CHRISTIAN BARMORE

Mac Jones says he wants to start this week against the Jets and believes he deserves to remain in the lineup despite struggling in his return to the field following three-game absence because of an ankle injury.

(AP Photo/Paul Connors) (Paul Connors)ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — (AP) — New England defensive back Kyle Dugger and linebacker Dont’a Hightower returned to the lineup for the Patriots' wild-card playoff game at the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night after missing last week’s regular-season finale. Dugger was sidelined by a hand injury and Hightower a knee injury in a 33-24 loss at Miami last weekend. Also active is defensive lineman Christian Barmore, who practiced on a limited basis this week after being carted off the field last weekend with a knee injury. The Bills, by comparison, are injury-free with defensive end Efe Obada the most significant among the team’s inactive players. ___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

New England defensive back Kyle Dugger and linebacker Dont’a Hightower returned to the lineup for the Patriots' wild-card playoff game at the Buffalo Bills after missing last week’s regular-season finale.

Jaylen Waddle had a touchdown grab and set the NFL record for receptions in a rookie year, Duke Johnson rushed for 117 yards and the Miami Dolphins finished their season by defeating the playoff-bound New England Patriots 33-24.

Six NFL teams used the draft to reunite college teammates.

Draft Browns Preview Football FILE - Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore (58) sacks Western Carolina quarterback Tyrie Adams (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in this Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, file photo. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File) (Vasha Hunt)The enterprise of major college football and the NCAA already has a tenuous relationship. On the latest episode of the AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports joins the AP's Ralph Russo to discuss the future of the NCAA and how it might impact major college football. There has been speculation for years that the Power Five conferences might break away from the NCAA. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://APpodcasts.com___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

The enterprise of major college football and the NCAA already has a tenuous relationship.

The SEC remained the conference of choice with 29 players selected overall, including 17 on Friday night. Still, the second round concluded with Florida’s Kyle Trask going to Tampa Bay perhaps as the heir to Tom Brady in a decade or so. “Get ready to catch a lot of touchdowns.”Not everyone went to SEC schools at the outset of the second round. I love being a part of a team, especially a football team. But A&M quarterback Kellen Mond went second in the third round to Minnesota.

The SEC remained the conference of choice with 29 players selected overall, including 17 on Friday night. Still, the second round concluded with Florida’s Kyle Trask going to Tampa Bay perhaps as the heir to Tom Brady in a decade or so. “Get ready to catch a lot of touchdowns.”Not everyone went to SEC schools at the outset of the second round. I love being a part of a team, especially a football team. But A&M quarterback Kellen Mond went second in the third round to Minnesota.

(AP Photo/David Dermer, Pool) (David Dermer)The latest on the second and third rounds of the NFL draft on Friday night. The second round of the NFL draft began with two more players from the Southeastern Conference being selected. ___6:45 p.m.Maybe known more for brains than brawn, Northwestern showed more than its academics on the first night of the NFL draft. Hours before the second round started, Commissioner Roger Goodell helped the Browns break ground for the installation of a new synthetic athletic field in East Cleveland. Don’t look for anyone from Auburn, Texas A&M or either of the Mississippi schools having gone despite the dozen SEC players selected.

(AP Photo/David Dermer, Pool) (David Dermer)The latest on the second and third rounds of the NFL draft on Friday night. The second round of the NFL draft began with two more players from the Southeastern Conference being selected. ___6:45 p.m.Maybe known more for brains than brawn, Northwestern showed more than its academics on the first night of the NFL draft. Hours before the second round started, Commissioner Roger Goodell helped the Browns break ground for the installation of a new synthetic athletic field in East Cleveland. Don’t look for anyone from Auburn, Texas A&M or either of the Mississippi schools having gone despite the dozen SEC players selected.

(AP Photo/David Dermer, Pool) (David Dermer)The latest on the second and third rounds of the NFL draft on Friday night. The second round of the NFL draft began with two more players from the Southeastern Conference being selected. ___6:45 p.m.Maybe known more for brains than brawn, Northwestern showed more than its academics on the first night of the NFL draft. Hours before the second round started, Commissioner Roger Goodell helped the Browns break ground for the installation of a new synthetic athletic field in East Cleveland. Don’t look for anyone from Auburn, Texas A&M or either of the Mississippi schools having gone despite the dozen SEC players selected.

Not much changed on the second night of the NFL draft.

While NFL fans debate who won the first round of the draft on Thursday, the University of Alabama appeared to be the real victor because of how many players were selected.

One of the best linebackers in college football, the top defensive tackles and the consensus best safety available are all still on the board heading into the second day of the NFL draft.

President Biden reaches his 100th day in office, the NFL draft resumes with Rounds 2 and 3 and more news to start your Friday.

Thirteen prospects will attend next week’s NFL draft in person.

Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith of Alabama is scheduled to appear in person in Cleveland at the NFL draft later this month.

Patrick Surtain II and Mac Jones had the spotlight at Alabama's Pro Day, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)DeVonta Smith was there for quarterback Mac Jones once again, this time it was at Alabama's latest pro day. “He didn't have to do that,” Jones told the SEC Network, which aired the pro day. '”Jones showcased his arm strength a week after participating in the Crimson Tide's first pro day. “Mac was just on me like, ‘Bro, come catch, come catch, come catch,’” Smith told the network.

National champion Alabama has five players leaving early after beating Ohio State in the CFP title game on Jan. 11, with All-America quarterback Jones and linebacker Dylan Moses both early graduates. The 30 players with college eligibility remaining after completing their degree requirements had to notify the NFL of their intentions for the draft. Players less than four years removed from high school who have not completed a degree need to be granted special entry to the draft by the NFL. Southern California has the most players leaving early for NFL draft eligibility with six. Stanford and Ohio State matched Alabama with five each.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Nick Saban wasn't ready to contemplate his legacy moments after capturing a record seventh national championship “because you're always looking forward.”It was time to start chasing No. "It’s an ongoing process, building a team," Saban said. Only Florida in the SEC championship game came closer than 15 points. “There’s no team that will ever play an SEC schedule like that.”The 2009 Alabama team that went 14-0 is Saban's only other undefeated group. “I came back to get a degree and to win a national championship,” Smith said.

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) is sacked by Alabama defensive lineman Byron Young (47) in the second half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)ARLINGTON, Texas – Ian Book had Notre Dame moving with a chance to get within a touchdown of No. Notre Dame beat the Tigers 47-40 in November while Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was sidelined because of a positive COVID-19 test. “I don’t have a unique problem at Notre Dame,” Kelly said. Everybody can keep saying, you know, Notre Dame is not good enough.

Lawrence, the likely first pick in the next NFL draft, made AP All-America for the first time in his career. ___The 2020 AP All-America team:FIRST TEAMOffenseQuarterback — Mac Jones, junior, Alabama. Running backs — Najee Harris, senior, Alabama; Breece Hall, sophomore, Iowa State. Guards — Ben Cleveland, senior, Georgia; Tommy Kraemer, senior, Notre Dame. Safeties — Kyle Hamilton, sophomore, Notre Dame; Tykee Smith, sophomore, West Virginia.