**[
Eric Edholm](http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-draft-pre-combine-mock-draft-texans-taking-194811280--nfl.html)of YAHOO! Sports shares his pre-combine mock draft and has the Patriots selecting Texas Tech TEJace Amaro **with the 29th overall pick.
"I agree with many others who have made this projection, thinking it just makes too much sense," writes Edholm. "The question now becomes, what happens when Amaro tests through the roof? Does he get drafted higher than this? Don't worry - Bill Belichick likely would trade down in that situation, which he certainly could do even if Amaro is on the board. There will be a few teams looking to move up for one of the second wave of quarterbacks still on the board."
Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated shares his top 8 franchise tag candidates. The list includes Patriots CB Aqib Talib.
"The Boston Herald's Jeff Howe reported recently that there's "no chance" the Patriots tag Talib at the CB cost of more than $11 million, so that's why Talib sits further down this list," writes Burke. "Might New England reconsider that stance if Talib seems eager to hit free agency? Maybe, if only because it has seen first-hand just how much worse the secondary is without Talib in it - he's been banged up each of the past two playoff seasons."
FOX Sports shares a video debating why the Patriots can't afford to let Aqib Talib slip through their fingers.
"Talib is a rare corner, a big physical player who sets the tone for the Patriots secondary. Although he might not be the top available option in free agency, he's a perfect fit in Bill Belichick's defense and has the ability to shut down big receivers."
Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com reports that a big payment awaits Patriots QB Tom Brady.
"When Patriots quarterback Tom Brady signed a contract extension last offseason, it included a $30 million signing bonus," notes Yates.
"Of that bonus, $10 million was paid upon Brady putting pen to paper, with the final $20 million to be paid out in three separate installments.
"As it turns out, $5 million will be paid to Brady on Saturday. That means that Brady will have been paid half of the signing bonus, with the remaining two payments to come by Feb. 15, 2015."
Josh Katzowitz of CBS Sports shares a Bill Belichick Valentines Day card that unveiled via the @Patriots twitter account this morning.
"Because if Bill Belichick can't express his affection to you, what hope does the rest of the NFL have? Hey, he just wants to be loved," adds Katzowitz.
