New England Patriots links 5/27/21 - Patriots open OTAs today; Falcons up price for Julio Jones; More

TEAM TALK

• Statements from Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick on the retirement of Adam Vinatieri.
• Mike Dussault posts the adjusted roster cutdown schedule: The first cut will come on Tuesday, August 17 going from 90 to 85, and then the following Tuesday, August 24, cuts will go from 85 down to 80. The final cut will come on Tuesday, August 31 as the initial 53-man roster will be set that day.
• Angelique Fiske helps us get to know the newest Patriots free agent signings.

LOCAL LINKS

• Doug Kyed addresses twelve questions the Pats can answer in their first open-to-media OTAs. “It seems that the majority of New England’s roster is participating despite a push from the NFL Players Association to skip the voluntary practices.” 1. Who’s already penciled in as a starter this spring?
• Andrew Callahan tells us five Patriots OTAs storylines to follow. 1. Cam Newton vs Mac Jones, 2. New weapons, 3. Where are Kyle Dugger and Josh Uche? 4. Return of The Boogeymen.
• Ryan Hannable identifies 5 positional battles to watch for Patriots at OTAs: QB, WR, DL, OL, K.
• Jared Koch (MusketFire) 4 players who can be the No. 1 option on offense in 2021. Damien Harris, Nelson Agholor, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) The Patriots release FB Dan Vitale, sign TE Troy Fumagalli.
• Alex Barth revisits Bill Belichick’s history of trading for wide receivers.
• Justin Leger consults the ‘Strat-O-Matic simulation’ on how Julio Jones would impact the Patriots in 2021.
• Jerry Trotta (MusketFire) Patriots players really want the team to trade for Julio Jones.
• CBS Boston mentions recent talk about Dont’a Hightower’s status or not playing for the Patriots this season, based on a comment in Peter King’s FMIA column Sunday. /Wut?
• Phil Perry explains what the the NFL’s new salary-cap ceiling means for the Pats.
• Nick Stevens looks at the new NFL salary cap and how it will impact New England.
• Karen Guregian highlights Patriots captain Matthew Slater discussing the NFL’s addiction problem as part of a poignant hour-long panel hosted by American Addiction Centers.
• Jerry Thornton is incredulous ESPN is still looking into spygate and claiming Trump made it go away. “You have GOT to be shitting us with this.”
• Tom E. Curran yawns at, then takes a moment to poke a few big fat holes in ESPN’s spygate-revisited hit piece.
• Ian Logue (PatsFans) Another ESPN Patriots spygate report is a reminder of how ridiculous that story remains.
• Matt Dolloff writes, ‘just what we all wanted in 2021: A rehash of spygate and Arlen Specter.’
• Sean T. McGuire looks back on Adam Vinatieri’s greatest moments, with plenty of highlights to choose from.
• Adam London notes Tom Brady pays tribute to ‘incredible teammate’ Adam Vinatieri.
• Chris Mason reports Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson will be teaming up for a golf match against Aaron Rodgers and Bryson DeChambeau.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Clare Cooper discuss the Julio Jones trade rumors, Clare’s predictions for the Patriots in 2021, and Mike addresses the latest “reports” on ‘Spygate’ (insert eye roll emoji). (47 min.)
• Untitled Patriots Podcast: Douggie and Lee Schecter discuss the Pats being the odds-on favorite to land Julio Jones, PFF turning into Buzzfeed, Hightower’s future, and lots more. (79 min.)
• A Clare Perspective podcast: Clare Cooper talks with Nick Stevens about many things Patriots from the draft, free agency, Rex Burkhead and, of course, tight ends. (47 min.)
• Patriots Talk podcast: Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry discuss how Jones would fit into the Patriots offense. (44 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Mailbag: Could the Chiefs trade for Julio Jones? Plus, who will win the NFC East, will Jamal Adams be extended, and would you rather have three Quenton Nelsons or two Aaron Donalds?
• Sam Monson (PFF) Linebacker Rankings: The 32 best LBs entering the 2021 NFL season. 9th Dont’a Hightower.
• Ben Linsey (PFF) Rankings: Edge Defender - Interior Defender The 32 best players entering the 2021 NFL season.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) Trade offers for Julio Jones and an accepted deal: Where the WR could land, potential return, more.
• Logan Ulrich (NFLTR) Falcons have multiple offers on table for Julio Jones, including a future first.
• Adam Schein (NFL.com) Bold predictions for 2021 season: Aaron Rodgers lifts Broncos, Julio Jones fuels Titans.
• Michael Renner (PFF) Regrading the 2018 NFL draft classes. Pats keep rank of “average.”
• Ben Pickman (SI) Future Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri announces retirement.
• Jacob Camenker (Sporting News) Seven crazy stats about former Patriots, Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri’s career.
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) NFL owners approve expanded rule on low blocks, 90-man rosters to start training camp.
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) NFL, NFLPA agree to $208.2M salary cap ceiling for 2022 season.