FOXBORO — Bill Belichick has already said more positive things about Mike Vrabel in his one day as the Patriots’ head coach than he did about Jerod Mayo in a full year. Vrabel was officially introduced as the Patriots head coach on Monday at Gillette Stadium. He was hired Sunday morning.

The Patriots are not winning games, but they are winning the battle for the hearts and minds of the sporting public. The Patriots get grace. The Red Sox get told to get a clue.

Mike Masala previously served as the Managing Editor of USA TODAY's Dolphins Wire as well as a contributing writer at Patriots Wire. A lifelong New England resident, he is the self-proclaimed captain and lone member of the Laurence Maroney Fan Club. Follow on Twitter/X: @Mike_Masala

1. Did Bill Belichick and Bailey Zappe inadvertently crush the Patriots on the way out the door when New England beat Denver on Christmas Eve 2023?

· NESN appears to be getting its Red Sox broadcast booth right for the first time in a few seasons.

Speaking on the "Pat McAfee Show," Bill Belichick offered up a ringing endorsement for Mike Vrabel as Patriots head coach.

Bill Belichick and school officials have signed his official employment contract, formalizing the hiring after speculation that the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach might opt instead for a return to the NFL.

Since 2018, when Buffalo drafted Josh Allen and Mahomes became Kansas City’s starting quarterback, the Bills lead the regular-season series 4-1. Two months ago, they won 30-21 in Highmark Stadium to snap the Chiefs’ 15-game win streak. The Chiefs are 3-0 against them in the playoffs.

Duke freshman Cooper Flagg won’t be making it all the way up to Maine, so his fans trekked to Chestnut Hill on Saturday night to see the likely No. 1 overall draft pick play Boston

May the force be with you always, White Sox fans! Join the White Sox for Star Wars Day. Included with your ticket purchase is a limited-edition Steve Stone Storm Trooper bobblehead! Back to top Swing into the magic of the ballpark on Harry Potter Night ...

There are a lot of people that would love to be living Travis Kelce’s life these days. He’s a bona fide NFL star for the two-time defending Super Bowl champion