Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your day:
--Bill Belichick called an audible on Sunday night and talked to a handful of reporters at the league meetings in Florida. It was notable for a couple of reasons, including the fact that offseason media check-ins are rare for the coach. He tackled a number of topics which we covered here. (Greg also shared his thoughts on his comments.) Bottom line? While the perception is that the winds of change have been swirling around the team, inside Gillette Stadium, it's been business as usual for Belichick and the rest of the franchise.
--Greg will be in attendance the next few days at the league meetings, both at the coaches' breakfast and to get reaction to some of the proposed rules changes. Look for updates here all week.
--Have to mention two birthdays today: one is linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who turns 27. But it's also the 84th birthday of one of the most important players in the history of the franchise, Gino Cappelletti. The 1964 AFL MVP, Gino was a five-time All-Star who played 11 years for the Patriots, and carved out a legacy as one of the greatest players in AFL history. (He was one of just three players to appear in every game in the AFL's history.) A special teams star as a kicker, as well as a defensive back and wide receiver, he led the league in scoring five times. He was named to the Patriots' All-Decade Team for the 1960s, and went on to become a radio and TV analyst before retiring in 2012. When he retired from broadcasting, Belichick offered an impressive tribute, calling him "one of the all-time great players." Happy Birthday, Gino.
--Pro Day schedule for Monday: Arkansas, Baylor, Iowa, South Florida. (No need to keep an eye out for Belichick the next day or two, as he'll be at the meetings. But it wouldn't be a shock to see a Patriots' assistant at any one of these get-togethers -- Arkansas has been a popular spot the last few years.)
Now, on with the links…
1. Belichick talked about a few different things on Sunday night at the league meetings, including Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Malcolm Butler and Josh McDaniels. The biggest takeaway? As Greg notes, it’s the Brady stuff. But at the end of the day, the whole thing should come as something of a positive for Patriots fans. (For what it's worth, it sounds like Robert Kraft will speak with reporters on Monday.)
2. My NFL Notebook from Sunday tackles a bunch of different topics, including four guys who can’t wait for the start of the offseason workout program, the fact that the preseason schedule should be out sooner rather than later, and a look at the available free-agent All-Stars.
3. Duron Harmon was detained for an incident involving marijuana in Costa Rica on Friday, and later issued an apology.
4. Greg had an epic Friday afternoon Q&A that went on for a long time.
5. Offensive tackle Cameron Fleming is gone, off to the Cowboys.
6. Loved the nugget Mike Reiss had at the start of his weekend notebook on the relationship between Stephon Gilmore and Mike Haynes.
7. Fun "Exit Interview" that the MMQB did with Danny Woodhead as he calls it a career, including some good stuff about his time with the Patriots. "My three years there seems like it was longer than three years, because a lot of people remember me (playing) there," he said.
8. A quick Monday-morning pass around the AFC East:
--The Jets pulled their offer to Ndamukong Suh.
--Buffalo's Sean McDermott said his first year as a head coach was like "drinking from a big fire hose."
--And the Dolphins are making contingency plans when it comes to the possibility of losing out on one of the top four quarterbacks in the draft.
Extra Point:
I’ve decided to move on from the world of football and into the fantastical and wondrous world of creativity. I’m beginning what I believe to be my life’s work @ImaginationAgcy pic.twitter.com/7asa7ARXZX
— Martellus Bennett (@MartysaurusRex) March 24, 2018