So much for the bye week being a time for rest and relaxation. While that may be the case for the Patriots players who're in the midst of four days of time away from Gillette Stadium, Bill Belichick and his personnel department continue to tweak the roster as New England prepares for its Week 5 trip to Dallas that kicks off the 13-game restless stretch to close out the season.
The Boston Globe notes that Thursday's latest list of Patriots moves revolved mostly around the bottom of the roster and the practice squad. The Globe also looks at how having an early September bye week can affect an NFL team. The paper also notes New England’s efforts defending the two-point conversion early this season.
Noted Patriots fan Bill Simmons used his first podcast of his post-ESPN employment to criticize his former employer’s coverage of Deflategate.
The Boston Herald highlights Rob Gronkowski’s business smarts as the All-Pro tight end launches the Gronk Party Bus limo service. The Herald looks at Tom Brady’s hot start to the season as well as newcomer Keshawn Martin using the bye week to brush up on the Patriots offense he had to learn so quickly. Want to win in the NFL? The Herald says you better have a franchise QB and brings the numbers to back up that common theory.
The Providence Journal offers up a Patriots bye-week quiz while also noting the promotion of defensive lineman Khyri Thornton to the New England active roster.
ESPNBoston.com relays Gronkowksi’s understanding of fantasy football and how it leads to his interactions with many fans. The site also looks at what has become a common question among Patriots fans, what happens to the young linemen when the veterans at their positions return to action?
WEEI.com says a Super Bowl 50 of the Patriots against the Packers – Brady against Aaron Rodgers – is inevitable. The site also looks at the special teams trio in New England of Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan Allen and newcomer Joe Cardona.
CSNNE.com says the NFL had no other choice but to give Brady the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. The site also looks at the job the Patriots special teams units have done under Joe Judge, who was promoted to replace Scott O'Brien this offseason.
Boston.com passes along Brady’s latest fun, bye-week Facebook post.
