New England Patriots links 8/16/21 – Depth check, roster cuts entering preseason Week 2

Daily news and links for Monday

TEAM TALK

• Training Camp: Practice times announced for Patriots-Eagles, Giants joint practices.
• Patriots released D/TE Rashod Berry, WR Marvin Hall and TE David Wells.
• Patriots claim ratings win in first game of 2021 season.
• Mike Dussault’s Camp Notebook: Pats’ veteran defenders sharing experience. It’s strange to think the Pats D spent last season without Hightower and Van Noy, who have slipped right back into their operating style like 2020 never happened, bringing back an invaluable mountain of experience and perspective.
• Press Conference transcript: Bill Belichick.
• Press Conferences: Bill Belichick – Ronnie Perkins – Kyle Dugger – David Andrews – Dont’a Hightower – Kendrick Bourne.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Matt Judon brings ‘attitude and toughness’ to New England; QB update; Agholor’s speed; More.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots Sunday news: Newcomers shine in preseason debut; J.J. Taylor: The Patriots’ diminutive but exciting running back always seems to have fans on the edge of his seat every time he touches the ball. Running back coach Ivan Fears, who is a notoriously hard grader, calls Taylor “Little Dion” (see above) and although he may be considered on the bubble this season, there should be a home for him, as well as a role in 2021; More.
• Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: Would Cam Newton be open to being Patriots’ backup quarterback?
• Karen Guregian’s NFL Notes: Do the Patriots need elite quarterback play to succeed? More.
• Andrew Callahan posts his practice observations from Sunday’s shorts and shells session: The Patriots held a morning practice before traveling to Philadelphia for two joint sessions with the Eagles. Play of the day: Newton reunites with Agholor deep; More.
• Zack Cox shares his training camp participation notes, Day 13: Chase Winovich makes debut; Hunter Henry (shoulder) and David Andrews (hand) also returned; Nelson Agholor (undisclosed) and Brandon Bolden also returned after sitting out Thursday’s game.
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Following an off-day on Saturday, the Patriots returned to the field on Sunday morning (August 15) for a training camp practice tune-up; More.
• Alex Barth’s training camp notebook: Deep ball driven Day 13.
• Andrew Callahan finds WR Kendrick Bourne excited for Eagles joint practices after spurning them in free agency.
• Evan Lazar’s Patriots roster projection 3.0: Will the Patriots keep WR N’Keal Harry? he Patriots must cut their 90-man roster down to 85 players by Tuesday’s deadline.
• Phil Perry puts together his latest 53-man roster projection: CB room gets tweaked, More.
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Patriots 53-man roster projection, Episode II. Surprise cut at RB, bold step at special teams; More.
• Andrew Lykins (FullPressCoverage) Patriots roster bubble: Offensive edition.
• Murph (E2GSports) Patriots offense puts four quarters in the rearview mirror.
• Murph (E2GSports) New England’s defense could be scary.
• Evan Lazar’s Advanced Stats Report: Pats rookies Mac Jones, Ronnie Perkins stand out in preseason debuts.
• Tom E. Curran feels the Patriots’ switch from Newton to Jones is creeping ever closer.
• Clare Cooper (PatsPropaganda) There was some heat in Foxborough, and it wasn’t just the weather!
• Mike D’Abate writes about rookie RB Rhamondre Stevenson’s big night and its impact on his role with Patriots.
• Zack Cox lays out how Matt Judon showed off his versatility and playmaking potential in one three-play span.
• Logan Smith notes it’s not often Bill Belichick raves about individual players but Jonnu Smith impresses by doing just about everything well.
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Harvey Langi is no stranger to defying long odds; Hopes to make Patriots roster.
• Zack Cox notes Ronnie Perkins is looking to carry Jerod Mayo’s ‘legacy’ in wearing No. 51. ‘To wear that number, you’ve got to go out there and knock their heads off playing fast’.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Best of Social Media: Preseason Week 1 Washington vs New England.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Cam Newton on Instagram: ‘Loyalty, I deserve it’.
• Zack Cox passes along a positive update on Jonnu Smith’s ankle ailment: Smith reportedly avoided serious injury during Sunday’s training camp practice.
• Michael Hurley notes Bill Belichick goes deep when explaining all involved elements of long passes.
• Logan Mullen NFL Rumors: Patriots continue trimming the roster, cut veteran OL Jerald Hawkins who they signed last month.
• Nick Goss highlights Drew Bledsoe offering an interesting take on the Pats’ QB competition.
• Zack Cox’s Patriots Mailbag: Who’s on the bubble ahead of the first roster deadline?
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Patriots Mailbag: Stevenson, Harry, walking wounded and more.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) Former Patriots RB Dion Lewis retiring from the NFL.
• Patriots Fourth and Two podcast: Overreaction Sunday. Russ Goldman, Steve Balestrieri and Derek Havens discuss. (63 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: Cancer helped Ron Rivera find his voice, including on the COVID-19 Vaccine; Plus, training camp trip updates on Joe Burrow, Brandon Staley and Matthew Stafford, and much more.
• Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA: ‘Some things are better left unsaid’ — Aaron Rodgers takes Zen approach at Packers training camp; More.
• Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Scout’s Notebook: Top five pass-rushing duos in the NFL; plus, is Dwayne Haskins the Steelers’ QB1 of the future?
• Jesse Pantuosco (AudacySports) Bill Belichick was no fan of Ron Rivera’s late timeout.
• Tim Kelly (AudacySports) Why isn’t Bill Belichick in Madden NFL 22?
• Sam Monson (PFF) NFL Preseason Week 1 Recap: New England Patriots 22, Washington Football Team 13. Josh Uche is a chess piece on defense.
• Sam Monson (PFF) Mac Jones passes Patriots’ initial tests in 2021 NFL preseason debut.
• Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) 2021 NFL Preseason Week 1: Which rookies shined and which disappointed in their NFL debuts?
• NFL Nation (ESPN) NFL preseason Week 1 updates and schedule: Justin Fields thrives in debut with Bears, Bridgewater returns to Minnesota as a Bronco.
• Around the NFL (NFL.com) 2021 NFL preseason, Week 1: What we learned from Saturday’s games.
• Staff (ESPN) Veteran NFL running back Dion Lewis to announce retirement, source says.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) As first wave of roster cuts loom, will vaccination rates fall?
• Jenny Vrentas (SI) The problems with the NFL’s Deshaun Watson investigation. ‘This woman asked me what I was wearing’
• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) A grand jury investigation has been launched into complaints against Deshaun Watson.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) No timetable for resolution of Deshaun Watson criminal complaints.