Patriots head into offseason of unknowns
For the first time in three years, the Patriots won’t enter the offseason following a Super Bowl appearance.
Now the franchise that has hoisted six Lombardi trophies faces questions it has rarely had to address during its run of success over the last two decades.
Tom Brady’s future with the Patriots is the biggest unknown. The 42-year-old quarterback says it’s unlikely he will retire, but also acknowledged following Saturday’s 20-13 wild-card loss to the Titans that nothing is certain regarding where he could suit up next season.
“I love the Patriots. I mean, they obviously — this is the greatest organization. Playing for Mr. (Robert) Kraft all these years and for coach (Bill) Belichick, there’s nobody that’s had a better career, I would say, than me,” Brady said. “I don’t know what the future looks like and I’m not going to predict it.”
Belichick said there was no timeline on making a decision on Brady, but conceded the six-time Super Bowl champions’ situation is unique.
“Everybody’s situation is different,” Belichick said. “Certainly, Tom is an iconic figure in this organization. And nobody respects Tom more than I do.”
Meanwhile, the futures of several players that made up the core of the Patriots’ most recent run of Super Bowl also are up in the air.
The list includes safety Devin McCourty special teams captain Matt Slater, linebacker Kyle Van Noy and offensive lineman Joe Thuney. Multiple teams are also expected to take another run at luring away offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Van Noy said Sunday that where he plays football 2020 has crossed his mind.
“Of course. If I told you I didn’t, I’d be lying,” he said. “But right now, this is sit back and wait, get better in the offseason — which I’ve done each and every year. This time is gonna be nothing different.”
Following an 8-0 start, the Patriots lost four of their final five games to end the season. It’s an uncharacteristic finish for a team that had reached at least the AFC championship in each of the previous eight seasons.
“Certainly, when the season doesn’t end the way that you want it to, it is like a crash landing. It is very emotional,” Slater said. “But the reality is that it is going to end like this for all but one team and, unfortunately, this year we aren’t that team.”
Cowboys start search: The Cowboys are talking to former head coaches Mike McCarthy and Marvin Lewis to replace Jason Garrett.
The team met with Lewis, the former longtime Bengals coach, Friday and Saturday and were scheduled to meet with McCarthy, who won a Super Bowl while coach of the Packers, on Saturday.
ESPN reported that the Cowboys on Sunday finally informed Garrett that he would not be back as coach. That came four days after ESPN reported the team was parting ways with Garrett after nine seasons as head coach.
The 56-year-old McCarthy has already interviewed with the Browns, Panthers and the Giants.
Like McCarthy, Lewis was out of coaching this season after the 61-year-old spent 16 seasons in charge with the Bengals.
Bears’ Long to retire? Threetime Pro Bowl offensive lineman Kyle Long appeared to announce his retirement or an extended break from football Sunday on Twitter.
The 31-year-old Long, who has played his entire career with the Bears and has a club option for next season, said he was “stepping away and getting my body right.”
Long has dealt with injuries in each of the last four seasons.
A hip injury limited him to just four games this season.