TRAINING CAMP COUNTDOWN: 1 day until Patriots training camp
Big news out of Foxboro this morning, with Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reporting that Patriots first round draft pick Devin McCourty finally came to terms on a contract. His agent, Andy Simms, confirmed the signing with Mike Reiss - with McCourty signing a 5-year deal with the team. This now puts all 12 draft picks under contract heading into tomorrow's start of training camp.
Albert Breer of the Boston Globe takes a look at the fact the Patriots are being extra careful with wide receiver Wes Welker, with Belichick likely taking no chances on potentially losing him prior to the start of this season.
The Boston Herald's Karen Guregian also takes a look at the fact that Welker's taking it easy to start the year, which she felt Belichick made a "prudent" choice with his decision.
Glenn Farley has a story this morning on Punter Zoltan Mesko, who should give the Patriots a much needed boost in field position compared to the departed Chris Hanson.
Mark Farinella of the Attleboro Sun Times takes a look at Tom Brady's contract situation and wonders, how much will be enough for Brady to reach a deal with New England.
Shalise Manza Young has more in today's edition of the Boston Globe on Belichick's decision to place Wes Welker and Shawn Crable on the active PUP list before start of training camp. Lost in the mix is the fact that rookie Kade Weston is on there, but Welker and Crable being the veterans are the reason why the two are obviously grabbing so much attention. Crable being on their caught the eye of every Patriots fan who is starting to lose faith in the former Michigan standout.
Michael Hurley of NESN.com confirms what all of us hoped this morning, and that's the fact that New England never really pursued free agent receiver Terrell Owens. Owens signed with Cincinnati yesterday, making the week one matchup here in Foxboro just that much more interesting.
WEEI.com's Jerry Thornton has an entertaining read, with his confessions of being a Patriots training camp o' holic.
Former Oakland Raider safety Jack Tatum passed away at the age of 61 yesterday, and in a candid interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub former Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan had a hard time finding anything nice to say about the former Raider. For anyone who doesn't know it was Tatum who delivered a blow to Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley during a 1978 exhibition game that left him paralyzed. Stingley passed away back on April 5, 2007.
"There's not too many people that I can't find something nice to say about when this kind of situation arises," said Grogan in one part of the interview. "Unfortunately, Jack Tatum is one guy I can't find anything nice to say about. It bothers me that I feel that way, but, to never apologize to Darryl, to try to make money off the whole situation, never show any regret or remorse ... this is a man that wasn't a good person."
It's an interesting interview to say the least, and one you definitely should take a moment to listen to.
In case you missed it, Belichick is taking an interesting step this season with all the new players coming in. According to wide receiver Troy Brown, the Patriots head coach is stripping out all the "Glory Days" images of past New England players who helped the team win three championships, with Brown telling Tom Curran of Comcast Sports New England that he wants these new guys to find their own identity.
OTHER NFL HEADLINES:
The New York Post has an article on Derrelle Revis, who they feel the Jets owe a new contract and shouldn't have been wasting time making a phone call to inquire on Terrell Owens prior to him signing in Cincinnati.
Michael Hurley takes a look at SI's Power Rankings and feels that the Jets have no business being in the number one spot.
Out in Oakland former Patriot Richard Seymour made some friends by riding the rookie bus with his new teammates, which is something the Sacramento Bee is calling a "classy move" by the veteran defensive lineman.
That's it for this morning. Hope everyone has a good day and we'll have more later on.
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