Stephon Gilmore
FILE - New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore watches from the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Foxborough, Mass., in this Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, file photo. Patriots coach Bill Belichick says he doesn't expect cornerback Stephon Gilmore to participate in any of the team's remaining mandatory minicamp workouts this week. "I don't expect him to be here," Belichick said Tuesday, June 15, 2021, "And we'll just focus on the guys that are here."(AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Belichick not expecting Gilmore to attend minicamp this week

By Kyle Hightower Jun. 15, 2021 11:38 AM 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 - This March 12, 2009 file photo shows Dr. Robert Lesslie in Rock Hill, S.C. Authorities say a gunman, identified as former NFL player Phillip Adams, killed Lesslie, his wife and grandchildren on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 in Rock Hill. Adams killed himself early Thursday according to a source who was briefed on the investigation. (John D. Simmons/The Charlotte Observer via AP)
'Football City, USA' killings raise sport safety concerns

By Michelle Liu May. 03, 2021 09:30 AM 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...

Jackson returning to Patriots after signing one-year tender

By Kyle Hightower Apr. 16, 2021 06:33 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — The Patriots have re-signed cornerback J.C. Jackson, bringing back the former undrafted free agent who finished second in the NFL in...

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. 20, 2020, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Jalen Mills (21) walks off the field at half time during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz. A person familiar with the deal says Mills is signing with the New England Patriots for four years and $24 million. (AP Photo/Jennifer Stewart, File)
Pats focus on defense at unofficial start of free agency

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

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton stands on the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Questions about future surround Patriots after blowout loss

By Kyle Hightower Dec. 29, 2020 04:07 PM EST

And the winner in Brady-Belichick divorce is: the QB

By Jimmy Golen Dec. 21, 2020 06:19 PM EST
It’s time to declare a winner in the divorce between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the coach and quarterback who combined to lead the New England Patriots to...

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defeated the Patriots 22-12.(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
On Football: With Brady on verge of playoffs, Patriots done

By Barry Wilner Dec. 21, 2020 02:23 AM EST

NFL Today-Week 15

By The Associated Press Dec. 20, 2020 09:14 PM EST
SCOREBOARD Monday, Dec. 21 Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 8:15 p.m. EST, ESPN — The Steelers have lost two straight...

New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) attempts to stop Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mack Hollins (86), during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Foot injury forces Patriots' Gilmore out of loss to Dolphins

By The Associated Press Dec. 20, 2020 05:57 PM EST

Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Jerome Baker (55) brings down New England Patriots running back James White (28), during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)
Dolphins eliminate Patriots from playoff race with 22-12 win

By Paul Gereffi Dec. 20, 2020 04:15 PM EST

New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) attempts to stop Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mack Hollins (86), during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins 12/20/2020

Dec. 20, 2020 01:50 PM EST

Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez punts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Indianapolis. Sanchez says he will have surgery Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, to remove a cancerous tumor. He made the announcement in an Instagram post (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Latest: Saints DE Jordan ejected for punching Wylie

By The Associated Press Dec. 20, 2020 12:55 PM EST

FILE - New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) reacts on the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, in this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, file photo. The Seahawks won 35-30. The Patriots (6-7) play the Miami Dolphins (8-5) on Sunday. (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)
Patriots looking up at Dolphins in standings for a change

By Steven Wine Dec. 17, 2020 02:40 PM EST

FILE - Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, left, and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speak before the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game in Atlanta, in this Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, file photo. Less than two years ago, McVay became the youngest head coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl. The big game was played in his hometown, and the Los Angeles Rams' opponents were led by one of his coaching idols. Set up for the best day in an up-and-coming football coach's life, it turned into the absolute worst, thanks to Belichick and the Patriots. McVay and the many remaining Rams (8-4) get their first chance at a measure of atonement when they host Belichick’s Patriots (6-6) on Thursday night, Dec. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Ahead of rematch, Rams' Super Bowl loss to Pats still stings

By Greg Beacham Dec. 09, 2020 01:06 PM EST

Rams host Patriots in Thursday night Super Bowl rematch

By The Associated Press Dec. 09, 2020 12:59 PM EST
NEW ENGLAND (6-6) at LOS ANGELES RAMS (8-4) Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Fox, NFL Network OPENING LINE - Rams by 6 1/2 ...

FILE - Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock, center, jokes with backup quarterbacks Jeff Driskel, left, and Brett Rypien during an NFL football practice in Englewood, Colo., in this Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, file photo. The Broncos activated three quarterbacks—starter Lock and backups Rypien and Blake Bortles—from the COVID-19 list Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, to insure that the team will not be without quarterbacks on the roster for the game against the Chiefs in Kansas City on Sunday as the Broncos were last Sunday when hosting the New Orleans Saints. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
The virus's toll: How 32 NFL teams have been hit by COVID-19

By The Associated Press Dec. 04, 2020 04:32 PM EST