Tom Brady
FILE - Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) watch from the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., in this Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, file photo.By joining the Dolphins, Brissett embraced a No. 2 role behind Tua Tagovailoa, who is being groomed as a potential franchise quarterback — unless Houston's Deshaun Watson goes on the trade block, and Miami pursues him. Either way, Brissett will likely be on the bench at age 28. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Dolphins QB Jacoby Brissett prepares for life after the NFL

By Rob Maaddi Apr. 15, 2021 11:28 AM EDT

ADDS RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT FILE — In this Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018 file photo New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) stretches but cannot catch a pass in front of New York Jets safety Jamal Adams, rear, during the second half of an NFL football game, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots terminated Edelman's contract with a failed physical designation Monday, April 12, 2021, according to the NFL's transaction wire. Citing a knee injury that cut his 2020 season short after just six games, Edelman announced Monday that he is retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Patriots receiver Julian Edelman announces retirement

By Kyle Hightower Apr. 12, 2021 05:39 PM EDT

Tony Finau walks across the Sarazen Bridge with his caddie Mark Urbanek on the 15th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament on Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Finau gets a call during Masters delay, from Tom Brady

By Tim Reynolds Apr. 10, 2021 09:16 PM EDT

In this photo provided by Walt Disney World, NFL star Tom Brady visits Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge inside Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Monday, April 5, 2021. A mask-wearing Brady visited the Star Wars-themed section of Walt Disney World with his family and friends, two months after he led the Bucs to a Super Bowl win against the Chiefs. (Matt Stroshane/Disney World via AP)
After saying 'I'm Going to Disney World,' Brady did it again

Apr. 07, 2021 10:14 AM EDT

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, left, address the audience with linebackers Lavonte David, center, and Devin White during a celebration of their Super Bowl 55 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Fla., in this Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, file photo. When Jason Licht declared he was going to do everything he could to keep the Tampa Bay Buccaneers together, no one envisioned the process going as smoothly as it has for the Super Bowl champions. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Bucs GM says winning culture helped keep SB roster together

By Fred Goodall Apr. 02, 2021 06:13 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 - Commissioner Roger Goodell gestures during the NFL Honors ceremony as part of Super Bowl 55 in Tampa, Fla., in this Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, file photo. The NFL is increasing the regular season to 17 games, as expected, and reducing the preseason to three games. Team owners on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, approved the 17th game, marking the first time in 43 years the regular season has been increased.(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Analysis: More games, more money, more flexibility for NFL

By Barry Wilner Mar. 31, 2021 03:07 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2020, file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Ndamukong Suh (93) and inside linebacker Lavonte David (54) line up against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Suh has agreed to a one-year contract worth $9 million to remain with the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio, File)
AP source: Suh to remain with Bucs on 1-year, $9M deal

By Fred Goodall Mar. 24, 2021 06:28 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) shakes hands with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) after an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Winston eager for chance to succeed Brees with Saints

By Brett Martel Mar. 23, 2021 09:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski (87), left, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrate together after the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Fla. NFL Films has been chronicling Tom Brady’s career since he entered the league in 2000, but there are still times when there are still new things to reveal. That is the case with this year’s Super Bowl film, chronicling Brady’s seventh championship and his first with the Tampa Buccaneers. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
Bucs' Super Bowl film showcases Brady and Tampa Bay D

By Joe Reedy Mar. 23, 2021 05:59 PM EDT

Patriots get extra compensatory pick via NFL miscalculation

By Kyle Hightower Mar. 22, 2021 06:15 PM EDT
The NFL says it has awarded the Patriots an additional compensatory pick for this year's draft due to a correction by the league's management council. ...

FILE - New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick catches a packet of papers after he tossed them in the air during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, in this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, file photo. Belichick never was one to spent wildly in free agency. Watching Tom Brady win another Super Bowl in another city sure changed that. The New England Patriots doled out $175 million in guarantees in the first 48 hours of free agency following a 7-9 stumble in 2020 that officially ended their two-decade dominance of the AFC. (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)
Patriots, Bucs among those making biggest waves so far

By Arnie Stapleton Mar. 22, 2021 04:14 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) shakes hands with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) after an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Brees: Saints will have a "good quarterback competition"

Mar. 17, 2021 08:00 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

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians holds the Vince Lombardi trophy following the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay won 31-9. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Free-agent pickups have made a difference for some champions

By Rob Maaddi Mar. 16, 2021 12:56 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) shakes hands with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) after an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Winston re-joins Saints for 2021 after Brees retirement

By Brett Martel Mar. 16, 2021 06:15 AM EDT

FILE - San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jason Verrett (22) walks off the field following an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., in this Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, file photo. The San Francisco 49ers are bringing back cornerback Jason Verrett on a one-year deal. General manager John Lynch announced the deal on Monday, March 15, 2021, shortly after Verrett was allowed to begin talking to other teams about a potential deal. NFL Network reported the contract has a $5.5 million base value with the chance to make more. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
With Brady's largesse, Bucs keeping title gang together

By Barry Wilner Mar. 15, 2021 04:57 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

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks to throw a pass while in the grasp of Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, right, during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Barrett, Gronkowski agree to deals to stay with Buccaneers

By Fred Goodall Mar. 15, 2021 02:28 PM EDT

File-This Feb. 7, 2010, file photo shows New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrating with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Saints' 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
Record-setting Saints QB Brees announces retirement at 42

By Brett Martel Mar. 14, 2021 05:37 PM EDT