{"id":11724,"date":"2017-05-28T05:00:01","date_gmt":"2017-05-28T09:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=11724"},"modified":"2017-05-27T11:57:49","modified_gmt":"2017-05-27T15:57:49","slug":"11724","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2017\/05\/28\/11724\/","title":{"rendered":"New England Patriots News 5-28, AFC East Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, here are your\u00a0Sunday\u2019s Patriots news 5-28, & AFC East Notes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From all us here at PatsFans.com, we hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend. We’ll be paying homage to our veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice, our true heroes on Sunday morning at a church service. And then the annual parade on Monday. Any of our readers out there who are veterans we salute you, especially those Gold Star families.<\/p>\n

We applaud the NFL for coming to its collective senses and putting a stop to the ridiculous penalties for celebrating a touchdown and easing the rules on that a bit in 2017. Isn\u2019t that the point of the game, to score? Players can once again use the ball as a prop in their end zone celebratory choreography.<\/p>\n

The other interesting development this year is the cutting of the overtime period from 15 to 10 minutes. Ushered in under the \u201cplayers\u2019 safety\u201d mantra, it was also done to shorten the games and encourage teams to be a bit more aggressive in the extra session. We\u2019ll see how that turns out, but it will be intriguing to see how the second development is game planned by coaches this season.<\/p>\n

Clayborn Gets the Call\u2026and About Time:<\/strong>
\nThe Patriots fan voters have spoken and CB Raymond Clayborn will be the newest inductee into the team\u2019s Hall of Fame this summer. Clayborn played for the Pats for 13 seasons (1977-1989), was named to three Pro Bowls and is tied for the team\u2019s all-time lead in interceptions (36) with Ty Law.<\/p>\n

Drafted in the first round (#16 overall) in the 1977 NFL Draft, Clayborn teamed with Mike Haynes to give the Patriots a tremendous starting tandem at corner. Clayborn was a member of the Patriots All-1970s Team, the Pats ALL-1980s Team and the Patriots 35th<\/sup> Anniversary Team. He also set the team record with 161 consecutive starts, so he was always healthy and on the field.<\/p>\n

Congratulations to Clayborn, we look forward to seeing him presented his red jacket this August by owner Robert Kraft.<\/p>\n

Brady Fired up for practice? Now There\u2019s a Surprise:
\n<\/strong>Phil Perry from CSNNE reported on Thursday\u2019s OTA session that Tom Brady was very fired up for the session and that he celebrated a late practice touchdown to reserve RB D.J. Foster as if it was a January playoff contest. That should surprise no one.<\/p>\n

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Tom Brady didn’t let another Super Bowl win temper his fiery competitiveness even in OTAs this week. (SBalestrieri photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

When Brady steps into the building at Gillette, he\u2019s got laser focus and is as competitive as they come, something Brandin Cooks remarked on after the session. That\u2019s part of the reason the Patriots and Brady have been so successful. The work that they put in and the attention to detail on the practice fields of May, June, and July, will win games in November and December.<\/p>\n

Of course, maybe the weather from Thursday\u2019s session just made Brady think it was January as the cool, raw, rainy weather from last week belied the fact that we\u2019re in the end of May instead of January.<\/p>\n

Butler Taking the High\u2026and Smart Road:
\n<\/strong>The media crowded around Patriots CB Malcolm Butler, it was after all the first time anyone\u2019s had the opportunity to speak with him since his much-ballyhooed contract situation resulted in him signing his one-year $3.91million-dollar tender. But if anyone expected Butler to pass on \u201cvoluntary\u201d OTAs, they were sadly mistaken. Butler, as he has been in his entire, albeit brief career is all in for 2017.<\/p>\n

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Malcolm Butler speaks with the Patriots media after spring practice. (SBalestrieri photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t going to hurt nobody but myself if I missed this,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is time to get better. That\u2019s what I\u2019m out here to do. Get better. Have another great year. Anything to help the team. Present a positive image. Whatever happens, happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m here. This is my team,\u201d he added. \u201cIgnore the noise. Keep working no matter what. You\u2019ve got a job to do no matter where you\u2019re at. I\u2019m glad to be here to do this job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gronkowski is a Healthy Participant:<\/strong>
\nAnother bit of good news this spring are the pictures of Rob Gronkowski, seemingly fully healed up from last season\u2019s back surgery that landed him on IR, running routes and catching passes high up over defenders. A healthy Gronk is always a good sign for the offense and he makes this unit offensive unit even more dangerous.<\/p>\n

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Rob Gronkowski is apparently healthy and ready to roll…with a new contract in 2017. (SBalestrieri photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

With him being seen seemingly everywhere this spring, including a new video where he\u2019s obviously enjoying himself, it is another good sign that he\u2019s healthy and ready to go this summer. \u00a0The Patriots also re-did Gronkowski\u2019s contract. With incentives reached, he could increase his salary from $5.25 million dollars to $10.75 million. The money breaks down as follows:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • NE shells out a $10.75 million payout if Gronkowski records 90 percent playing time, 80 catches, 1,200 receiving yards, or is named to the All-Pro team.<\/li>\n
  • That drops to $8.75 million if Gronkowski totals 80 percent play time, 70 catches, 1,000 receiving yards, or 12 touchdowns.<\/li>\n
  • And lastly, $6.75 million if Gronkowski hits the marks of 70 percent playing time, 60 receptions, 800 receiving yards, or 10 touchdowns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    By the nature of his playing style, Gronkowski has had issues staying on the field. He\u2019s averaged 73 catches for 1108 yards and 12 TDs over the course of 16 games in his NFL career. The Patriots would probably love to be forced into paying him option #1 in 2017 with a big year and playing in 90 percent of the snaps.<\/p>\n

    Welcome to New England Andrew Hawkins:<\/strong>
    \nNew Patriots wide receiver Andrew Hawkins was at OTAs this week. The diminutive 31-year old veteran wide receiver may have a tough road to make the roster but he\u2019s already made the Patriots All-Star social media post of the offseason. Check out this hilarious post.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Back to Work #Patriots<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/u7DeEPXekH<\/a><\/p>\n

    \u2014 Andrew Hawkins (@Hawk) May 24, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n