Finally, a conclusion has been reached in one of the two NFL investigations that Patriots fans have been awaiting for months.
While there is still no specific word on the supposedly impending arrival of the Wells report that Roger Goodell said would be coming "soon," the days leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft did bring a resolution to the back-and-forth tampering charges that were levied by the Patriots and Jets surrounding cornerback Darrelle Revis.
The* Boston Globe* passes along word that the NFL has fined the Jets $100,000 for tampering with the then-Patriots cornerback via public comments made by New York owner Woody Johnson. There was no draft pick punishment for the Jets, nor were the Patriots penalized in any way for New York's counter-tampering charges.
The Jets punishment leads the Globe notebook, which also includes comments from Tuesday media availability for New England wide receiver Danny Amendola and new tight end Scott Chandler.
In draft related news, the Globe says there is "deep talent” at defensive back in this year's crop of prospects.
The Boston Herald's notebook also leads with the Revis tampering issue, but also has Amendola saying he was comfortable taking a pay cut this spring, in part, because New England “is home” for him. A Herald draft story says the Patriots will look to end a “bad history drafting cornerbacks” while offering Combine star and UConn product Byron Jones as a possibility at the position. The Herald blog looks at Utah DE/OLB Nate Orchard, a Rob Ninkovich-type player.
The *Herald *also opines that the NFL’s decision this week to give up its tax-exempt status is a bit of PR move.
The* Providence Journal* notes that the offseason has left New England with “plenty of glaring holes on defense” heading into Thursday night's draft. The ProJo also has Chandler saying that Tom Brady is working “harder than anybody” this spring in Foxborough.
ESPNBoston.com notes that thanks to an invitation from the NFL to the three-time Super Bowl MVP, Brady could be a part of Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco next winter with or without his teammates. The site breaks down the New England roster on offense at this point and ranks the team's needs on that side of the ball heading into the draft.
ESPNBoston.com has a transcript of the interviews of both Amendola and Chandler. ESPN also has Revis talking about playing against the Patriots thanks to his return to New York: “a rivalry is a rivalry.”
As the world continues to await the Wells report, CSNNE.com says the NFL seems to be focused on finding something, anything it can against the Patriots.
WEEI.com says the Jets “got off easy” with the $100K tampering fine. WEEI.com also scouts Florida State defensive lineman Eddie Goldman.
Forget only predicting the first 32 picks, NFL.com has a seven-round mock draft with a projection for each and every pick from Thursday night through Saturday evening.
NESN.com has its own final mock draft, with New England taking a defensive tackle in the first round.
