Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Tuesday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
--It'll be a different sort of Tuesday around Gillette, as the Patriots -- who usually have the day off -- will be back in after taking a Victory Monday to start prep for the Chiefs and the AFC title game. No practice, but we'll get availability before the on-field work begins on Wednesday.
--It was revealed Monday Clete Blakeman is going to be the referee for Sunday's AFC title game. Blakeman has a bit of a history with the Patriots -- he was the lead official in a memorable Monday Night game a few years back that featured a non-call on Carolina's Luke Kuechly at the end of regulation. (The decision not to throw a flag caused Tom Brady to follow Blakeman off the field at the end of the game.) This will mark his second New England game of the season -- he was the referee for the Week 3 loss to the Lions. In an odd twist, this will mark Blakeman's second straight AFC title game, as he was the ref for last year's Patriots-Jaguars game. (For what it's worth, Blakeman was the first person to congratulate Brady after New England's win in that one.)
--Pat Mahomes was six years old when Brady won his first Super Bowl in 2002.
--Greg is going to be on with Felger & Mazz Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. Listen live here.
Tuesday’s Schedule
1:45 p.m.: Conference Call with Bill Belichick
2:30-3:15 p.m.: Approximate time for player availability (locker room) and Matthew Slater (media workroom)
Now, on with the links...
1. I talked with Julian Edelman's college coach, Doug Martin, who shared some of Edelman's backstory, as well as the secret to his success. “All our players now ask me all the time what it was like coaching him,” Martin told me. “I tell them one thing: His desire to win is so much bigger than his desire to be liked.”
2. Another epic edition of Overreaction Monday is in the books. A ton of great questions and hopefully a few decent answers. Check out the transcript here.
3. Spent some quality time with Amy Lawrence of CBS Sports Radio on Monday morning talking Patriots-Chargers and what lies ahead for New England.
4. Here are the transcripts from Monday's conference calls with Belichick, Josh McDaniels and Steve Belichick.
5. Mike Reiss talks with Edelman, whose season is still ascending after a rocky start.
6. Our pal Judy Battista of NFL Media says despite the best wishes of just about everyone else across the league, "the Patriots are alive, like the cliched movie monster you can't quite kill off."
7. Ian O'Connor of ESPN warns folks to never bury Brady and the Patriots.
8. It's going to be cold Sunday in Kansas City. Really cold.
9. Andy Reid said Eric Berry's status for the AFC title game is day-to-day at this point. Meanwhile, Sammy Watkins is feeling good after Saturday's win.
10. When it comes to his history of playoff meltdowns, Reid is trying to change the narrative this postseason.
Extra Points:
The #1 and #2 seeds made the Conference Championship in both the AFC and NFC.
It's the first time since 2015 (@Broncos ,@Patriots, @Panthers, @AZCardinals ) that the top 2 seeds have accomplished this feat.@NFL
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 14, 2019
Drew Brees and Tom Brady will each be at least 15 years older than Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes. It will be the 2 largest age gaps between starting QBs in conference championship history. pic.twitter.com/gtKzak8sx2
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 15, 2019