Wednesday New England Patriots Links 2/16
After a look around the internet this morning, here are today's top stories.
Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald spoke to Patriots offensive lineman and player representative Matt Light, who was at Ticos restaurant in Boston last night for a celebration of the accomplishments over the first 260 days of the Greg Hill Foundation. According to Light things aren't looking good, with the Patriots offensive lineman saying that talks are in a "bad state" right now, and that neither side is close to getting something done before the March 3rd deadline.
“Look, at this point, believe nothing that you hear and none of which you see. I just think it’s a bad state right now,” Light said. “It’s a bunch of people who are arguing over points that have nothing to do with what’s at the heart of the matter. Unfortunately, all the players and fans and everyone that’s affiliated through the NFL in some way and some shape, they’re all being affected by it. And that’s a lot of people. That’s not just the players. That’s not just the owners. That’s a huge industry that’s wrapped around a lot of good people (who) at the end of the day just want to see a deal get done.”
The Herald's "Inside Track" has a photo from the event, which also saw Rob Gronkowski there with Light - although it's definitely not Gronkowksi's best photo and likely one he'd like to have back.
Guregian has an update on kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who is coming along with his rehab but hasn't been given a real timetable yet by the doctors who are overseeing his recovery.
“There’s no real time frame as far as actual kicking a ball. I’ll kick a soccer ball around just to feel the load on my leg,’’ he said. “But to when I start my normal season procedures, I have no idea, because I’m in their hands and doing what they tell me to do. Right now, if I feel like I could go out and kick 100 field goals, it might not be what they feel is best for me. So I just hand it over to the people who know a lot more than me, and do what they say.’’
Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe has a column this morning on the Logan Mankins situation, and feels that the disgruntled offensive lineman should use this to his advantage toward ironing out a long-term deal with the team.
The Salem News reports that a local man from Beverly was responsible for helping create one of the commercials that ran during the Super Bowl. According to the article Ryan McKenna, Beverly High Class of 2000, played a key role in the making of the Super Bowl ad that featured characters from famous TV shows like "The Brady Bunch," "Cheers" and "Seinfeld" decked out in NFL gear.
The Patriot Ledger reports that a former Patriots cheerleader has been arrested on drug charges. According to the newspaper Samantha Baker, who was a cheerleader for New England back in 2002, was arrested along with her boyfriend Vincent Papagno, Quincy Firefighter Patrick J. Ryan and a Bellingham man in Braintree following a three-month investigation. Police reportedly seized 35 pounds of marijuana, steroids, hundreds of pills and more than $7,000 in cash.
Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com has an article on Devin McCourty, who battled through fractured ribs and was left with a bitter taste in how his first NFL season ended.
“Watching the Super Bowl, not being in it, is no fun,” McCourty said Tuesday night at the Patriots Hall of Fame, where he spoke with approximately 150 fans as part of a ticketed event. “You know another season is coming and you know that feeling, so like everybody else, you’ll be working hard to avoid that feeling again.”
Tom Curran also spoke with McCourty, who talked a little bit about the fact that he'll be working with Matt Patricia next season. Patricia is expected to take over the duties that were formerly handled by the recently departed Corwin Brown.
“It will be cool," said McCourty (the corners will still be coached by Josh Boyer). "Matty P is crazy. With the linebackers last year, we were already close to them because the secondary and the linebackers, they have to be on the same page a lot of the time. So having Matty P back there will be cool. The only thing I’m disappointed is that he cut all his hair and his beard off. That was kind of his mojo.”
And finally, be sure and check out this Q&A with our own Russel Goldman speaking to NECN's Mike Giardi. In the piece they discuss a variety of Patriots related topics and it's an interesting read.
That's it for this morning. Hope everyone has a good day and we'll have more later on.
