It's a bit of a dead period, to some degree, on the NFL calendar. The Combine is over. Free agency has yet to begin. And players have dispersed to all corners of the globe to decompress from a long season.
So when a player is available to the media, like Patriots safety Devin McCourty was on Wednesday at an NFL Fuel Up To Play 60 event at Lowell High School, it tends to dominate the football news cycle. That's even more true when the player is a New England captain and Pro Bowler set to hit free agency with the possibility of the franchise tag hanging over his head.
The Boston Herald says even McCourty doesn’t know how the next couple weeks will play out in terms of free agency and the franchise tag. The safety wasn't all business talk, though, as he told the Herald that Tom Brady needs his crazy diet to make up for his lack of athleticism.
The Boston Globe has 39-year-old Red Sox slugger David Ortiz referencing 37-year-old Brady when the DH was asked about his age and how long he might be able to keep playing.
The Providence Journal says that McCourty would be OK with getting slapped with the franchise tag, which would guarantee him around $9.5 million for 2015.
Speaking of McCourty, ESPNBoston.com continues its series with a look at the financial market for the safety. The site also poses a possible contract for free-agent-RB-to-be Shane Vereen. ESPNBoston.com's Brendan Hall passes along the story of McCourty’s day in Lowell, with a variety of topics being touched on.
WEEI.com quotes McCourty as admitting while it's a lot of money, the franchise tag would be the “worst case scenario.” WEEI notes Ortiz compared himself to both Brady and “fine wine.” Chris Price takes a quick look at the Combine’s top guys in the 3-cone drill and wonders if they might fit in New England.
CSNNE.com Patriots Insider Tom E. Curran gives his thoughts on why re-signing Darrelle Revis won’t “hamstring” New England financially. In less serious business, Rob Gronkowski tells the world that he doesn’t have a girlfriend. So, ladies, he's telling you there is a chance!
CSNNE.com workhorse Phil Perry passes along notes from Malcolm Butler's recent radio appearance on 98.5 the Sports Hub, saying that the corner expected Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch on the following play if he hadn’t intercepted the ball to essentially close out Super Bowl XLIX.
NFL.com offers up another mock draft opinion, this one with the Patriots taking Iowa DT Carl Davis.
