Coverage of the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis will kick off on Wednesday, including right here on Patriots.com.
But today is a pretty slow day in the news cycle in New England. The bulk of the coverage surrounds continued analysis of whether the Patriots deserve to get their draft picks back as the Deflategate saga plays out as well as more information of Rob Gronkowski's boatload of fun from over the weekend.
The Boston Globe brings more insight into Gronkowski’s party cruise that took place over the weekend, including a Q&A with the famous family. The Globe also notes that the Jets released veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie.
The Boston Herald's Inside Track also continues to pass along nuggets from Gronk’s cruise. The Herald recaps MMQB’s call for the league to return the Patriots draft picks as Deflategate has played itself out. The Herald also has Tom Brady honoring his legendary throwing coach, four years after Tom Martinez's death.
The Providence Journal's positional analysis of the Patriots roster moves on to the defensive tackle spot.
Fullback James Develin has recovered from a broken leg and ESPNBoston.com looks at the fullback's situation as a restricted free agent in New England.
WEEI.com has ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper saying that wide receiver is the Patriots biggest draft need this spring, maybe even Ohio State QB-turned-WR Braxton Miller. Following up on his Monday written column, MMQB.com's Peter King told WEEI radio that the Patriots were “overpenalized by a lot” in the NFL’s handling of Deflategate.
CSNNE.com doesn’t think the Patriots will ever get justice, or their picks back, as Deflategate plays out. Former Patriots and Jets running back Stevan Ridley was one of those in attendance on Gronk’s cruise ship.
NFL.com has a schedule of the week’s events at the Scouting Combine. The Patriots are among the teams NFL.com’s experts believe face the highest stakes this offseason. New England's potential pursuit of free agent running back Matt Forte is one of the top AFC questions to be answered at the Combine, according to NFL.com.
The *Washington Post *says it isn’t likely that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will change his mind and give the Patriots their draft picks back.
