New England Patriots links 6/18/24 – Rush to judgment: How improved is Pats pass rush?

Daily news and links for Tuesday

TEAM TALK

• Transaction: Patriots release Guard Ryan Johnson.
• Alexandra Francisco reports Tom Brady made his broadcasting debut for FOX during Sunday’s UFL Championship.

LOCAL LINKS

• Chris Mason resets the Patriots depth chart after minicamp.
• Mike D’Abate reports the Patriots are signing UFL standout OL Liam Fornadel after he worked out for the team prior to minicamp.
• Sara Marshall believes Bailey Zappe’s fate with the Patriots couldn’t be more clear.
• Chris Mason reports Cole Strange’s injury is a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, from Week 15 vs. Chiefs.
• Mike D’Abate notes Drake Maye was among those in attendance to watch the Boston Celtics capture “Banner 18.”
• Matt Geagan considers what Tom Brady’s statue outside of Patriots Hall of Fame should look like.
• Jerry Thornton relays an NFL Insider who hints that Aaron Rodgers’ skipped mandatory minicamp to go on another Ayahuasca Retreat and the Jets bungled the whole situation.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Michael Brauner discuss Drake Maye’s progress, Christian Gonzalez, and Jerod Mayo’s first offseason as head coach. (34 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Amelia Probst (PFF) Clustering all 32 NFL defenses from the 2023 season. Patriots in Cluster 4: The Patriots won only 34.6% of their pass-rush reps in 2023, the lowest rate in the league. Their run defense was on the other end of the spectrum, allowing the lowest EPA per play (-0.19) in the NFL.
• Kevin Patra (NFL.com) 2024 NFL season: Ten biggest remaining roster holes. No. 6 Patriots: Left tackle.
• Brent Sobleski (Bleacher Report) Non-1st-round WRs who could erupt as NFL rookies. Ja’Lynn Polk included.
• Staff (ESPN) 2024 NFL rookie updates: Notes on 32 first-round draft picks. Drake Maye included.
• Around the NFL (NFL.com) NFL roundup: Latest updates from Monday, June 17. Patriots cut OG Ryan Johnson.
• Bradley Locker (PFF) 7 NFL teams under the most pressure to succeed in 2024. No Pats.
• Albert Breer (SI) Offseason takeaways to wrap up NFL minicamps across the league.
• Josh Edwards (CBS Sports) Ranking top 10 NFL offseasons in 2024. Patriots 7th.
• Gilberto Manzano (SI) NFL Fact or Fiction. Ravens might miss playoffs because of offensive line issues: Fact. Aaron Rodgers’s unexcused absence will be forgotten by training camp: Fiction. More.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) NFL Top 100 Players of 2024. 70. Christian Barmore. Runner up: Kyle Dugger.
• Staff (PFF) Ranking the best players at every position ahead of the 2024 NFL season.
• John Kosko (PFF) 10 most physical cornerbacks in the NFL in 2023. No Pats.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Will Dolphins give Tua Tagovailoa a market deal?
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL offseason power rankings: No. 32 Carolina Panthers are in state of depression.
• Madison Williams (SI) NFL’s in-season Hard Knocks will feature entire AFC North. /Yawn…

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) In Sunday Ticket trial, Roger Goodell defends Sunday Ticket as “premium product.”
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) In Sunday Ticket testimony, Jerry Jones takes a shot at Bengals.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Judicial common sense saves Jim Trotter’s retaliation claim against NFL.
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) With fresh foundation set, EA Sports strives for new heights in ‘Madden NFL 25’.