New England Patriots links 9/07/18 - Cordarrelle Patterson up for new challenge with Pats TEAM TALKPaul Perillo scouts the matchups: Texans bring some challenges. /Big if true.Erik Scalavino shares the practice notes and locker-room buzz from Thursday at Gillette: Jacob Hollister improving in Year 2.Roster Transactions: Patriots announced they have signed WR Riley McCarron to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and added TE Stephen Anderson to the practice squad. 2018 second-round draft pick DB Duke Dawson was placed on injured reserveDon Banks makes his Week 1 picks. Winner: New England.Memorable Moments: Comeback win vs. Houston. (1.10 min. video)PFW TV: Patriot-Texans preview; Rob Gronkowski one-on-one. (21.59 min. video)Web Wars: Megan O’Brien and the voice of the Texans http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/kyle-van-noy-jersey , Marc Vandermeer, debate who has the edge in this week’s match up between the Patriots and the Texans. (2.04 min. video)LOCAL LINKSTom E. Curran gives us the skinny on the Houston Texans.Phil Perry warns about the challenge the Texans’ pesky “diamond front” brings. Evan Lazar focuses on how the Patriots secondary intend on slowing down WR DeAndre Hopkins.Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots-Texans season opener: Players to watch.Michael Hurley tells us what he’ll be watching for on Sunday vs. Texans: Brady’s protection.Ryan Hannable places plenty of pressure on Josh McDaniels for how the offense performs vs. the Texans defense.Kevin Duffy talks about Cordarrelle Patterson’s chance to be a big-play receiver for the Pats.Zack Cox finds that while Cordarrelle Patterson admits there’s “a lot to prove”, he says he’s “not nervous at all” about replacing former receivers.Mike Shalin (AP) Phillip Dorsett isn’t concerned about Patriots’ thin receiving corps.Ryan Hannable mentions how yesterday’s roster moves could impact things Sunday.Matthew Geagan gives us 10 fascinating storylines to follow in 2018: 1. The 41-year-old QB.Jared Talbot (FullPressCoverage) Tom Brady has the odds stacked against him.Jim Hackett gets used to Tom Brady going into “opposite” mode with the media and expects Brady’s on-field performance will continue to speak the loudest as it always has.Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) For Patriots defense, containing Deshaun Watson sounds miserable.Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Patriots name captains including two first-timers.Mike Reiss shares the football journey of Jeremy Hill.Kevin Duffy Patriots Notebook: Tom Brady elected captain for 17th season.Doug Kyed addresses his Patriots Mailbag: Honestly assessing depleted receiving corps.NESN points out Bill Belichick’s ‘softer side’ after he’s shown hanging with his dog ‘Nike’Steve Buckley suggests Patriots fans have lost some of their swagger because of all the situations going on at Gillette. /Insert several eye-roll emojis here.Suzy Welch (CNBC) At home with Bill Belichick and his new best friend: A puppy named Nike. (3.12 min. video)CBS Boston clarifies Bill Belichick’s and Linda Holliday’s dog is named for Nike, the god of victory http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/patrick-chung-jersey , not the shoe company. /Insert more eye-roll emojis here.Derek McVay (BostonSportsOnTap) Predicting the New England Patriots record.Jim Lazar returns with snark arsenal fully loaded for 2018, and makes his Week 1 picks. Patriots 23-20.Andrew Callahan predicts every Patriots win and loss this season. Week 1: Loss to Texans.NATIONAL NEWSCharean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Another season, another catch controversy: Did Julio Jones catch it in bounds?Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) Eagles’ trick play – that helped spark win vs. Falcons – could be seen as nod to Tom Brady or troll job of Patriots.Conor Orr (SI) Eagles hold off Falcons in NFL season opener far from the thriller fans expected and needed.Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) Two years post-SB meltdown, Matt Ryan and the Falcons still impossible to trust.Greg Bishop and Robert Klemko (SI) The dynasty that never was: Inside the unraveling of the Seattle Seahawks.Mike Sando (ESPN) NFL trends that will define the 2018 season ... 14 of them.Clair McNear (The Ringer) Damn, Roger Goodell is a terrible writer: The NFL commissioner’s Thursday statement was a bit of a mess Authentic Trent Brown Jersey , but hey: Football. Is. Back.Curtis Crabtree (ProFootballTalk) Richard Sherman says to expect a lockout in 2021. /So does Marima.Staff (ESPN) Biggest injury questions for all 32 teams in Week 1.Mark Schofield (InsideThePylon) Locked On Patriots podcast: Houston Gameday edition. (26.14 min.)Staff (ESPN) Week 1 NFL score predictions: Viewers’ guide, best games, fantasy help, more.Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) PFT’s Week One picks. Florio: Texans 27-23; MDS: Patriots 27-23.Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) Week 1 game picks. Patriots 34-30.Staff (Bleacher Report) B/R’s expert consensus Week 1 NFL picks. Patriots 23-20.Nate Davis (USA Today) NFL Week 1 picks. 5 of 5 pick Patriots to win.VIEW FROM HOUSTONDrew Dougherty (HoustonTexans) First glance: Texans at Patriots.Staff (HoustonTexans) Enemy Intel: Patriots talk about Texans.John McClain (Houston Chronicle) Texans’ DeAndre Hopkins fired up for season.Brian T. Smith (Houston Chronicle) Texans coach Bill O’Brien’s best chance to win is now.Aaron Wilson (Houston Chronicle) J.J. Watt ready to let loose against Patriots, Tom Brady.Aaron Wilson (Houston Chronicle) Texans TE Ryan Griffin on Patriots: ‘Very sick of losing to these guys’.Cole Thompson (TexansWire) Texans QB Watson learning from mistakes for rematch against Patriots.Deepi Sidhu (HoustonTexans) Deshaun Watson looks forward to NE Womens Eric Rowe Jersey , not backJohn McClain (Houston Chronicle) Mailbag: How will Texans stop Patriots?Stephanie Stradley (Houston Chronicle) Patriots-Texans Q&A with Evan Lazar.Cole Thompson (TexansWire) 10 Bold predictions for the Texans season. 1. Houston starts season off with a win against New England Patriots.John McClain (Houston Chronicle) Week 1 predictions. Patriots 30-27.Patriots bring in two defenders for free agency workouts On a short week, the New England Patriots’ focus is lying primarily on getting ready for tonight’s opponent, the Indianapolis Colts. However, that does not mean that the team won’t take a look at some free agency to potentially bolster its roster further down the line. According to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, this is exactly what the Patriots recently did by bringing in a pair of defenders:LB Calvin MunsonCalvin Munson originally entered the NFL in 2017 http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/phillip-dorsett-jersey , when the New York Giants signed him as an undrafted free agent. The San Diego State product was not only able to make the team’s 53-man roster, he also carved out a role on defense and special teams: Munson appeared in 14 games during his rookie season and served as New York’s number three linebacker and a core special teamer. However, the 23-year old failed to build on his encouraging first year in the league and after a stint on the Giants’ practice squad to open the 2018 season was released.DT David ParryDavid Parry appeared in 35 games over the course of his three-year career. The former fifth-round draft pick was a two-year starter for the Colts but waived during 2017’s final roster cuts. The New Orleans Saints picked him up but shortly afterwards placed the 6’2, 320 lbs defensive tackle on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. During his stint on IR, Parry served a four-game suspension stemming from a guilty plea for disorderly conduct and attempted unlawful means of transportation. The Saints did not re-sign him and Parry joined the Minnesota Vikings for whom he appeared in two games this season as a rotational defensive tackle. He registered two tackles and a sack but was let go two weeks ago.