Jacob Camenker of NBC Sports Boston breaks down the NFL's idea to add another team to each conference's playoffs, eliminating the bye for the second seed. The Patriots haven't gone to the Super Bowl without a bye since 1985.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic thinks the Patriots should make a bold plan to acquire Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings. The talented wide receiver is still just 26 years old and has four seasons left on an extension he signed back in 2018. Making a trade like this before free agency could be a big bargaining chip for the Patriots in wooing Tom Brady back. Greg Bedard also gives his thoughts on the need for an outside receiver and how Diggs fits.
Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal breaks down the Patriots linebacker group and how change is in the air with three key free agents -- Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts.
Bernd Buchmasser of PatsPulpit shoots down the notion that the Patriots should slide Isaiah Wynn inside to guard.
Andy Hart of WEEI gives his thoughts on Joel Corry's projections of what kind of contracts this year's crop of free agent quarterbacks can expect. Tom Brady comes in at three years, $100 million with $65 million guaranteed. Woah.
Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald breaks down Mel Kiper Jr's latest mock draft that has the Patriots taking Washington quarterback Jacob Eason in the first round.
Karen Guregian of the Herald spoke with Rob Ninkovich to get his thoughts on how things may play out if Tom Brady walks. It could make it tougher to bring in veterans willing to take a discount for a shot at a Super Bowl.
1980 gold medalist goalie Jim Craig had this to say in comparing coach Herb Brooks to Bill Belichick, relayed by Nick Goss from Craig's appearance on WEEI:
"What Bill does really well, in my opinion, and what Herb did really well is they don’t take credit for it. It’s their job. They prepare. They become your confidence. In leadership, there’s two types of leaders: There's people who want people to follow them, and there’s people who want people to believe them. Herb and Bill are ones who prepare people so that not only do they believe in what he’s doing or what the coach is doing, but they believe it themselves."
