Monday's New England Patriots Links 5/21

After a busy work weekend it's back at it as we'll be updating the morning links throughout the week as OTA's get underway. Taking a quick look around this morning, here are today's links:

THE SALEM NEWS

For Campers, Wes is more - Jean DePlacido
DePlacido has a good article this morning on the huge crowd Wes Welker's clinic at Bishop Fenwick drew over the weekend, with more than 400 boys and a few girls ages 7-14 taking part in the event.

CBS BOSTON

Roche: Wes Welker 'Excited' to be a Patriot - Dan Roche
Roche has an entry with comments from Welker from his clinic, with the receiver saying he's excited to be back with OTA's set to get underway.

BOSTON HERALD

Welcome to the Blitz - Jeff Howe
In case you didn't know, our good friend Jeff Howe - who was previously NESN's Patriots Beat writer - is starting his first day with the Boston Herald today and this is his first entry as he kicks off "The Blitz", which will replace the "Rap Sheet" as he joins Karen Guregian at the newspaper.

Howe joins Herald staff as Pats beat reporter - Staff
Here is the actual announcement from the newspaper on Howe's addition to their staff.

ESPN BOSTON

What to expect from OTA's - Field Yates
Yates offers up some perspective on what to expect and offers up his insight into how teams handle things during this week as the Patriots get together for the first time as a team today.

Alfonzo Dennard has his backers - Field Yates
Yates has a good story on Dennard, and has comments from his former Nebraska coaches, with Bo Pelini telling him that the incident that took place before the draft with Dennard, "isn't who he is."

Pats pass-catchers reliable, dependable - Field Yates
Yates breaks down the receiver roster and notes some interesting numbers that shows Tom Brady has a pretty reliable group of guys heading into next season.

MASSLIVE

It's time for the Patriots and Wes Welker to stop playing chicken and reach a deal - Nick Underhill
Underhill has a good entry and feels the two sides should just sit down and get a deal done.

CBS SPORTS

Got a (Big) Nickel? You'll need one to combat hybrid offenses this fall - Pat Kirwin
Kirwin has an interesting column on the 'Big Nickel' defense, which was made popular by Bill Belichick a number of years ago. However, he writes it's Belichick's offense that is causing teams to study it closely.

WOONSOCKET CALL

Happy for you, buddy: Pats' QB Mallett elated that Middlebrooks can officially call himself a big leaguer - Brendan McGair
McGair has an article on Mallett, who saw his childhood friend Will Middlebrooks make his big-league debut for the Red Sox earlier this month.

SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE

Seau's Death Hits Home for Another Ex-Patriot - Jimmy Golden
Golden has an article with comments from former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, who talked about his thoughts on Seau's death and said that he's got to be more diligent in how he lives his life, saying, "it's a road I don't want to go down."