Cam Newton
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

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones passes the ball during an NFL football practice, in Foxborough, Mass., Thursday, June 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New nickname in hand, Pats rookie Jones finding his footing

By Kyle Hightower Jun. 10, 2021 03:56 PM EDT

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton throws a pass as Jarrett Stidham (4) and Brian Hoyter (5) look on during NFL football practice in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Belichick: Newton not practicing, but fine after hand injury

By Kyle Hightower Jun. 10, 2021 12:38 PM EDT

New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor makes a catch during NFL football practice in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Receiver Agholor getting accustomed to new offense with Pats

By Glen Farley Jun. 04, 2021 05:13 PM EDT

New England Patriots quarterbacks Brian Hoyer (5) and Jarrett Stidham (4) share a light moments during an NFL football practice in Foxborough, Mass., Thursday, May 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Rookie Jones fitting in with Pats during offseason workouts

By Glen Farley May. 27, 2021 06:08 PM EDT

Patriots sign 6th-round pick Bledsoe, re-sign Hoyer

May. 18, 2021 08:07 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — The Patriots have signed safety and 2021 sixth-round draft pick Joshuah Bledsoe and re-signed free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer. ...

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, right, holds a team jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the New England Patriots selected him with the 15th pick in the NFL football draft, Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Patriots wait, draft former Alabama QB Mac Jones at No. 15

By Kyle Hightower Apr. 29, 2021 10:28 PM EDT

FILE - Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater participates in the school's Pro Day football workout for NFL scouts in Evanston, Ill., in this Tuesday, March 9, 2021, file photo. Slater is as possible first round pick in the NFL Draft, April 29-May 1, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Mock Draft: As usual, it's all about the quarterbacks

By Barry Wilner Apr. 26, 2021 12:28 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)
QB position still in spotlight for Patriots entering draft

By Kyle Hightower Apr. 23, 2021 04:09 PM EDT

Patriots need QB, remain wild card holding 15th overall pick

By The Associated Press Apr. 22, 2021 12:35 PM EDT
15. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-9) LAST SEASON: The first year of the post-Tom Brady era in New England began with optimism after the team...

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016 file photo, Denver Broncos strong safety T.J. Ward (43) follows a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla. T.J. Ward, one of the members of the Denver Broncos’ famed “No Fly Zone” secondary, announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Ward helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50. Ward played eight seasons in the NFL with Cleveland, Denver and Tampa Bay. He last played in 2017 for the Buccaneers.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Former star safety T.J. Ward announces retirement from NFL

By Arnie Stapleton Apr. 21, 2021 06:18 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2021, file photo, New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold rolls out to pass against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. The Jets will get back on the rookie quarterback roller coaster three years after trading up to take Darnold with the third pick. With New York holding the second selection in a quarterback-heavy draft, general manager Joe Douglas dealt Darnold to Carolina and now has his eyes on another potential franchise QB. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
NFL teams drafting, changing QBs at dizzying pace

By Josh Dubow Apr. 16, 2021 12:38 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 - Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith (81) makes a touchdown catch against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr (39) during the first half an NFL divisional playoff football game in Baltimore, in this Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, file photo. The Patriots have agreed to sign free agent tight end Jonnu Smith in their biggest move to date to fill the void created by the departure of Rob Gronkowski. Smith, who was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2017 draft, agreed Monday, March 15, 2021, to a four-year, $50 million deal, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, FIle)
New Pats TE Jonnu Smith eyeing 'fresh start on the journey'

By Kyle Hightower Mar. 23, 2021 02:58 PM EDT

FILE - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) pulls in a catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team in Glendale, Ariz., in this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, file photo. The Patriots have agreed to terms on a new three-year, $22.5 million contract with free agent receiver Kendrick Bourne. His agent, Henry Organ of Disruptive Sports, says the new deal is for three years and could be worth as much as $22.5 million. New contracts can't officially be signed until the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Energy already high among new additions to Patriots' roster

By Kyle Hightower Mar. 22, 2021 05:57 PM EDT

FILE - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) leaps above Dallas Cowboys' Donovan Wilson, left, and Jourdan Lewis (26) to catch a Hail Mary pass in the end zone for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, in this Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, file photo. The Patriots have agreed to terms on a new three-year, $22.5 million contract with free agent receiver Kendrick Bourne. His agent, Henry Organ of Disruptive Sports, says the new deal is for three years and could be worth as much as $22.5 million. New contracts can't officially be signed until the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Column: Patriots reboot, but enough to win without Brady?

By Tim Dahlberg Mar. 17, 2021 05:15 PM EDT

FILE - Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller takes up his position during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wisc., in this Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, file photo. The Denver Broncos have exercised star linebacker Von Miller's 2021 option. The move engages the final season of the six-year, $114.5 million contract Miller signed in 2016 in the aftermath of his Super Bowl 50 MVP performance. It also guarantees him $7 million of his $17.5 million base salary. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)
Spend, spend, spend on 2nd day of "legal tampering" in NFL

By Barry Wilner Mar. 16, 2021 02:40 PM EDT

FILE - Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith (81) makes a touchdown catch against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr (39) during the first half an NFL divisional playoff football game in Baltimore, in this Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, file photo. The Patriots have agreed to sign free agent tight end Jonnu Smith in their biggest move to date to fill the void created by the departure of Rob Gronkowski. Smith, who was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2017 draft, agreed Monday, March 15, 2021, to a four-year, $50 million deal, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, FIle)
Pats add Jonnu Smith in 1st big upgrade since Gronk's exit

By Kyle Hightower Mar. 15, 2021 02:36 PM EDT

Adding to offense tops Pats' priorities entering free agency

By The Associated Press Mar. 12, 2021 04:30 PM EST
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-9) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB James White, C David Andrews, LG Joe Thuney, RB Rex Burkhead, QB Brian Hoyer, WR...