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.
A few random thoughts while a nasty cold has me wondering about the advisability of mixing NyQuil and caffeine...
--Love the fact ABC is going to televise some of the combine. Not sure how they're going to rope in casual fans, unless you make it more of a reality show -- try and present some human interest angle with some emotional backstory. (Get Tom Rinaldi and some piano music, and you can make it happen.) But I like it.
--71 days until the draft.
--Getting this question more and more -- I think the only guy the Patriots might try and hit with the franchise tag this time around is Trey Flowers, and even then, I don't think it would be a permanent thing. (And I'll really stress the word might.) But that would be it.
--Good to see another Bay State native reach the NFL coaching ranks. Mike Dawson was hired as the Giants outside linebackers coach. Among his coaching stops: Boston College (2009-11) and UNH (2000-05). A Pepperrell native, he was a three-year starter at linebacker and defensive end from 1995 to 1997 at UMass.
Now, on with the links...
1. Our positional previews roll on with a look at the tight ends.
2. We also break down the offensive line, which was dominant at the perfect time this past season.
3. Carmen Bricillo of Youngstown State is joining the New England coaching staff.
4. Kyle Van Noy told the gang from "Good Morning Football" he wasn't shocked at the Patriots' Super Bowl performance.
5. Stephon Gilmore also spent some quality time with the "GMFB" crew talking about the Super Bowl and his play this past season.
6. Kyler Murray to the Patriots is off the board, at least right now.
7. Jim Harbaugh thinks Michigan needs to build a statue of Tom Brady.
8. Antonio Brown to New England? Jason La Canfora says don't hold your breath.
9. Super Bowl LIII was the second-highest rated Super Bowl in Boston, trailing only Super Bowl XXXVI.
10. Bucky Brooks of NFL.cm says the Patriots' title run can provide some lessons for the rest of the league.
Extra Point:
Check Tom Brady weighing on this photo. Seems he'd like another...#Patriots pic.twitter.com/QhZ0UrrCkN
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) February 12, 2019