Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New England PatriotsAlmost 16 weeks removed from offseason surgery on a nagging high ankle sprain that dramatically altered his first season with the , receiver 's recovery is going better than anticipated."I would tell you he's probably faster, quicker, leaner and in better shape now than prior to the surgery," said Hilton Alexander, who is in his third offseason working with Sanu in Atlanta. "I would say he's way ahead of any doctor's knowledge or prediction where he would have been at this point. Way ahead of the curve."That is ideal news for...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New England PatriotsAlmost 16 weeks removed from offseason surgery on a nagging high ankle sprain that dramatically altered his first season with the , receiver 's recovery is going better than anticipated."I would tell you he's probably faster, quicker, leaner and in better shape now than prior to the surgery," said Hilton Alexander, who is in his third offseason working with Sanu in Atlanta. "I would say he's way ahead of any doctor's knowledge or prediction where he would have been at this point. Way ahead of the curve."That is ideal news for...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New England PatriotsQuick-hit thoughts and notes around the and NFL:1. Thuney and the tag: When Patriots starting left guard was surprisingly , he signed it almost immediately. Thuney was the first of 14 tagged NFL players to sign and there was an obvious reason for him to do so. It is an excellent contract -- one year, $14.78 million.The Patriots made Thuney the second highest-paid guard in the NFL, securing his financial future while also setting him up to hit free agency in 2021, where he could hit the bonanza.Player, Pos.TeamSigned tag?,...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New England PatriotsQuick-hit thoughts and notes around the and NFL:1. Thuney and the tag: When Patriots starting left guard was surprisingly , he signed it almost immediately. Thuney was the first of 14 tagged NFL players to sign and there was an obvious reason for him to do so. It is an excellent contract -- one year, $14.78 million.The Patriots made Thuney the second highest-paid guard in the NFL, securing his financial future while also setting him up to hit free agency in 2021, where he could hit the bonanza.Player, Pos.TeamSigned tag?,...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Quarterback has shared how motivated he is to prove doubters wrong through social media posts, but one topic he hadn't addressed prior to this week was the unique position he's in of possibly replacing six-time Super Bowl champion with the .Newton referred to it as "the elephant in the room.""You know who [you're] coming after? I'm like, yeah, great. What he was, what he is, is great, needs no even talking about it," Newton said. "But one thing about it, though: Coach [Josh] McDaniels, you're able to call some stuff that you ain't ever been able...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Quarterback has shared how motivated he is to prove doubters wrong through social media posts, but one topic he hadn't addressed prior to this week was the unique position he's in of possibly replacing six-time Super Bowl champion with the .Newton referred to it as "the elephant in the room.""You know who [you're] coming after? I'm like, yeah, great. What he was, what he is, is great, needs no even talking about it," Newton said. "But one thing about it, though: Coach [Josh] McDaniels, you're able to call some stuff that you ain't ever been able...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The have settled compensation grievances with Antonio Brown and Aaron Hernandez over the past week, which creates notable salary-cap space for the team, league sources told ESPN.The Patriots had owed wide receiver Brown $9 million, and as part of the settlement he will instead receive $5 million, per sources.The settlement is notable, as some experts viewed the Patriots' chances of recouping any money as low. The Patriots gave Brown a $9 million signing bonus on Sept. 7, and half of it was to be paid on Sept. 23, three days after they cut him....…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>The have settled compensation grievances with Antonio Brown and Aaron Hernandez over the past week, which creates notable salary-cap space for the team, league sources told ESPN.The Patriots had owed wide receiver Brown $9 million, and as part of the settlement he will instead receive $5 million, per sources.The settlement is notable, as some experts viewed the Patriots' chances of recouping any money as low. The Patriots gave Brown a $9 million signing bonus on Sept. 7, and half of it was to be paid on Sept. 23, three days after they cut him....WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New England PatriotsQuick-hit thoughts and notes around the and NFL:1. QB workouts set the stage: The quarterback battle in New England is on.One of the more intriguing aspects of the past week had remaining in Los Angeles while throwing to newly signed Patriots receiver (among others), while and were on the opposite coast in Massachusetts alongside starting center , throwing to receivers and , running back and rookie tight end , among others.The dueling sessions shine a spotlight on a most intriguing storyline for the 2020 Patriots -- the...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New England PatriotsQuick-hit thoughts and notes around the and NFL:1. QB workouts set the stage: The quarterback battle in New England is on.One of the more intriguing aspects of the past week had remaining in Los Angeles while throwing to newly signed Patriots receiver (among others), while and were on the opposite coast in Massachusetts alongside starting center , throwing to receivers and , running back and rookie tight end , among others.The dueling sessions shine a spotlight on a most intriguing storyline for the 2020 Patriots -- the...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>owner Robert Kraft has put his Super Bowl LI championship ring up for bid to benefit the All In Challenge, which aims to be the largest digital fundraiser in history by raising tens of millions of dollars to feed those in need.The winner also will receive a personal visit with Kraft in his Gillette Stadium office, with the team sending its private plane to bring to town the new owner of the ring if he or she is not within driving distance."What could I do that would be special? I've been thinking about it for weeks," Kraft said in a video posted...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>owner Robert Kraft has put his Super Bowl LI championship ring up for bid to benefit the All In Challenge, which aims to be the largest digital fundraiser in history by raising tens of millions of dollars to feed those in need.The winner also will receive a personal visit with Kraft in his Gillette Stadium office, with the team sending its private plane to bring to town the new owner of the ring if he or she is not within driving distance."What could I do that would be special? I've been thinking about it for weeks," Kraft said in a video posted...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New England PatriotsQuick-hit thoughts and notes around the and NFL:1. Ready to seize his chance: Becoming a starting quarterback in the NFL is hard enough. Filling the void created by 's free-agent departure makes it that much harder. is the leading candidate to fill that role, and his former coach, Auburn's Gus Malzahn, believes he has the makeup to succeed.»»»»»"It definitely helped him to learn under the best and see what that looks like, but he's the kind of young man, too, this is what he's been waiting on. I'll tell you, the moment won't...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New England PatriotsQuick-hit thoughts and notes around the and NFL:1. Ready to seize his chance: Becoming a starting quarterback in the NFL is hard enough. Filling the void created by 's free-agent departure makes it that much harder. is the leading candidate to fill that role, and his former coach, Auburn's Gus Malzahn, believes he has the makeup to succeed.»»»»»"It definitely helped him to learn under the best and see what that looks like, but he's the kind of young man, too, this is what he's been waiting on. I'll tell you, the moment won't...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the and NFL:1. Vinatieri among kickers for Patriots to scout: Bill Belichick will turn 68 on Thursday, and while he adopts a "Younger Next Year" approach, he also has been reminded of his football longevity on parts of the scouting trail.Consider this unique story: Belichick's team has a notable vacancy at kicker, and one of the rookies for him to assess before this year's is South Dakota State's .Does the last name ring a bell?Chase Vinatieri was in the stands when his uncle, , also a South Dakota State alum,...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the and NFL:1. Vinatieri among kickers for Patriots to scout: Bill Belichick will turn 68 on Thursday, and while he adopts a "Younger Next Year" approach, he also has been reminded of his football longevity on parts of the scouting trail.Consider this unique story: Belichick's team has a notable vacancy at kicker, and one of the rookies for him to assess before this year's is South Dakota State's .Does the last name ring a bell?Chase Vinatieri was in the stands when his uncle, , also a South Dakota State alum,...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>wide receiver will not be prosecuted after being cited by police for misdemeanor vandalism in January, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.Edelman had been arrested Jan. 11 in Beverly Hills, one week after the Patriots' season ended in a wild-card loss to the . The 33-year-old jumped on the hood of a vehicle at approximately 9 p.m. PT, causing damage, according to police.The owner of the vehicle told the district attorney's office that he has been fully compensated for the repair costs. According to an official filing,...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>wide receiver will not be prosecuted after being cited by police for misdemeanor vandalism in January, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.Edelman had been arrested Jan. 11 in Beverly Hills, one week after the Patriots' season ended in a wild-card loss to the . The 33-year-old jumped on the hood of a vehicle at approximately 9 p.m. PT, causing damage, according to police.The owner of the vehicle told the district attorney's office that he has been fully compensated for the repair costs. According to an official filing,...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Former NFL MVP has reached an agreement on a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the , league sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. ‬‪Newton now will step into the mix to try to help replace former Patriots signal-caller , who left to join the in free agency. The Patriots did not select a quarterback in April's draft, with 2019 fourth-round pick and 11-year veteran atop the depth chart.A source familiar with the Patriots' thinking said the agreement with Newton was appealing to the team as a low-risk, high-reward situation,...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Former NFL MVP has reached an agreement on a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the , league sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. ‬‪Newton now will step into the mix to try to help replace former Patriots signal-caller , who left to join the in free agency. The Patriots did not select a quarterback in April's draft, with 2019 fourth-round pick and 11-year veteran atop the depth chart.A source familiar with the Patriots' thinking said the agreement with Newton was appealing to the team as a low-risk, high-reward situation,...WW…