Daily news and links for Monday
TEAM TALK
- Patriots Unfiltered: 2025 Expectations, Offseason topics; Benchmarks for Drake Maye, the offense/defense, coaches and season records. Plus, topics like all-time sports brawls, offensive coordinators and more! (2 hours)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Why the Patriots drafted long-snapper Julian Ashby; Steelers matchup given ‘elite’ pricing; Jonnu Smith post Patriots; Playoff odds; More.
- Steve Balestrieri’s Sunday Patriots News: McDaniels the most intriguing in 2025.
- Ian Logue’s Patriots News: Undrafted WR Efton Chism III has options, Interesting note on McDaniels. “Belichick has told people the only people he has been around that can coach every position is [Nick] Saban and McDaniels.”
- Ian Logue’s Patriots News: Insider talks potential surprise WR trades, Undrafted RB Lan Larson making the roster?
- Brian Hines’ Sunday Patriots Notes: Improved defensive unit trending toward breakthrough.
- Alex Barth explores the situations to determine if any current NFL holdouts might become available for the Pats.
- Matthew Schmidt was perplexed why Drake Maye was snubbed from a “25 players under 25” list — not even as an honorable mention, which featured 22 other names.
- Matthew Schmidt relays Ted Johnson voicing some serious concerns about QB Drake Maye. “If you look at all the interceptions, and only one win last year, I understand the trepidation. I think he’s a special player. I think he has special traits. But I do wonder if he has the mental aptitude, or the mental skill set to match what his natural talents are.” /In related news, I have some concerns about Ted Johnson.
- Danny Jaillet notes the Patriots’ renovated WR room gets destroyed in PFF rankings.
- Danny Jaillet relays Mike Reiss naming WR Efton Chism III as the Patriots’ surprise player in the offseason.
- Michael DeVito explains how early signs indicate Keion White could be the Patriots’ 2025 game-wrecker.
- Michael DeVito highlights ESPN’s Matt Bowen with an interesting free-agent offensive guard option still available for the Patriots: Will Hernandez. “A knee injury cut Hernandez’s 2024 season short after just five games. The veteran guard had a pass block win rate over 94% in each of the past three seasons, and he’s a physical run blocker. His footwork on contact and his power pop on tape. At age 30, he could still be a starter.”
- Sara Marshall discusses a proposed trade offer involving T.J. Watt that instantly turns the Pats into AFC sleeper.
- Pat Lane and Matt St. Jean continue their series: 21 Wins, 21 Years Later: An iconic snow game and a snowy blowout. /This series is excellent.
- Meadow Barrow highlights Cam Newton defending Arch Manning’s decision to remain at Texas as a backup QB.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Moe Moton (Bleacher Report) Every team’s most promising building block entering 2025. Patriots: … wait for it … QB Drake Maye. “In 2025, Maye should be able to put his arm talent and improvisational skills on full display.”; More.
- Joseph Zucker (Bleacher Report) ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says Drake Maye ‘Looks like an NFL QB now’ and latest on Stefon Diggs.
- Moe Moton (Bleacher Report) 1 X-Factor that can significantly impact each NFL Division race in 2025. AFC East: Josh McDaniels’ play-calling impact on Patriots QB Drake Maye.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Stephon Gilmore reflects on moment Bill Belichick almost made him cry.
- Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Stephon Gilmore wants to play in 2025, but it has to be the “right situation”
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Which teams are legitimately in Super Bowl window for 2025? “Since 2017, it’s been the Eagles three times, the 49ers twice, the Rams twice, and the Bucs once. For the AFC, it’s been only the Patriots, Chiefs, and Bengals. That’s it. Over eight seasons, seven total franchises have taken the 16 total Super Bowl berths.”
- Gary Davenport (Bleacher Report) The NFL’s most overpaid player at every position. Running Back: Rhamondre Stevenson. “It’s not easy to make big bucks in the backfield in today’s NFL. There are only seven running backs in the league with an average annual salary of $10 million or more—and those backs all have resumes with multiple seasons of high-end production. Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots isn’t quite making $10 million a season. But he still got a four-year, $36 million extension last year. The question is why.”
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Which quarterbacks are on the hot seat in 2025? No Pats.
- Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) Execs, coaches, scouts rank NFL’s top 10 running backs for 2025. No Pats.
- Gilberto Manzano (SI) 32 Teams in 32 Days: Time for Chargers, Justin Herbert to take the next step.
- Bobby Kownack (NFL.com) Top 100 Players of 2025, Nos. 100-91. No Pats.
- Staff (ESPN) Who fell out of the NFL top 10 best player rankings in 2025?
- Staff (ESPN) Wimbledon 2025: Andrew Garfield, John Cena in attendance in London. Drake Maye included.
- Jordan Raanan (ESPN) A decade later, Jason Pierre-Paul reflects on Fourth of July accident that changed his life. /We were talking about him on the 4th.
- Brent Sobleski (Bleacher Report) NFL’s top 5 most improved position groups before training camp. No Pats.