New England Patriots links 7/20/21 – Pats’ offensive weapons get trashed in rankings; Don’t buy it

Daily news and links for Tuesday

TEAM TALK

• Mike Dussault previews 5 of the most compelling training camp battles to watch: QB, WR, TE, Front seven, Kicker.
• Mike Dussault tackles this week’s Patriots Unfiltered Q&A: Who could breakout in training camp?

LOCAL LINKS

• Alexandra Francisco notes the Patriots finalize joint practices with Eagles and Giants before preseason matchups.
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Patriots Notebook: Rookies back in town, preseason games on NFL Network, Patriots Foundation ddonates to Providence After School Alliance.
• Andrew Callahan talks about why the Patriots special teams could lead the league again.
• Andrew Callahan address 10 questions ahead of training camp: No. 9: Can the Pats’ O-line be the NFL’s best? “Individually, all of the Pats’ starting offensive linemen are above-average to great players. Together, they could be more.”
• Karen Guregian addresses 10 questions ahead of training camp. No. 8: Will the Patriots be able to stop the run? “The answer should be a resounding yes.”
• Ryan Hannable answers who he thinks will start more games at QB for the Patriots, Cam Newton or Mac Jones?
• Khari Thompson relays ESPN analysts who ranked the Patriots as having the NFL’s 8th-best outlook over the next three years, an outlook that largely rides on Mac Jones.
• Matthew Geagan previews the Patriots current crop of wide receivers, which once again is a big mystery heading into the 2021 season.
• Ryan Hannable mentions how ESPN ranks the Pats close to the bottom when it comes to offensive weapons.
• Jlee highlights NFL analyst Louis Riddick sharing his ‘biggest worry’ for the Patriots’ future: The offense in the years to come.
• Evan Lazar counts down his ten most important Patriots in 2021: No. 2, Stephon Gilmore.
• Jaron May tells us Bill Belichick was ranked as No. 1 coach in the NFL by ESPN and SI.
• Mike Reiss catches up with retired safety Patrick Chung talking life after football and his new passion: “Constant chaos” of rugby. Chung is now a part owner in the New England Free Jacks of Major League Rugby.
• Adam London highlights Mohamed Sanu peeling back the curtain on his release from the Patriots. “It was business,” Sanu said. “I mean, I wasn’t going to take a pay cut. I earn what I earn.”
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike and Murph discuss the latest on Stephon Gilmore, the best offseason move at CB, who has the most to prove and the overall outlook at CB in 2021. (35 min.)
• The Gridiron and Beyond podcast: Bob Socci sits down with Nicole Yang to preview training camp. (36 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Adam Rank (NFL.com) State of the 2021 New England Patriots: Bounce-back year for Cam Newton and Co.? 2021 roadmap: The competitive urgency index is HIGH. /Ya think?
• Jeremy Bergman (NFL.com) AFC East training camp preview: Bills must protect Josh Allen; Cam Newton vs. Mac Jones
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Three questions each AFC East team must answer before start of season.
• Kevin Patra (NFL.com) Patrick Chung says telling Bill Belichick he was retiring was ‘hardest conversation I’ve had in a while.’
• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Afternoon QB: Kyler Murray’s pivotal year; Plus, Melvin Ingram and the Steelers’ strategy, Cardale Jones and NIL, Jaguars’ unique rookie deals and more.
• Analysts (NFL.com) NFL’s best quarterbacks – pass rushers – heading into 2021 season? Analysts reveal gold, silver, & bronze picks. No Pats.
• Steve Palazzolo (PFF) Ranking all 32 NFL receiving corps ahead of the 2021 season. Patriots [gulp] 26th.
• Ben Linsey (PFF) Ranking all 32 NFL running back units ahead of the 2021 season. Patriots 14th.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) 2021 NFL Preview: Justin Herbert’s great rookie season changes Chargers’ outlook.
• Nick Wojton (TouchdownWire) Every NFL team to play internationally once every 8 years.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL knows it must reconsider accountability for hiding and faking injuries. /C’mon commish… just come out and admit that gambling is a higher priority than player safety.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) For years, the NFL has been concerned about a federal agency on gambling.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Peyton Manning’s production company agrees to deal with ESPN for alternate MNF broadcasts.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Aaron Rodgers turned down a new contract, but details remain unknown.
• Rob Demovsky (ESPN) Aaron Rodgers-Packers split? From Johnny Unitas to Peyton Manning, history shows it would be nothing new.
• The Touchdown Wire podcast: Doug Farrar talks with NFL analyst Brian Baldinger. (51 min. video)