Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Friday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
Busy Thursday for the Patriots, who added five players in free agency -- defensive back/special teamer Terrence Brooks, wide receiver Bruce Ellington, wide receiver Maurice Harris, tight end Matt LaCosse and defensive lineman Mike Pennel.
For those of you who might be a bit underwhelmed by it all, remember that things started slowly in 2016 as well:
Their first two days of free agency, they signed Ramon Humber and Dane Fletcher retired. The next week? They added Martellus Bennett, Chris Hogan, Chris Long and Shea McClellin, and dealt away Chandler Jones. It doesn't necessarily mean they're going to light up the trade market, or the second phase of free agency. It's just a reminder that when it comes to team-building, it's a long offseason.
Friday's Pro Day slate includes Michigan, Oregon State and Princeton.
Now, on with the links...
1. Greg's offseason primer takes a look at the state of the Patriots' roster, and looks at some of the moves that need to be made.
2. I looked at just about every snap new receivers Maurice Harris and Bruce Ellington have taken over the last year-plus with an eye toward figuring out how they'll fit in the New England passing game.
3. I had Live Coverage humming all day long with updates and analysis on the series of moves the Patriots made, including the loss of Malcom Brown and the addition of the five new faces -- Harris, Ellington, Pennel, LaCosse, and Brooks. (Sounds like a law firm.)
4. Miguel dropped a free-agent heavy mailbag that looked at a bunch of stuff related to the events of the last few days.
5. Greg spent some quality time with the fellas from Felger & Mazz Thursday to talk some free agency.
6. Thought it was interesting the Patriots were in on Cole Beasley and Adam Humphries, but both ended up elsewhere -- Beasley in Buffalo and Humphries in Tennessee. And Golden Tate went to ... the Giants? (Good video though.)
7. So, Jordy Nelson is available. Anyone interested? (We hit on this idea a few days ago.)
8. Cordarrelle Patterson was introduced in Chicago and touched on a bunch of topics, including his work as a running back last year. “I’ll be honest; it wasn’t pretty,” Patterson said. “But when Josh McDaniels asked me, ‘Can you play running back?’ I told him, ‘Hey, man, I can do anything you need me to do.’ I go out there knowing he trusts and believes in me.”
9. Trey Flowers met the media in Detroit and said Matt Patricia was a big reason he signed with the Lions. “He kind of taught me a lot of things, developed me, I developed through his system and things, so he’s just a great guy to work for,” Flowers said. “Obviously, he demands high standards of excellence from his players and when you get somebody that can challenge you like that, day in and day out for you to continue to get better, them are the type of guys you want to play for cause they’re expecting highly of you and they want you to be a success.”
10. As for the rest of the AFC East, Le'Veon Bell met the media in North Jersey, and said he has no regrets about the way the last year all played out. “The decision I made,” Bell told reporters, “I don’t regret anything that happened. Who can I say if I played on a franchise tag, if I do get hurt, do I sit here with the New York Jets with a beautiful deal?”
Extra Point: Trent Brown says farewell to New England.
Dear @Patriots Nation,#SincerelyYours, @Trent pic.twitter.com/lRWxMh8CPm
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) March 14, 2019