New England Patriots links 9/06/21 - Fire up the Pats’ optimism! 2021 NFL season begins this week

TEAM TALK

• Patriots sign defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale to the practice squad.
• Paul Perillo writes how David Patten leaves an underrated legacy.
• Photos: Robert Kraft hosts Patriots on Cape Cod. Celebrating the start of a new season, Robert Kraft hosted players and their families at his annual team cookout on Cape Cod.
• Highlights: Remembering David Patten’s clutch career. (1.30 min. video)
• Pats from the Past: David Patten. (55 min. podcast) /Replay.
• Home Opener Sweepstakes: Enter to win a VIP Experience to the Patriots vs. Dolphins game at Gillette Stadium.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Mac Jones, Patriots’ rookie class primed to contribute early; Mac Jones and Tom Brady; UDFA streak; More.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Sunday Patriots news, AFC East notes: David Patten’s passing, a sad day for the Patriots; More.
• Karen Guregian’s Sunday NFL Notes: Do the Patriots have enough receiving talent to boost Mac Jones?
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: Drew Brees really loves Mac Jones with Patriots
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Patriots Notebook: Thurman released with an injury settlement, working out a pair of defensive backs and More.
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Patriots and 2021-22 NFL key dates.
• Phil Perry’s BOLD Patriots predictions for the 2021 season. 1. Patriots will lead the NFL in sacks.
• CBS Boston looks at the talented ground attack that’s sure to be one of the top storylines for the Pats this season.
• Robert Bradford points out that 23 years ago Sunday, Mac Jones was born and Tom Brady made his first college start.
• Tom E. Curran explains why you SHOULD compare Mac Jones to Tom Brady.
• Ian Glendon (FullPresscoverage) Mac Jones has a fan in Drew Brees.
• John Rooke Thinking out loud: Thoughts on Cam Newton, Mac Jones situation from past week.
• Andy Hart says ready or not, Mac Jones certainly faces high expectations
• Sean T. McGuire highlights ESPN analyst Todd McShay comparing Mac Jones favorably to Joe Burrow.
• Conor Roche tells us what oddsmakers are projecting for Mac Jones in his rookie season.
• Tom E. Curran gives us his ‘on-point 2021 Pats season prediction’ with reasons for optimism and an explanation for why things went wrong (if they do); Plus a Bucs game preview.
• Karen Guregian picks the five most intriguing matchups facing Mac Jones in 2021.
• Lauren Campbell highlights ten must-watch games for the upcoming NFL season you should mark down.
• Conor Roche checks in with the Patriots’ first 4 opponents and how they stack up against them.
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Can the ‘standouts of summer’ be stars of the Patriots future?
• Alexandra Francisco reports the Patriots filled their practice squad roster with defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale.
• Evan Lazar’s Mailbag: Pats’ QB competition wasn’t that close between Mac Jones and Cam Newton.
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Patriots Mailbag: Impact players, roster surprises, Gunner, Nordin and More.
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Patriots Mailbag (Part II): Mac Jones, Matty P, Langi and More.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Josh McDaniels peeled back the curtain on Mac Jones winning QB1.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Josh McDaniels reflects upon Patriots cutting Cam Newton.
• Nick Goss presents his Power Rankings to see where each team stands entering Week 1. Pats 13th.
• Tom Shaw-Mellors (PatsPropaganda) 2021 NFL season: How the bookies rate the Patriots chances.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Remembering David Patten: Forever a part of our Patriots family.
• Conor Roche spends time remembering David Patten’s best moments with the Patriots.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Social media reacts to the passing of former Patriots WR David Patten.
• Dakota Randall thinks we may have just had the first legit answer to the Malcolm Butler Super Bowl mystery.
• One Patriots Place podcast: Murph, Clare, and Steve look at the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster, discuss surprises, strengths, and weaknesses; More. (62 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: Lamar Jackson on the work he’s doing to prevent the NFL from catching up to him; Plus, Matt Nagy talks Justin Fields’s progress, scouting college football and much more before Week 1.
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA: Sorry, Bucs and Chiefs. Here’s why Super Bowl will be Rams-Bills, and more predictions for NFL 2021. Patriots make the playoffs as a wildcard, lose in divisional round.
• Conor Orr (SI) AFC East Preview: Can the Bills hold off the new-look Pats?
• Game Preview (NFL.com) Dolphins at New England: Here’s everything you need to know. (4.38 min. video)
• Kickoff (NFL.com) Everything you need to know about the 2021 NFL season. (7.21 min. video)
• Joseph Salvador (SI) Top 20 storylines for the 2021 NFL season. 10. Rookie QBs. /Pats aren’t a top storyline? Wut?
• Analysts (NFL.com) Super Bowl LVI predictions. Eight different winners. No Pats.
• Jordan Dajani (CBS Sports) NFL Week 1 odds, staff picks.
• Danny Kelly (The Ringer) 2021 NFL preseason power rankings. Pats 10th.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) Eight NFL players who could shift the balance of power in 2021: One from each division. AFC East: Buffalo MLB Tremaine Edmunds.
• Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: 10 defensive bounce-back candidates for 2021.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Four weeks until Tom Brady returns to New England.
• Jeff Kerr (CBS Sports) Cam Newton, Todd Gurley highlight 11 big names still available on open market.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Rob Ninkovich: Mac Jones was helping Cam Newton learn the playbook.
• Jeremy Layton (NY Post) NFL teams don’t want Cam Newton.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Hesitation to sign Cam Newton comes from history of injuries, throwing issues.
• Brian Costello (NY Post) Robert Saleh, Joe Douglas preach patience in season of ‘development’ for Jets. ‘The days of Rex Ryan predicting Super Bowls (and coming close) feel like something out of the Paleozoic Era these days.’