Daily news and links for Friday
TEAM TALK
- Highlights: Equipment staff gears up for Media Day. (2 min. video)
- Patriots Unfiltered: Minicamp preview, roster building, offseason topics. (2 hours)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mark Daniels emphasizes how defensive linemen Milton Williams and Christian Barmore have impressed this offseason and sees this defensive line with potential to dominate.
- Karen Guregian looks at what Aaron Rodgers signing with the Steelers will mean for the Patriots.
- Nick Goss says the Patriots’ Week 3 matchup just got a little harder with QB Aaron Rodgers signing in Pittsburgh.
- Greg Bedard talks about why undrafted rookie WR Efton Chism III could be a real contender for the 53-man roster and how he is taking Chism seriously.
- Nick Goss relays NFL analyst Chris Simms detailing where Drake Maye can improve in 2025. Simms is confident that an improved coaching staff led by Vrabel and McDaniels will help Maye fix his remaining weaknesses and take another positive step forward in his development.
- Efstathios Savvidis discusses the Patriots problems at finding a consistent, accurate kicker and why he thinks John Parker Romo is clearly on his way out of New England.
- Jeff Szymanski explains why rookie kicker Andy Borregales has looked the part in camp and may have earned his spot on the roster.
- Mark Daniels reports Mike Vrabel expanded the analytics department with their hire of Ekene Olekanma. The Pats were once voted one of the least analytically advanced teams in the NFL. /Belichick was a human analytics Dept.
- Tim Crowley thinks the Patriots should pursue Commanders’ disgruntled receiver Terry McLaurin, who is frustrated at the inability to reach a long-term deal and recently left OTAs because of it.
- Nick O’Malley mentions former Patriots coach Nick Caley, now a first-year offensive coordinator for the Texans, is named as ‘one of the most important people in the NFL’ in 2026.
- A Clare Perspective podcast: Clare is joined by Jerry Thornton to discuss captain possibilities, the crowded wide receiver room, and more. (45 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Gilberto Manzano (SI) Ranking each NFL team’s top defensive triplets for 2025. Patriots 16th: Milton Williams, Robert Spillane, Christian Gonzalez.
- Lauren Gray (PFF) Ranking 2024’s top wide receivers by separation type. No 5 DeMario Douglas included. ‘Demario Douglas…ranked in the top five in several separation categories last season.’ /Click for more commentary.
- Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) Predicting seven players who will make noise at minicamp. WR Mack Hollins included
- Analysts (NFL.com) Instant Debate: Seven trades we’d like to see in the offseason. Tyreek Hill to Patriots included.
- Jared Dubin & Garrett Podell (CBS Sports) 2025 NFL OTA takeaways: Giants end practice early after multiple fights, Michael Pittman Jr. exits with injury
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Yes, it’s possible to score only one point in an NFL game.
- Karl Rasmussen (SI) Aaron Rodgers signing with Steelers makes must-watch Week 1 clash vs. Jets official.
- Judy Battista (NFL.com) Steelers’ long wait for Aaron Rodgers is over, but offense far from finished product.
- Kristen Wong (SI) NFL fans had lots of jokes after Aaron Rodgers finally agrees to join Steelers.
- Anthony Holzman-Escareno (NFL.com) All-Paid Team of Tomorrow: Lamar Jackson, Micah Parsons poised to reset market at respective positions. No Pats.
- Nancy Armour (USA Today) Opinion: NFL wants you to think it’s taking sports betting seriously. Don’t be fooled.