A touching story about Tom Brady is getting a lot of attention this week. Sports Illustrated provides the details about how Brady consoled a family from his hometown in their time of devastating loss. Interesting read.

Meanwhile, with top scout Nick Caserio getting courted by San Francisco, the Boston Herald asserts that the Patriots can’t afford to let Caserio go.

"Caserio's value can't be undersold. Of course, he takes the lead on negotiations with contracts and trades," the column states. "It took a certain level of on-the-job training to master these negotiating tactics, so the loss of him would serve as a setback from that perspective."

*The Providence Journal *takes a look at New England’s health situation as the playoffs approach.

An ESPN blog post examines how the Patriots improved their secondary this year with cornerback Eric Rowe's trade from Philadelphia at the end of the summer.

"Rowe has since carved out a significant role for the 14-2 Patriots, who lead the league in opponent points per game (15.6)," the story states in part.

Another ESPN post analyzes what the Patriots will do at wide receiver this postseason now that injured Danny Amendola has started practicing again and newcomer Michael Floyd has emerged.

"Why not have all five active?" the writer asks. "The feeling here is that Amendola should be on the 46-man roster, and Floyd proved Sunday he should be active, which means the Patriots would have to thin ranks at another position."

The Boston Globe offers a nice feature on fullback James Develin.

"This season, Develin has been on the field for a career-high 30.4 percent of the Patriots' offensive snaps," the author notes, "helping pave the way for the Patriots excellent running game and LeGarrette Blount's career season."

Elsewhere, a WEEI.com column declares that Bill Belichick was right to trade DE Chandler Jones during the offseason.

Yesterday marked an important date in Patriots history, as boston.com reminds us. Hint: it involves BB.