Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Wednesday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
Consider Antonio Gates for a second. (You know he played college basketball?)
The legendary tight end was just cut loose by the Chargers. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder will be 38 in June, and is coming off a year where he had 30 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots? Well, they aren't necessarily in the market for a tight end. What they do have is a well-earned rep for signing classic veterans at the end of their careers -- guys who are in the market for a ring, one last shot at glory before riding off into the sunset. And that pretty much is Gates in a nutshell, at least at this stage of his career.
Look, I have no idea if the money would work. I have no clue if he's even interested in continuing to play, how much he wants to play, and how he'd feel about playing for a team on the other side of the country in the cold weather. And this could play havoc with New England's depth chart. (Remember -- the Patriots didn't draft a tight end until late.) It simply feels like the sort of thing that would draw the attention of the Patriots. Ultimately, the idea of Gates putting a topper on his Hall of Fame career with a final season in New England and a chance at a Super Bowl ring just feels like something that should happen.
Now, on with the links…
1. Baker Mayfield, huh? Now that would have made for an eventful draft weekend.
2. Our notebook looks at what it might have taken for the Patriots to land Mayfield. Basically, the sort of draft haul Bill Belichick has never offered before.
3. Miguel says that even in this era of slotted picks, there’s still wiggle room when it comes to rookie contracts.
4. Video: Jeremy Hill talks about his decision to join the Patriots, as well as what it was like to be on the losing end of the famous “On To Cincinnati” game. Not fun.
5. Phil Perry says that when it comes to the Mayfield news, it indeed shows the Patriots were after "the next guy" after all.
6. Tom E. Curran says that when it came to his comments to Jim Gray on Monday, Tom Brady had it both ways.
7. Mike Reiss looks at Brady being allowed to play one more season with his preferred helmet.
8. Per Aaron Wilson, Patriots UDFA running back Ralph Webb is among the highest-paid undrafted free-agent signings in the NFL.
9. In the latest edition of his podcast for "The Ringer," former Patriots exec Mike Lombardi spent some time talking up new Patriots slot receiver Braxton Berrios.
10. According to our friends at Bovada, the Patriots still have the best odds to win Super Bowl LIII.
Extra Point: Stephon Gilmore enjoying some down time. (Is it safe to say he's not one of the guys on the TB12 diet?)
When in Maine you have to try a lobster roll! pic.twitter.com/F9nPjUexWW
— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0re) April 30, 2018