AFC East Daily

According to Christopher Price of WEEI, the tight end stayed off the field for the team's first three mandatory minicamp practices but was in fact at Gillette Stadium.

Per Price:

Patriots coach Bill Belichick didn’t shed much light on Gronkowski’s absence. “There are a lot of players that were not on the field,” Belichick told reporters following Tuesday’s workout. “They were doing other things.”

Friday, May 27, 2016

Gronk, Goodwin, Hogan among SI's Top 50 Most Fit

Sports Illustrated put together a list of the most impressive male athletes in the world, and some familiar faces from the division made the cut.

Based on six criteria — strength (or "strengh," as their infographic depicts), speed, endurance, agility, flexibility and skill in his or her respective sport — they, with the help of a large panel of trainers, coaches, experts and coaches, put together the 50 most fit male athletes.

Here are your AFC East shout-outs:

18. Marquise Goodwin - Buffalo Bills

"Some know Goodwin as an NFL wide receiver while others remember him for his track-and-field accomplishments in the long jump, including an appearance at the 2012 London Olympics. From leaping into the sand pit to squatting more than 400 pounds, Goodwin's feats in two elite professional sports speak to his impressive athletic abilities."

38. Chris Hogan - New England Patriots

"Hogan may not be one of the most notable players in the NFL, but the former college lacrosse standout and New Jersey native is training to be one of the league's top (and fittest) wide receivers. His high-intensity workouts hone balance, agility and explosiveness through exercises such as sprints and sled pushes. It's only right that he trains at a facility called 'Freak Strength.'"

46. Rob Gronkowski - New England Patriots

"Gronkowski's 6'6'', 265-pound frame is near impossible to stop on the football field thanks to his intense workouts and commitment to fitness. Now Gronk is taking his passion one step further with his new family business, Gronk Fitness Products, a line of performance fitness products built for sports facilities and home gyms."

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Bennett an early standout at Patriots OTAs

Seventeen New England Patriots players were absent from OTAs Thursday, according to Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal.

Missing starters included Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, LeGarrette Blount, Dion Lewis, Alan Branch, Danny Amendola, Sebastian Vollmer and Nate Solder.

While Gronk was away, his new sidekick Matellus Bennet apparently made the most of his time on the field. Per Daniels:

Bennett was an early standout and favorite target among quarterbacks. With Gronkowski and Edelman out, Bennett caught a team-leading four passes during full-team drills. The big tight end had a highlight reel-type catch over Patrick Chung in the end zone.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

RPT: Dion Lewis 'looking good' in ACL recovery

New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis is steadily making his way back since tearing his left ACL last season.

According to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston, "things are going well.":

Some close to Lewis feel that he's about one month away from being able to play in a game, which naturally means that his availability for the season opener Sept. 11 in Arizona is looking good at this point (assuming no unexpected setbacks).

Lewis tore the ACL on November 8 and underwent surgery 10 days later.

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Patriots file amicus brief in Deflategate case

The New England Patriots' team attorney Daniel L. Goldberg filed an amicus brief in federal court Wednesday on behalf of the team, defending quarterback Tom Brady.

Via the Providence Journal:

[T]he 13-page brief takes several shots at the NFL. The point of the brief is to support Brady’s legal team, which filed for an en banc hearing on Monday, after two judges ruled 2-1 to reinstate the quarterback’s four-game suspension.

"Under the existing 2-1 decision, the Patriots stand to lose their All-Pro quarterback for 25 percent of the upcoming regular season based on a severely flawed process,” Goldberg wrote. “But the impact of the majority opinion is not limited to professional football. It threatens to undermine vital principles governing arbitration of collective bargaining agreements throughout the national economy."

Monday, May 23, 2016

Tom Brady's camp files petition for suspension removal

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s legal camp filed a petition Monday afternoon for a rehearing of his suspension case against the NFL in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.

Via WEEI:

If the court accepts the petition, there would be a stay of Brady’s four-game suspension until the new ruling, and he’d be eligible to play.

If the court chooses not to rehear the case, Brady could petition the U.S. Supreme Court and ask for a stay of the second circuit decision. If the second circuit doesn’t grant a stay, Brady and his lawyers can ask for a stay of the decision from the Supreme Court.

According to legal experts, this kind of decision usually takes about a month.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Best team pick-ups this offseason include Gase, Lawson

Not all great offseason roster work is done at the draft.

The NFL Nation crew at ESPN compiled a list Monday of the best offseason acquisitions for each team, with only one draft pick chosen for the four teams in the AFC East — Shaq Lawson, Buffalo's No. 1 overall selection.

For the Patriots, it is the much-anticipated combination of Rob Gronkowski and newly acquired tight end Martellus Bennett, while Gang Green's value grab of offensive tackle Ryan Clady for a fifth-round draft pick filled a much needed gap after the retirement of D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

Down in South Beach, it isn't a player at all, but the hiring of coach Adam Gase and the hope of some sense of consistency returning to the sideline (and under center).

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Friday, May 13, 2016

Patriots re-sign running back Joey Iosefa

The New England Patriots have brought back running back Joey Iosefa.

The team released the big tailback earlier this month. Iosefa spent almost all of his time with the Patriots on the practice squad since signing last October.

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Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Steward's short stint with Patriots comes to end

The New England Patriots announced Wednesday they released linebacker Tony Steward, who was signed with the team as a free agent last month.

Steward was drafted in the sixth round by the Buffalo Bills last year. He played in seven games in 2015 but finished the year on injured reserve.

Friday, May 6, 2016

Amendola sticks with Pats, once again restructures deal

For the second straight season, New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola is choosing football in January and February over his contract.

The fourth-year wideout agreed to another pay cut Friday, which calls for a maximum of $7.35 million over two years, with an additional $750,000 in incentives and roster bonuses, according to ESPN.

Amendola didn't have much of a leg to stand on in the negotiations, acting as the team's No. 3 receiver and playing only 51 percent of the team's offensive snaps last season.

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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Scarnecchia glad to be back after a 'tough decision'

Dante Scarnecchia needed a break. That break has come and gone.

The veteran New England Patriots offensive line coach returned to the team earlier this year, coming off a two-year retirement.

For the Patriots, it was no-brainer. For Scarnecchia, the decision took some thought. Via the Providence Journal:

"It is a tough decision because you become very used to a very nice lifestyle," Scarnecchia said. "We talked about it, my wife and I, and we decided this would be a good thing on a lot of different levels and as far as the grandkids being able to come to the games for free and just be a part of it all. And I like coaching football. I love coaching football. I didn't retire because I didn't like coaching football. I retired because I got tired of the lifestyle. Two years off, I'm OK."

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Final draft list and grades – New England Patriots

Picks:

No. 60: DB Cyrus Jones, Alabama

No. 78: OT Joe Thuney, N.C. State

No. 91: QB Jacoby Brissett, N.C. State

No. 96: DT Vincent Valentine, Nebraska

No. 112: WR Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia

No. 208: S Kamu Grugier-Hill, Eastern Illinois

No. 214: LB Elandon Roberts, Houston

No. 221: OG Ted Karras, Illinois

No. 225: WR Devin Lucien, Arizona State

---

Grades:

NFL.com: B

Sports Illustrated: C+

CBS Sports: B-

Pro Football Focus: B-

ESPN: C+

Monday, May 2, 2016

Patriots release two defenders

The New England Patriots announced they have released defensive back Rashaan Melvin and linebacker James Vaughters.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Brady suspension ruling upheld; will sit vs. Bills, 'Phins

Barring further appeal or a deal with the league, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will miss the first four games of the 2016-17 season, including two home divisional games, as a federal appeals court upheld Commissioner Roger Goodell's decision Monday and overturned a lower court's decision to throw out the suspension handed down last year.

The 2-1 ruling, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, stated Goodell "properly exercised his broad discretion under the collective bargaining agreement" and "did not deprive Brady of fundamental fairness."

That's good news for the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills, who are slated to face New England in weeks 2 and 4, respectively.

Brady, Gronk among top 10 in 2015-16 player sales

The New England Patriots may not always open their wallets, but their fans certainly do.

The NFLPA released the top 50 player sales list for the 2015-16 season Monday, which is based on total sales of officially licensed merchandise. Three Pats players landed in the top 25, with Tom Brady snagging the top spot.

Rob Gronkowski was No. 8, while wideout Julian Edelman came in at No. 23.

Ryan Tannehill (No. 34) was the first non-Patriot from the division to make an appearance in the top 50, while a pair of Bills (Sammy Watkins, No. 47, and LeSean McCoy, No. 49) snuck in toward the bottom of the list.

Only one Jet — Darrelle Revis — made the cut, coming in at No. 45.

Check out the full list here.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

McCourty: NFL team similar to your boring office job

Starting a new job is stressful.

As a new member of any organization, things like assimilating to your work environment, understanding your role and getting to know your co-workers can be big changes — whether it's in a high-rise office building or on the gridiron.

Veteran defensive back Devin McCourty is well aware of those growing pains, particularly in April as teams typically begin to gel during offseason workouts.

Per the New England Patriots team website:

"I think it’s like any other workplace, the better you know your co-workers personally and as a unit, as a team, as a group, usually you’re able to perform better," McCourty said Thursday. "Your group gets better after you know each other, you can challenge each other, you can help each other out.

"I think we do that now naturally just as guys coming together and lifting and working out. We’re trying to get stronger and faster and all of that so competition helps that. I just think guys naturally start to bond and form together as a group."

Monday, April 18, 2016

Dolphins pick up former Patriots DT Jones off waivers

The Miami Dolphins claimed 25-year-old defensive tackle Chris Jones off of waivers from the New England Patriots Monday.

The 6-2, 302-pounder was claimed by the Patriots in 2013 after failing to make the Houston Texans' roster.

Per the Palm Beach Post, he started 11 games in 2013 and played in another 11 in 2014 but missed last season with a calf injury.

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Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

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Tuesday, June 7, 2016

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Friday, May 13, 2016

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