Kyle Hightower | AP Sports Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Mac Jones believes he deserves to start the Patriots’ matchup with the Jets on Sunday. Whether he’s definitively been told that he will is a different matter. “I plan to start every game that I’ve ever played in, Whether that was in pee-wee football or third string at Alabama,” he said […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Mac Jones is back for the New England Patriots. But his return hasn’t alleviated their uncertainty at quarterback. In fact, it may have made it even murkier with the Patriots suddenly in the cellar of the AFC East they used to dominate. Coach Bill Belichick was noncommittal Tuesday on what direction […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Plenty has changed for the New England Patriots offense in the three weeks since Mac Jones took his most recent snap at quarterback. Two other players have had a chance to lead it. One of them, Brian Hoyer, joined Jones on the sideline following a concussion. And the other, rookie Bailey […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill Belichick has never hidden his affinity for football history. New England’s coach is enamored with the game’s evolution and contributions by its pioneers, their names etched like hashmarks in the annals of the sport where he’s spent nearly four decades. After the Patriots’ win at Cleveland last week, Belichick asked […]

BOSTON (AP) — A scandal off the court cast a shadow over the Boston Celtics entering the preseason. On the court, they opened the regular season looking like a team still very much capable of contending for a championship. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points and the Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The idea that rookie Bailey Zappe could supplant Mac Jones as the Patriots’ starting quarterback was preposterous in the aftermath of his first career victory. It still feels far-fetched following a second productive outing by Zappe during New England’s 38-15 win over Cleveland on Sunday. But there’s no denying the Patriots’ offense has […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — For the third straight week, who will be the Patriots’ starting quarterback is an open question. Mac Jones returned to the practice field Wednesday, but was listed as a limited participant as he continues to recover from the ankle injury that has sidelined him each of the past two games. He […]

BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics ended last season in the spotlight for all the right reasons. A team seemingly stuck in the mud for multiple years recovered from a slow start to make a surprise run to the NBA Finals led by homegrown talents Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Behind it all was rookie coach […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bailey Zappe wasn’t the best player on the field for the Patriots during their matchup with the Lions. He didn’t need to be. A week after being called off the bench and thrust into his first NFL regular-season game, the rookie quarterback benefited from a full week of preparation and plenty […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Detroit Lions haven’t had much trouble scoring points this season. Winning games hasn’t come as easily. The New England Patriots are reeling for a different reason and could use a victory just as bad as the teams prepare to match up on Sunday. Through four weeks, the Lions are averaging […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Four days after Bailey Zappe made his NFL debut, the rookie Patriots quarterback responded like a veteran when asked whether he expects to make his first start this week. “If that’s what happens, that happens,” Zappe said Wednesday. “That’s (for) coach (Bill) Belichick. That’s a question for him. I’m not going […]

BOSTON (AP) — Xander Bogaerts hit a grand slam and Nathan Eovaldi pitched five scoreless innings in what could be his final appearance in a Red Sox uniform to help Boston beat the playoff-bound Tampa Bay Rays 6-0 in a rain-shortened game on Tuesday night. Christian Arroyo added an RBI single for Boston (77-84), which won its […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots spent their offseason trying to improve the personnel around quarterback Mac Jones, and then used the preseason to tweak their offense to best utilize the players they added. After injuries in back-to-back weeks to Jones and backup Brian Hoyer, New England could head into this week’s matchup with Detroit […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was ruled out for Sunday’s game at Green Bay despite making a surprise return to the practice field. Jones was in uniform Friday with his injured left ankle wrapped tightly as he moved gingerly during the brief portion of the workout open to media. It was his […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — If Mac Jones can’t play Sunday for the Patriots visit to Green Bay, veteran backup quarterback Brian Hoyer will start in his place. But Bill Belichick is still leaving open the possibility that his second-year quarterback will be ready to go. That’s about as much as the Patriots coach was wiling […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Everything about the New England Patriots’ season was brought to a pause the moment Mac Jones had his left leg crushed under the weight of Baltimore’s Calais Campbell on Sunday. It caused the quarterback to hop off the field, grimacing in pain. For the second straight week, Jones spent Monday trying […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Lamar Jackson has spent his career doing things nobody in the NFL has ever done. The Ravens quarterback added another outstanding performance with his arm and his legs on Sunday. Jackson threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score to help Baltimore (2-1) hold off the New England Patriots 37-26. He became […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Oh, what could have been. It was April 2018 and the New England Patriots were fresh off a second straight trip to the Super Bowl. With Tom Brady on the roster, they didn’t enter that offseason explicitly looking for a quarterback. But they were mindful that a successor would need to […]

BOSTON (AP) — The player the NHL knew as “Big Zee” is calling it a career. Zdeno Chara signed a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins and announced his retirement Tuesday after 24 seasons in the NHL and captaining Boston to the Stanley Cup in 2011. The 6-foot-9 defenseman from Slovakia hangs up his skates at age […]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Intrigue surrounded the Patriots throughout the preseason as they looked to remake their offense following the departure of coordinator Josh McDaniels. The initial reviews are in, and most of them aren’t good. It was bad enough New England turned the ball over three times and badly missed assignments in key situations […]