In just a matter days the Patriots are transitioning from Super Bowl glory and the excitement of a celebratory parade to the offseason.
As Bill Belichick said the morning after Super Bowl LI, New England is five weeks behind the rest of the NFL in terms of turning the page toward free agency, the draft and roster building for 2017.
The Boston Globe looks at the tweets of free-agent-to-be Martellus Bennett and surmises that the tight end’s offseason plans don’t seem to include much football. Elsewhere the* Globe breaks down some of the key adjustments the Patriots made to come back in Super Bowl LI. The *Globe notes Nate Solder’s joking Twitter message for Bill Belichick on Wednesday.
The Boston Herald says that after Super Bowl euphoria of watching her son lead the greatest comeback in history, **Galynn Brady’s cancer treatments continue in California**. The* Herald* has a look at the Browns interest in trading for Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The Herald offers up an early forecast for the New England roster this offseason. The Herald notes that the Patriots are already the Vegas favorite to win Super Bowl LII.
The *Providence Journal *looks at the Super memories that New England LI win provided its fans.
ESPNBoston.com writes about Dont'a Hightower's trip to the ESPN studios on Wednesday and the linebacker offering up his thoughts on his impending free agency. ESPN looks at why the NFL’s best offenses – like Atlanta’s – almost never actually win the Super Bowl. In a rundown of offseason predictions for each team, ESPN projects the Patriots to sign restricted free agent No. 1 cornerback Malcolm Butler to a long term contract extension.
WEEI.com passes on an NFL Network report that Hightower turned down an extension from New England prior to the 2016 season worth $10 million per year. WEEI.com declares that the Patriots are very much well positioned to repeat as Super Bowl champions again next season. WEEI.com notes that having multiple teams interested in Garoppolo should increase what the Patriots get in return for the backup quarterback. WEEI.com recaps some of what Patriots players were saying to each other as they orchestrated the historic Super Bowl LI comeback.
With days of hindsight to go on, CSNNE.com now says that Sunday’s Super Bowl comeback by the Patriots was “more probable than not.” CSNNE.com passes along Hightower saying his return to New England “is up in the air right now.”
NFL.com has the league's V.P. of officiating, Dean Blandino, explaining the review process on James White’s Super Bowl LI game-winning touchdown. NFL.com grades the rookie classes for each of the four AFC East teams this season, with the Patriots getting a solid B. NFL.com says it's time to stop the Brady vs. Joe Montana debate. NFL.com's updated mock draft has New England landing versatile Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers with the 32nd pick. Big surprise, the Patriots are atop NFL.com’s final power rankings.
