4:30 p.m.: On top of meeting with the Patriots, Fiderowicz also said he models his game after Rob Gronkowski. Fiedorowicz is one of the best blocking tight ends in this year’s draft class.
That’s it for today’s action. Come back tomorrow for more from the combine.
4:12 p.m.: Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas met with the Patriots, too, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Niklas is 6-foot-6 1/2, 270 pounds. He’s currently ranked as a second-round prospect. He’s still a bit of a project as a receiver, but he’s a top-tier pass blocker. He had up and down moments as a run blocker.
Being a top-tier pass blocker isn’t exactly what most NFL teams are looking for. Belichick will be able to get a good read on Niklas from his college head coach Brian Kelly. Belichick and Kelly are buddies.
3:55 p.m.: Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz and Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro have met with the Patriots, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.
It’s important to note that nearly every team meets with nearly every player at the combine — it’s just that players are told not to say they met with the Patriots. Apparently Fiedorowicz and Amaro were not in that mix.
3:19 p.m.: Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins told the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe that he met with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
At 6-foot-5 1/2, 262 pounds, Seferian-Jenkins is built from the same mold as Rob Gronkowski. He was the 2013 Mackey Award winner for the nation’s best tight end.
Seferian-Jenkins played basketball at Washington and was recruited by some schools as an offensive tackle for his blocking ability.
3:08 p.m.: Belichick says the coaching staff is set for now. He says Michael Lombardi has a lot of experience.
3:07 p.m.: Belichick says doing all the physical examinations at once is big at the combine. He also says talking to players personally is important.
Belichick says there’s something to be said about watching players doing athletic drills, as well.
3:05 p.m.: Bill Belichick is at the podium. He’s talking about his personal history at the combine.
2:25 p.m.: Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins says he can be an every-down tight end in the NFL. He was recruited as an offensive lineman by some colleges during the recruiting process.
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UCLA guard Xavier Su’a-Filo says he models his game after Patriots guard Logan Mankins.
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1:14 p.m.: Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said the Patriots never contacted his team about a Larry Fitzgerald trade. The Patriots’ interest in a trade for the All-Pro wide receiver must have stayed in-house.
1:02 p.m.: Bill Belichick will address the media at 3 p.m. today, according to multiple reports. He originally was scheduled to skip out on the press conference circuit.
New Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith said he would consider taking a quarterback with the No. 7 overall pick. Rookie quarterback Mike Glennon played surprisingly well in 2013.
12:07 p.m.: Some of the tight ends’ heights and weights are leaking out.
Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins dropped from 275 pounds to 262. He’s 6-foot-5 1/2 with 33 3/4-inch arms and an 80-inch wingspan.
Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas is Gronk-like at 6-foot-6 1/2, 270 pounds. Gronk was 6-foot-6 1/4, 258 pounds at the 2010 combine.
Niklas also has a solid mustache.
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UNC tight end Eric Ebron is 6-foot-4 3/8, 250 pounds, and Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro is 6-foot-5 3/8, 265 pounds.
The Patriots certainly will look at the top tight ends in this year’s draft. They could use a player in the Aaron Hernandez role or as insurance for Rob Gronkowski.
10:33 a.m.: Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said this draft is deeper at every position than it’s been in years past. He also said it’s a very immature group.
He wouldn’t address if wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who has drawn interest from the New England Patriots in the past, would be back.
10:10 a.m.: As a recap, Philbin is adamant that he’s responsible for everything that happens in the Dolphins’ locker room, but he had no idea what was happening during the 2013 season. Perhaps he’ll be more cognizant of player interactions in 2014.
Philbin also failed to take responsibility for allowing Incognito to be a leader in the Dolphins’ locker room because that’s voted on by players.
Philbin would not say if Incognito, Pouncey, Jerry or Martin would return in 2014.
9:56 a.m.: Philbin said he didn’t know about the bullying while it was going on. He learned about it later — before the report came out.
Philbin was asked how he could make Incognito a leader in the locker room after he was disciplined for harassing a woman at a charity event. Philbin said players vote on those leaders, and he didn’t want to disrupt the process.
9:54 a.m.: Philbin said he would wait until Jonathan Martin meets with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to discuss if Martin could return to the team.
9:51 a.m.: Philbin said in his press conference that he knew most of the contents of the Wells Report. He would not say if Richie Incognito, John Jerry or Mike Pouncey would be returning to the Dolphins.
9:48 a.m.: Philbin promises the Dolphins will have a better workplace.
“I want everybody to know, I’m the one that’s responsible for the workplace environment with the Miami Dolphins,” Philbin said.
9:45 a.m. ET: The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off with a bang Thursday morning.
Joe Philbin is set to address the media gathered in Indianapolis at 9:45 a.m. Philbin initially was not holding a press conference, but after the Miami Dolphins fired head athletic trainer Kevin O’Neill and offensive line coach Jim Turner this week, the head coach had a change of heart.
Philbin is expected to address Ted Wells’ report on the Dolphins’ bullying scandal, which found that offensive linemen Richie Incognito, Mike Pouncey and John Jerry bullied Jonathan Martin, other teammates and staffers. The bullying led Martin to leave the Dolphins and enter a mental health institution.
Find out what Philbin has to say by staying here on NESN.com’s combine live blog. Many other head coaches and general managers are set to talk, though no one from the New England Patriots will be holding a press conference.
