs, “Knowledge is everything”.
• Evan Lazar finds it difficult to find a reason for the team to pass on Julio Jones, calling him the missing piece for the Pats in an ‘uncharacteristically aggressive’ offseason.
• Tom E. Curran says that if the Patriots land Julio Jones, Cam Newton will have the benefit of a re-tooled and loaded offensive huddle in 2021 - and no more excuses. /He won’t need any.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Cam Newton shares a look at his “rebuilt” throwing motion in new workout video.
• Karen Guregian and Andrew Callahan debate whether or not the Patriots should trade for Julio Jones.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Trent Brown shares a recruiting message to Julio Jones over Twitter: “Come be a Patriot.”
• Sean T. McGuire highlights NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky on how if the Patriots acquire Julio Jones, they’d join the Bills, Browns and Chiefs atop the AFC.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Why the Pats could (and should) use Stephon Gilmore as a trade chip for Julio Jones
• Ryan Hannable reports the Patriots release their full roster, which includes plenty of new jersey numbers.
• Nick O’Malley notes Matt Judon is the latest LB to switch to single digits as the Patriots release full list of jersey number changes.
• Nick O’Malley reports Kyle Dugger switches to No. 23, prompting Chung to comment, ‘Wear it well young savage.’
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Daily Patriots news and NFL notes: 5 Things to know. 3) It’s been mentioned here that Jarrett Stidham could be the odd man out in New England’s quarterback room this season and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe believes the Texans could be a potential landing spot.
• Jordy McElroy (PatriotsWire) Legacy talk has Tom Brady and Bill Belichick ready to beat each other to a pulp in Week 4.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike and Murph discuss the potential of a deal to bring Jones to New England and the future of Stephon Gilmore in Foxboro. (40 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Afternoon QB: Why the Falcons are looking to trade Julio Jones; Plus, T.J. Hockenson’s potential, Jaylen Waddle’s speed, Dak Prescott’s rehab and more.
• Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) Did Julio Jones know his ‘I’m out of there’ interview was live on TV? It only adds to bizarro 2021 offseason.
• Staff (ESPN) Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones wants to be traded? Let the social media recruiting begin.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) What can the Falcons get for Julio Jones?
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) Julio Jones landing spots: NFL insider breaks down best fits among teams favored to land the star WR. Patriots 3rd (behind Ravens, 49ers).
• Kaelen Jones (The Ringer) Which Julio Jones trade partners make sense? Patriots 5th (behind AZ, GB, DEN, IND).
• Jonathan Jones (CBS Sports) Cap-strapped Falcons need help, but don’t expect them to trade Julio Jones for anything less than 2nd-rounder.
• Nora Princiotti (The Ringer) Julio Jones and the Falcons are at a crossroads.
• Chart (OverTheCap) Salary cap space for all 32 teams.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL considers relaxed COVID-19 protocols for teams with 85-percent vaccination rate
• Liz Roscher (Yahoo! Sports) Report: Deshaun Watson still wants out of Houston, won’t attend Texans’ OTAs.
• Chris Cwik (Yahoo! Sports) Aaron Rodgers does not report to Packers OTAs amid trade drama.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Aaron Rodgers addresses Packers dysfunction by saying, “It’s about the people.”
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady and teammates gather to workout, one day before OTAs start in Tampa.
• Liz Roscher (Yahoo! Sports) NFL to investigate Eugene Chung’s discrimination claim amid calls for a probe.