Daily news and links for Friday
TEAM TALK
- Patriots-Cardinals updated Injury Report.
- Mike Dussault spotlights 10 to Watch in this week’s Patriots-Cardinals matchup in Arizona.
- Mike Dussault’s Patriots Notebook: Can Wallace provide a late-season boost?
- Press Conferences: Alex Van Pelt – DeMarcus Covington – Mike Pellegrino, Dont’a Hightower, Brian Belichick.
- Patriots Unfiltered on TV: Paul Perillo, Mike Dussault, and Tamara Brown talk about the Patriots road game in Arizona vs the Cardinals in Week 15. (22 min. video)
- One-on-One with Hunter Henry. (3 min. video)
- Community: Patriots celebrate 31st annual children’s holiday party. (1 min. video)
- Patriots Catch-22: Evan Lazar and Alex Barth’s Cardinals preview, draft talk, final four; More. (2 hours)
- Patriots Unfiltered: Cardinals preview, Week 15 NFL picks. (2 hours)
LOCAL LINKS
- Taylor Kyles’ Scouting Report: Keys to the Patriots bouncing back vs the Cardinals. 1. Contain Kyler Murray.
- Murph is back with his Week 15 Monster Keys to a Patriots’ victory in the desert. 1. Stuff that run.
- Andrew Callahan’s Friday Week 15 Thoughts: Bill Belichick’s contract perks, Drake Maye’s 2 special traits and more.
- Danny Jaillet tells us the announcers for Pats-Cards: Tom McCarthy will have the play-by-play duties, while Jay Feely and Ross Tucker handle the analysis.
- Doug Kyed tells us how the Patriots are explaining the cause behind the defense lagging behind in the rebuild.
- Lauren Campbell updates the practice report: CB Marcus Jones (illness) returns to practice while core special teamer Jaylinn Hawkins absent (illness).
- Doug Kyed relays Alex Van Pelt on the multiple factors involved that have been limiting rookie WR Ja’Lynn Polk.
- Mark Daniels reports Cole Strange says he’s ready to play in a game – and try a new position.
- Sara Marshall notes Rodney Harrison takes back his initial impressions of Drake Maye. “The first thing is that I’ve seen some things from Drake Maye that have surprised me. He’s better than I anticipated. I like the kid’s personality. I like his demeanor. He has this quiet competitiveness about him. He’s a lot better athlete than I thought.”
- Alex Barth mentions top wide receiver prospect Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) declares for 2025 NFL Draft.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Jordan Dajani (CBS Sports) Answering the NFL’s biggest questions entering Week 15: Are Texans in danger of losing AFC South lead?
- Nick Shook (NFL.com) NFL QB Index, Week 15. Drake Maye 26th. “Maye isn’t quite there yet, but if he finishes 2024 with a collection of strong performances, he just might find himself in the Offensive Rookie of the Year discussion. Maye has already exceeded expectations in his first season, proving he’s capable of handling the starting duties for a team that has plenty of issues elsewhere. Maye should be the Patriots’ long-term quarterback and makes them a squad worth watching.”
- Matt Verderame (SI) NFL Quarterback Rankings: Josh Allen leads the MVP race; Plus, Joe Burrow moves up the list. Drake Maye 22nd. “Maye has shown a ton of playmaking ability. The big issue has been turnovers, as Maye has thrown at least one interception over his past five games. Assuming the Patriots give him some legitimate weapons this offseason, it’ll be intriguing to see how Maye develops.”
- NFL Nation (ESPN) 2025 NFL draft: What to know for all 32 teams, early needs. Patriots projected first-round pick: No. 2. Top needs: OL, WR, DT and pass rusher; More.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Updated first round drafat picks, projections by team in Week 15.
- Kevin Patra (NFL.com) Dolphins, WR Odell Beckham Jr. agree to part ways.
- Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Aaron Rodgers says there ‘might be some sort of curse’ that the Jets need to break to find success. /That helps, lolz.
- Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: Inside 2024 performance bonuses for Josh Allen, Derrick Henry and more.
- Staff (Football Zebras) Week 15 referee assignments. Patriots-Cardinals: Ron Torbert.
- Tom Blair, et al (NFL.com) Week 15 NFL picks. Five of five pick Cardinals to win.
- MMQB Staff (SI) NFL Week 15 picks. All six pick Cardinals to win.
- Jordan Dajani (CBS Sports) NFL Week 15 picks, odds, spread, best bets. Cardinals win 26-21.
BELICHICK
- Tom E. Curran and Mike Giardi share theories on what drove Belichick to UNC. “I think what Bill is doing here is, ‘Look, the NFL doesn’t want me to be part of their club that I actually really built and grew over the last 25 years. You know what? I don’t want to be part of your club. How’s that? I’ll go here,”
- Matt Vautour feels like we got ripped off for Bill Belichick not to have a final chapter in the NFL.
- Karen Guregian believes some NFL owners may soon regret letting Bill Belichick walk away from the NFL.
- Mark Daniels says it feels like NFL owners put more stock into Belichick’s post-Tom Brady resume as opposed to what he accomplished from 2000-2019 in New England.
- 98.5 Sports Hub guest Albert Breer says he wouldn’t rule out Bill Belichick returning to the NFL.
- Matt Geagan looks at whether Bill Belichick is done with the NFL.
- Conor Ryan tries to make Bill Belichick seem desperate in his choice to join UNC, which wasn’t really a choice since it was the only team that wanted him.
- Tony Massarotti weighs in with his predictable disdain for Belichick.
- Lauren Campbell reveals the details of Bill Belichick’s 5-year deal with UNC.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) North Carolina A.D. says Bill Belichick will do ManningCast, McAfee Show as head coach.
- Hayden Bird hears from Michael Lombardi, Bill Belichick’s UNC GM, as he discussed his decision to take the job, and the plan to ‘expand it to a national program’. “The landscape of college football has changed dramatically.”