JEROD MAYO

The team announced Thursday it has begun to discuss a potential contract extension for linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, a head coaching candidate who handled defensive playcalling this season. The full statement:The New England Patriots and Head Coach Bill Belichick have begun contract extension discussions with Jerod Mayo that would keep him with the team long-term. The Patriots are unique in the NFL in that they played this season without an offensive or defensive coordinator. Mayo has shared defensive playcalling duties with fellow linebackers coach Steve Belichick since the exit of Brian Flores, who held the same role, in 2019. The offensive playcalling — the entire offense, really — hasn't been so successful.

On the field, the Los Angeles Rams are facing off against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56.

The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms with Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their head coach.

The Buffalo Bills are no longer the Patriots patsy in preparing to host New England in a wild-card playoff game on Saturday night.

Tom Brady hasn’t played an NFL game in New England since Jan. 4, 2020.

(AP Photo)The NFL expanded the Rooney Rule to give more minority candidates opportunities to become a head coach and reward teams who develop them. The Houston Texans hired David Culley this week, making the 65-year-old longtime assistant the league’s third Black head coach hired. Culley and Saleh join Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Miami’s Brian Flores and Washington’s Ron Rivera as the league’s only minority head coaches. “We didn’t make as much progress on the head coaching side as we would have liked,” Rooney said. AdPerhaps an increase in minority executives will lead to more minority head coaches.

FILE - In this Dec. 29, 2013, file photo, Oakland Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson (24) talks with Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) after an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif. Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson are among 14 first-year eligible candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson are among 14 first-year eligible candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The roster of nominees consists of 65 offensive players, 49 defensive players and 16 special teams players. A maximum of five modern-era players will be chosen when the selection committee meets the Saturday before the Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida. Eighteen finalists will be presented to the full 48-member panel: the 15 modern-era finalists, and the recently nominated Drew Pearson (senior); Bill Nunn (contributor); and Tom Flores (coach). Enshrinement at the hall in Canton, Ohio, will take place next August, when members of the 2020 class and a special centennial class also will enter the football shrine.