The NFL reportedly is considering breaking with tradition at the expense of the New England Patriots. The league is "leaning toward" having the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Sept. 5, to kick off the 2019 NFL season, John Ourand of the SportsBusiness Journal reported Monday. If this happens, the Patriots would become the first defending Super Bowl champion since 2006 not to play in the NFL's first game of the season.

When Kyler Murray is drafted in April — and there's a good chance that will happen early in the first round, after he proclaimed his commitment to football Monday — he'll be unlike any other NFL draft pick before him. Murray is short, at least for an NFL quarterback. University of Oklahoma assistant AD/strategic communications Mike Houck had the most definitive word on Murray's height, when he said the OU strength staff measured Murray at 5-foot-9 and 7/8 inches.

It's only been nine days since the New England Patriots won Super Bowl LIII, but New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick wasted no time getting the name of his boat updated. A few years ago Belichick bought a fishing boat. At the time, he named it “V Rings,” to reflect the five Super Bowl rings he'd won — two as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants and three as head coach in New England.

originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com Bill Belichick doesn't show a ton of emotion on the sidelines during NFL games, but the New England Patriots head coach couldn't contain his excitement in the final moments of Super Bowl LIII. As the seconds ticked down and the Patriots were about to clinch their sixth Super Bowl victory with a 13-3 triumph over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, Belichick walked down the sideline hugging and congratulating anyone he could find. Check out the emotional scene in the NFL Films video below.

Todd Gurley's lack of use in the NFC championship game and Super Bowl LIII was strange because it rarely happens at any other position. The New York Giants wouldn't ignore Odell Beckham Jr. because of “rhythm.” There's no gameplan that would leave Tom Brady on the bench for half of the New England Patriots plays. Gurley, a two-time All-Pro, didn't get his second carry of Super Bowl LIII until less than six minutes remained in the first half.

Mayfield, who finished second to New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley in voting for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, was named Cleveland's top professional athlete at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards on Wednesday night. Following a season in which he broke the league's rookie touchdown record and made the Browns relevant again, Mayfield was selected over Indians All-Stars Corey Kluber and Jose Ramirez and Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. LeBron James was not a finalist despite leading the Cavaliers to their fourth NBA Finals last June - a month before the superstar left for the second time as a free agent.

Eli Manning is officially a dad . again! The New York Giants quarterback welcomed a new baby - his first son - into the world with his wife, Abby McGrew, on Feb. 3, and yep, we're guessing their little peanut wanted to come out in time to watch the Super Bowl!

Tom Brady reveals what Bill Belichick told Patriots before Super Bowl LIII originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick more experience than anyone, literally, when it comes to preparing a team to play in a Super Bowl. The legendary coach, who's now won eight Super Bowls -- two as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants and six as head coach of the New England Patriots -- had a simple message for his Patriots team before Sunday's Super Bowl LIII matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Miami Dolphins hired New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores as their head coach, hours after his team won the Super Bowl. Flores helped the Patriots shut down the high-scoring Los Angeles Rams with a 13-3 victory in the title game. Flores was the first person the Dolphins interviewed after they fired coach Adam Gase on Dec. 31.

The New York Giants are bringing on Henry Baker to serve as their assistant defensive backs coach, according to multiple reports. Baker will replace Deshea Townsend on the Giants coaching staff. Townsend spent last season with the Giants before taking the defensive backs coaching job with the Chicago Bears last month.