Daily news and links for Thursday.
TEAM TALK
- Mike Dussault gives us his takeaways from Eliot Wolf’s media availability. 1. Front seven up first.
- Press Conference: Eliot Wolf, Patriots Executive Vice President of Player Personnel. (14.20 min. video)
- Patriots Draft Countdown: Mike Dussault and Evan Lazar discuss their Day 2 Combine takeaways, interviews with EVP Eliot Wolf and ESPN’s Mike Reiss. (42 min. video)
- Exclusive: Eliot Wolf joins Patriots Draft Countdown podcast at the 2025 NFL Combine. (6.45 min. video)
- Patriots Catch-22: Davon Godchaux trade report, Eliot Wolf reaction, Latest buzz from NFL Combine. (2 hours)
LOCAL LINKS
- Matt Dolloff reports the Patriots somehow got even worse in the latest NFLPA report card.
- Karen Guregian finds Robert Kraft was slammed once again in player survey. And it’s not even close.
- Bill Speros writes why Robert Kraft has to own up to his dismal NFLPA report card. “The Patriots have become a doormat for the AFC East and the rest of their opponents. And they continue to fail on the field, if not in the classroom.”
- Andrew Callahan sees Eliot Wolf under pressure entering a high-stakes Patriots offseason.
- Karen Guregian relays Patriots personnel chief Eliot Wolf taking full blame for last season’s failures.
- Karen Guregian calls out Eliot Wolf’s “verbal tap dancing” over what having “final say” really means for the Patriots.
- Chris Mason notes Eliot Wolf says “It’s my final say” on the Patriots 53-man roster, but explains how it’s not that cut-and-dried.
- Mark Daniels looks at what Eliot Wolf learned from the mistakes he made last offseason.
- Michael DeVito warns the Patriots cannot afford to be fooled again by NFL Combine performances.
- Chris Mason highlights Eliot Wolf on what went wrong with Ja’Lynn Polk’s rookie season: “I think organizationally we maybe put too much on his plate early, and I think that really kind of stunted his growth a little bit.” /Woof!
- Michael Sanderson lists the Patriots head coaching change as the one big reason why Drake Maye will thrive with the Patriots in 2025.
- Conor Ryan relays Mike Vrabel mapping out how the Patriots plan to build its roster around Drake Maye, “But you have to look at the lines of scrimmage, and you look no further than the Super Bowl game where that game was clearly won at the line of scrimmage.”
- Sara Marshall says the Patriots are expected to make a strong push for some of the best offensive linemen in free agency, but now they’ll have more teams to work against, including the Dolphins.
- Karen Guregian relays Mike Vrabel with an update on the health of OT Christian Barmore.
- Nick O’Malley notes Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter looked out of reach for the Patriots, but a new report could change that
- Conor Ryan notes Ian Rapoport shuts down the rumor that Rob Gronkowski is pondering an NFL return.
- Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Steve Balestrieri discuss Mike Vrabel’s vision, free agency, NFL Draft and Combine, roster shakeup and More. (36 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Eliot Wolf on Patriots free agency: We’ll do what’s necessary, won’t be frivolous. /Insert eye-roll emoji here.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Patriots give Davon Godchaux permission to seek a trade.
- Sports Staff (Yahoo! Sports) NFL scouting combine live updates: Coaches, GMs take the podium in Indianapolis as 2025 draft season gets underway.
- Morgan Moriarty (Sporting News) 6 things to watch at NFL Combine, from Cam Skattebo’s 40 time to Jalen Milroe’s hand size.
- Josh Edwards (CBS Sports) Sleeper prospects to watch at combine, including QB Dillon Gabriel, RB Bhayshul Tuten. On-field drills begin Thursday in Indy.
- Eric Edholm, et al (NFL.com) 2025 NFL combine: What we learned during Wednesday’s activities in Indianapolis.
- Ryan Phillips (SI) 10 Fastest wide receiver 40-yard dash times in NFL Combine history.
- Jonathan Jones (CBS Sports) NFLPA team report cards: Dolphins, Vikings finish 1-2 for second straight year; Cardinals graded last. The survey was compiled during the 2024 season with responses from 1,695 players across all 32 teams.
- Jori Epstein (Yahoo! Sports) NFLPA report card winners, losers: While there is leaguewide improvement, particularly in childcare, Woody Johnson’s ‘culture of fear’ tanks Jets’ results.
- Tyler Lauletta (SI) Why four NFL teams scored F-minus grades in player survey, and how they can improve. The New England Patriots were ranked 31st overall, and flagged with an F grade for team travel.
- Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) NFL Top 100 2025 free agents: Tee Higgins, Sam Darnold top the list.
- Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: Why Matthew Stafford has nobody to blame but himself regarding contract impasse with Rams.
- Josh Edwards (CBS Sports) 2025 NFL mock draft: Abdul Carter goes No. 1 despite foot injury. Pats pick Colorado CB Travis Hunter at No. 4.
- Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) With Dan Snyder gone and the Commanders thriving, Jets’ Woody Johnson is the NFL’s ownership wart. /Lolz!
- Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) NFL plans to use state-of-the-art technology for measurements in 2025. /No more index cards?
- Mike Kadlick (SI) Josh Allen is catching strays after NFL announces plans to replace chain gang: Allen was robbed of a first down in the AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) NFL says there were no injuries on tush push plays in 2024.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Jordan Schultz of FOX verbally accosted Ian Rapoport at a Starbucks in Indianapolis. /Media on media crime.