Bill Belichick
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) waves his arms while warming up near wide receiver Marvin Hall (14) during an NFL football minicamp practice, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Patriots' Newton knows he has much to prove this season

By Kyle Hightower Jun. 15, 2021 05:26 PM EDT

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, center, stands on the field during an NFL football practice, Monday, June 14, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Patriots' Gilmore absent as team opens mandatory minicamp

By Kyle Hightower Jun. 14, 2021 04:47 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2002, file photo, New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri celebrates after kicking the 48-yard, game-winning field goal in the final seconds of NFL football's Super Bowl 36 against the St. Louis Rams in New Orleans. The 48-year-old former Indianapolis Colts and Patriots star told former teammate and SiriusXM radio host Pat McAfee that he plans to retire. “By Friday, if paperwork goes in, you heard it here first,” Vinatieri said .(AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)
Record-breaking kicker Adam Vinatieri plans to retire

By Michael Marot May. 26, 2021 06:43 PM EDT

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady throws against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game in Tampa, Fla., in this Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, file photo. The NFL is returning to London in October and Tom Brady begins his pursuit of an eighth Super Bowl title against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys when Tampa Bay hosts the league’s annual kickoff game on Sept. 9. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Brady-Prescott kicks off NFL season plus a return to London

By Rob Maaddi May. 12, 2021 11:47 AM EDT

A man takes a picture where 32 teams' helmets are displayed, Saturday, April 24, 2021, in Cleveland, where the NFL Draft will be held April 29-May 1. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Hello, Cleveland: NFL takes 'blended' draft back on road

By Tom Withers Apr. 27, 2021 02:02 PM EDT

FILE - New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, left, talks to head coach Bill Belichick as their team warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J., in this Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, file photo. Belichick never was one to spent wildly in free agency. But after watching Tom Brady celebrate another Super Bowl in another city, Belichick and his boss, Robert Kraft, had seen enough. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
Kraft: Spending spree response to 7-9 record, not Brady win

By Jimmy Golen Mar. 31, 2021 06:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 30, 2019, file photo, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux walks off the field after the teams NFL football training camp in Davie, Fla. A person familiar with the deal says the New England Patriots have come to terms with free agent defensive tackle Godchaux on a two-year, $16 million deal with $9 million guaranteed. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Pats focus on defense at unofficial start of free agency

By Kyle Hightower Mar. 15, 2021 05:52 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2021, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton leaves the field after an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Foxborough, Mass. The New England Patriots are completing an agreement to re-sign free-agent quarterback Cam Newton, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press, Friday, March 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
AP source: Patriots completing 1-year deal to re-sign Newton

By Kyle Hightower Mar. 12, 2021 11:05 AM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tom Brady shouts before the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New normal: Brady gets 7th trophy in a season to remember

Feb. 08, 2021 03:12 AM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks with Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) after throwing a touchdown pass during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
The Latest: Brady, Bucs dominate Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl

By The Associated Press Feb. 07, 2021 04:34 PM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce during the second half of the AFC championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Kansas City, Mo. The Super Bowl matchup features the most accomplished quarterback ever to play the game who is still thriving at age 43 in Brady against the young gun who is rewriting record books at age 25. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Column: One number looms large in Super Bowl of numbers

By Tim Dahlberg Feb. 01, 2021 05:36 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2020, file photo, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is helped off the field after being injured during the first half of the team's NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago. Barkley's season lasted just six quarters as he tore the ACL in his right knee against Chicago and had the meniscus repaired, too. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski, File)
Sidelined stars fill out roster for NFL's All-Absent Team

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Dec. 30, 2020 02:36 AM EST

Denver Broncos wide receiver Kendall Hinton takes part in drills during an NFL football practice Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kendall Hinton's QB moment marked in Canton, across the NFL

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 22, 2020 02:17 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2019, file photo, former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly walks on the field before an NFL football game between the Bills and the Miami Dolphins in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills’ return to relevance gives rise to reflection from those who were part of the franchise’s heyday in the late 1980s and 1990s, during which Buffalo made — and lost — four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. “Way too long? Hah, 25 years? I would say it’s waaaaay, way, way past due,” Hall of Fame quarterback Kelly said of the last time Buffalo won the East. “Never in a million years did I think it would take 25 years to come back.” (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
Bills close in on clinching 1st AFC East title in 25 years

By John Wawrow Dec. 18, 2020 02:57 AM EST

Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera, left, greets San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. Washington won 23-15. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
NFL won't be cutting in line for coronavirus vaccine

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 15, 2020 02:28 AM EST

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) scrambles for yardage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. Mayfield made some head-scratching, jaw-dropping mistakes Sunday in Jacksonville, turning what should have been a fairly routine win for the Browns into a nail-biter. But despite his errors, Mayfield didn't commit a quarterback's biggest sin _ an interception. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Ground game: Browns, Titans meet with plenty at stake

By Teresa M. Walker Dec. 03, 2020 04:33 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) is pressured by New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) as he throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
QBs Brady, Newton, Rivers still finding footing in new homes

By Mark Long Nov. 13, 2020 03:00 PM EST

The New Orleans Saints huddle during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Tampa, Fla. The Saints defeated the Buccaneers 38-3. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Column: Half a season and a Super Bowl ahead for NFL

By Tim Dahlberg Nov. 12, 2020 01:53 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2020, file photo, signs about COVID-19 stand outside a door to enter the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse during an NFL football practice at the headquarters of the Denver Broncos in Englewood, Colo. The pandemic has determined much of what we've seen thus far, and almost certainly will continue to with the predicted spikes in the coronavirus as the calendar heads toward winter. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Halfway through NFL season, uncertainty reigns off the field

By Barry Wilner Nov. 11, 2020 03:30 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AFC features plenty of star power even without Tom Brady

By Arnie Stapleton Nov. 10, 2020 03:18 PM EST