Weekend Links

Here are some links to stories regarding the Patriots over the last couple of days that you may enjoy reading.

The NFL Players Association released a statement on the re-election of DeMaurice Smith as their Executive Director, and Dominique Foxworth being elected President of the NFLPA. Among those newly elected to their Executive Committee are Pats LT Matt Light and former Pats TE Ben Watson. RG Brian Waters was also re-elected to the committee, while former Patriot Mike Vrabel is one of four that is no longer part of that group.

Mike Loyko at NEPatriotsDraft published his latest mock draft, with the Pats focusing on defense by selecting DL Devon Still, DL Kendall Reyes and OLB Shea McClellin with their first three picks. The 32-team version of this mock can be found here. The site also has its 2012 Patriots Roster Projection.

Hector Longo of the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune likes the moves the Patriots have made, stockpiling more weapons for Tom Brady's career stretch run - and gets in some wishful thinking about what happens to Peyton Manning in Denver.

While on the subject of Brandon Lloyd, Glen Farley of the Quincy Patriot Ledger writes that Lloyd's signing goes a long ways toward answering what ails the Patriots, comparing their start of free agency to dinking and dunking before going deep by signing Jonathan Fanene, Steve Gregory and Lloyd last Saturday. Mike Reiss says signing Brandon Lloyd is a big splash in what had been a quiet free agency and that Bill Belichick's master plan makes the Patriots roster deeper and more competitive; not surprisingly the Boston Globe's Tony Massarotti has a passive aggressive disapproval of the moves by the Patriots, concluding that it remains far too difficult to discern whether the Patriots are better - or worse. The Eagle-Tribune's Bill Burt points out that though the free agency additions help, the Patriots still have big holes to fill - specifically an edge rusher, a semi-shutdown cornerback, and a running back that can control the 4th quarter.

Tom Curran says that Lloyd gives the Patriots a receiver with plenty of fight; he also writes about a closer look at the 12-men penalty proposal spurred on by SB46, how Welker extension talks could happen this week, and owner Woody Johnson claiming the trade for Tim Tebow was strictly a football decision by the Jets.

While on the subject of Tebow, what did John Clayton, Mark Schlereth, Mike Klis and all the others that were so sure the Patriots would trade for the former Florida Gator have to say about his not landing in Foxboro?

Christopher Price from WEEI has a detailed analysis on what will the Patriots accomplishments in free agency mean for them in free agency. It's a pretty good breakdown worth reading; he also takes a closer look at what Chad Ochocinco's restructured deal means.

The Boston Globe's Shalise Manza Young has Tom Brady restructuring his contract, saving the Patriots $7.2m against the 2012 salary cap and colleague Greg Bedard writes that Robert Kraft hinted at Matt Light's retirement. From today's paper Bedard has an in-depth assessment of new depth players for the Patriots. It is an excellent article that touches on why the Pats targeted secondary players early, profiles on the new players, what Tim Tebow means to the Jets and Mark Sanchez, future salary caps, Warren Sapp running his mouth, and much more.

For more, follow on Twitter @AllThingsPats