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Patriots Could See Exodus of Coaches, Executives in 2019 Due to Concerns about Team's Future While much has been made of the imminent demise of the Patriots' dynasty in recent years, team and league sources indicated that more members of the organization than ever before are open to new opportunities outside New England in 2019. The Patriots have yet to reach the 10-win mark and face the prospect of missing out on a first-round bye, while quarterback Tom Brady has shown signs of slowing down, finally, at age 41. New England's talent level has been drained in recent years and with Brady looking like a mortal quarterback and Bill Belichick's future unknown, there is a growing sense around the league that there could be a significant exodus of coaching and front-office talent this offseason. There are serious concerns within the organization about how the Patriots will function once owner Robert Kraft, 77, eventually transfers day-to-day operations fully to son, Jonathan, and it is inevitable this team eventually has to rebuild and retool in a way it has avoided for the better part of two decades. "This is the time to get out, and those guys know it," said one NFL executive who has ties to several members of the Patriots staff and is in regular contact with them. "There will be a lot of guys in there ready to see what else is out there."

How to Watch Bills vs. Patriots Week 16: Bills vs. Patriots, Dec. 23 at 1:00 p.m. Broadcast Information: CBS Play-by-Play: Greg Gumbel Commentary: Trent Green and Bruce Arians Sideline: Melanie Collins Bills fans can also listen to the action on the Bills Radio Network and nationally on the Sports USA Radio Network. Bills Radio Network: Play-by-Play: John Murphy Color Analyst: Mark Kelso Sideline: Sal Capaccio Alfred, NY: WZKZ (102 FM Hornell/Wellsville) Amsterdam, NY: WKAJ (1120 AM) Bath, NY: WABH (1380 AM) Bradford, NY: WBRR (100.1 FM) Buffalo, NY: * WGR 550 (550 AM) Dansville, NY: WDNY (93.9 FM) Dunkirk, NY: WDOE (94.9 FM/1410AM) Elmira, NY: WNGZ (104.9 FM) Erie, PA: WRIE (1260 AM) Glenn Falls, NY: WMML (1230 AM/97.9FM) Ithaca, NY: THE BUZZER WYXL (96.3 FM) Jamestown, NY: WWSE (93.3FM) and WJTN (1240 AM) Newark, NY: WACK (1420 AM) Ogdensburg, NY: WQTK (92.7FM) Olean, NY: THE PIG (95.7 FM) Syracuse, NY: KROCK WKRL (100.9 FM, 106.5 FM and 94.9 FM Utica) Syracuse, NY: WTKW (99.5 FM) and WTKV (105.5 FM) Toronto, CA: * FAN 590 (590 AM) Rochester, NY: WCMF 96.5 FM / WROC (950 AM ESPN) Watertown, NY: WOTT (94.1 FM) *Flagship stations Sports USA Radio Network: Play-by-Play: Larry Kahn Color Analyst: Doug Plank NFL Mobile App & NFL GamePass: Fans now have the option to watch Bills games live this season on their smart phone or tablet through the NFL app! Live local and primetime games will be available in the app for all to enjoy on game day, even if you’re on the go. Click hereto learn how to watch on the NFL app or Yahoo! Sports app. Additionally, fans can replay every Bills game this season with NFL GamePass.

Surrender? Ask the Vikings about that.

He relies on scheme more than talent to get open looks. He's not great at all in unplastering.

The Patriots had no indications that troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon was facing yet another substance-abuse suspension -- one that once again casts his NFL career into doubt -- and hope to able to continue supporting him during his indefinite banishment from the league. Team sources said that Gordon had been a good teammate and was well-liked by coaches, and there had not been any recent indications that he had failed any tests or had his playing status in doubt. The team's coaching staff found out on Thursday morning, within hours of Gordon releasing his statement that he would be taking a leave from the Patriots, sources said; some had an opportunity to speak to the former Pro Bowler before he left the team. The staff also did not receive word of the NFL's suspension of Gordon until Thursday as well.

Bills at Patriots: Sal's Keys, Notes, and Stats Here are three key storylines as the Bills take on the Patriots in New England: 1. No Milano on Gronk 2. Gordon Gone 3. Allen against Belichick

Jaguars, Panthers Expected to Keep Their Head Coaches for 2019 By Ian Rapoport - NFL Network Insider By this time of year, with just two games to go, teams guaranteed to miss the playoffs have accepted their fate. They are mathematically eliminated and have their eyes on next season, while weighing what will change. For at least two 2017 playoff participants that missed the party this year, continuity and stability are the expected outcomes. Both the Jaguars and Panthers, at the tail end of lost seasons, are expected to keep their head coaches for the 2019 season, sources say. After making the AFC title game last season, Doug Marrone's injury-plagued team started 3-1 before stumbling to a 4-10 mark thus far. Meanwhile, Ron Rivera's Panthers have lost six in a row while also shutting down injured QB Cam Newton for the season. Barring a dramatic shift that is not anticipated, both should back and there are reasons why. For the Jaguars, owner Shahid Khan is not panicking, sources say, nor is he looking for a scapegoat. Less than a year after locking in his entire upper-level power structure to contract extensions, he wants to see it through. They were, after all, a tipped pass away from the Super Bowl. Injuries have marred things on offense, with essentially a second team on the field today when they have the ball. Clearly, they'll be looking for a new QB with Blake Bortles expected to be released and they need a new offensive coordinator. But Khan and executive VP of Football Operations Tom Coughlin believe in Marrone going forward. As for the Panthers, new owner David Tepper is expected to be patient. The team has already made a significant change, with Rivera taking over play-calling on defense. With one of the top play-callers in the NFL in charge of the unit now, Carolina's D impressed in a loss to the Saints. The roster should get younger and faster next year, as well, and with Rivera in charge of the defense it should only improve. Similar to the Jaguars, ownership believes in the men in charge. Larry Fitzgerald on Steve Wilks: Cardinals All 'Want Him Back' Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is once again in the spotlight, as he prepares to play what might be his last game in an NFL uniform at State Farm Stadium. As always, he's been noncommittal about his future, planning to take his time into the offseason to make a final decision. But the face of the franchise has made up his mind on one topic: He believes embattled coach Steve Wilks should return for 2019. Fitzgerald was asked if he wants the first-year coach back, despite a 3-11 record. "We all would want him back," Fitzgerald said via text message to NFL.com. The public assumption has been that Wilks will be one-and-out following a trying season that has included firing offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, first-round pick Josh Rosen being more down than up and some lopsided losses. They did win in Green Bay, hastening the firing of Packers coach Mike McCarthy. But everything has been a battle.

Bills Today: Bill Belichick: Bills Are a Different Team

FINAL: Ducks 0 - Sabres 3 Linus Ullmark records his second shutout of the season in a win against Anaheim. LEXUS POSTGAME REPORT Full Play By Play Sabres Ice Time

Post-Game Report: 12/22 vs. Anaheim Final Score 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Final SOG Ducks (19-14-5) 0 0 0 – – 0 40 Sabres (21-11-5) 1 0 2 – – 3 33 Game Summary Event Summary Top Notes With tonight’s win, the Sabres improved to 9-2-1 against the Pacific Division this season, including a 6-0-1 record at home, and earned their first season sweep of the Ducks since the 2011-12 season. Buffalo is now 12-4-2 (.722) at home this season. The .722 points percentage puts the Sabres on pace for their eighth-best road record in franchise history and the best since the 1982-83 season (25-7-8, .725). Linus Ullmark made 40 saves to record his second career shutout and second of the season. He became the first Sabres goaltender to record a 40-plus save shutout since Chad Johnson (44 saves) on Dec. 17, 2015 vs. Anaheim. Ullmark finished the game ranked 10th in the NHL among qualifying goaltenders (min. 12 GP) with a .922 save percentage. The Sabres have now shut out the Ducks eight times in the 38 all-time games between the clubs (Dominik Hasek-3, Martin Biron-2, Chad Johnson-1, Ryan Miller-1, Linus Ullmark-1). This amounts to one shutout for every 4.75 meetings, the Sabres’ highest shutout-to-games ratio against any NHL team. The next highest current ratio is 10 games per shutout (Columbus, three shutouts in 30 games). Rasmus Dahlin’s goal tonight was his 20th point of the season (4+16). His 20 points in 37 games are already the 10th-most ever recorded by an NHL defenseman before his 19th birthday. According to NHL PR, only three 18-year-old defensemen in NHL history have reached the 20-point mark faster than Dahlin’s 37 games: Phil Housley (28 GP), Ray Bourque (30 GP) and Aaron Ekblad (34 GP). Phil Housley holds the record with 57 points (17+40) before turning 19 in 1982-83 with the Sabres. With two assists tonight, Jack Eichel has tied his career high with 18 multi-point games this season. He is now tied with Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead. Sam Reinhart also recorded two assists and now has a career-best 12 on the season. The Sabres are now 16-4-3 this season when he records a point and 27-4-6 in his career when he records at least two. With his assist on Dahlin’s goal, Rasmus Ristolainen now has points in three straight games (1+2) and 12 points (2+10) in his last 12 home games. Tonight’s Goaltenders Tonight’s Stats Team Goaltender Decision SV% GAA Ducks Gibson L .938 2.01 Sabres Ullmark W 1.000 0.00 Updated Season Stats Team Goaltender Record SV% GAA Ducks Gibson 15-11-4 .926 2.52 Sabres Ullmark 8-1-3 .922 2.71 Post-Game Audio Sabres head coach Phil Housley Sabres forward Jeff Skinner Sabres forward Conor Sheary Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf Ducks defenseman Josh Manson

Fumble, clear recovery, and a TD!

The current rule has been part of football since the 1920's.

Amen.