Saturday links: interviews with Bill Belichick, Jerrod Mayo, Danny Watkins and more
Sorry for being a bit late with today's links; happy but tired after 48 hours of watching the Red Sox win, the Bruins OT win giving the one-finger salute to Montreal, the Celtics win to go up 3-0 over New York, and another Red Sox win.
Contrary to the belief of some in the Boston media, Bill Belichick does indeed give interviews leading up to the draft with local reporters. Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald says "as far as Bill Belichick is concerned, the Patriots must arrive at their Gillette Stadium war room on Thursday for the NFL draft with a complete knowledge of every single player after a phone call with the Patriots' coach in his column, Doing Homework Sets Up Bill Belichick's Board.
Belichick also sat down for an interview with Tom Curran of CSNNE which will be broadcast Sunday night at 8:30 during the station's Quick Slants Draft Special; you can read about it now at Belichick: This Is The Best DL Draft Class In Memory.
Jeff Howe of NESN reports that Former Firefighter Danny Watkins To Pay Respects At Ground Zero Before The Draft. The offensive lineman has met and worked out with Dante Scarnecchia and says that it "would be an honor and a pleasure" to be drafted by the Pats, a team that many feel will be targeting Watkins in this draft. Watkins actually worked as a firefighter in his native Canada before becoming a football player and will be bringing some firemen he used to work with to the draft. He seems to be a real high character guy, someone Pats fans would surely love to see on the team.
Howe also takes a look at Jon Baldwin as somebody the Pats might draft as a player who would eventually be the team's primary outside target once Deion Branch moves on.
Mike Reiss of espnBoston Caught Up With Jerod Mayo and talked with the Pats inside linebacker about a variety of topics ranging from his off-season workout plan, to his experience when he was drafted, to thoughts on the changes in coaches on the Patriots defense, and more. Reiss also looks at interior lineman John Moffitt of Wisconsin as a Possible Patriot in next week's draft.
Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post had a Q&A with Ron Brace. The defensive lineman talks his rehab from a season-ending elbow injury, improvement in his play last year, dealing with being labeled a bust early in his career, and some of the charitable work he is doing in the area.
James Varney of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports on why New England Patriots' BenJarvis Green-Ellis will walk the Crescent City Classic, a 10k race that draws about 20,000 participants.
And last but not least, Christopher Price of WEEI reports that the Patriots Work Out A Pair From Cincinnati.
