NFL notebook: Brady expresses gratitude for 2017 season

[February 10, 2018]  New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady reflected on his 2017 MVP season and the Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles with an Instagram post on Friday expressing a message of thanks and gratitude.

"It has taken me a few days to reflect on our SB loss as well as the great season our team had," Brady wrote. "There are many emotions when you come up short of your goal. And they are all part of learning and growing in this journey of life. Learning turns everything into a postitive. And the number one feeling I have had the past 4 days is gratitude."

Brady, who won the NFL's Most Valuable Player award for the third time, intends to play his 19th NFL season in 2018 at the age of 41.

Brady's Instagram post came the morning after the Boston Herald published a story by columnist Ron Borges on Thursday night that Brady was seeking a contract similar to Jimmy Garoppolo's and that he would skip organized team activities if he didn't get it. The Herald later took the story down from its website.

--A day after Philadelphia held a parade to celebrate the Eagles' first Super Bowl championship, city officials on Friday provided an update to police activity during the celebration, and referred to the worst offenses as simply "small hiccups."

More specifically, police commissioner Richard Ross said during a news conference that two people were arrested, a police officer was assaulted and four police vehicles were damaged during the parade.

The day was not crime-free, as Ross said two people were stabbed (both are expected to survive) and a woman allegedly assaulted the officer while attempting to get onto the parade route. An estimated 700,000 people attended the two-hour parade on Thursday.

--Former Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo was named offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings.

DeFilippo spent two seasons as a position coach with the Eagles and was previously offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns.

"We are very excited to add John to our staff. We took our time with the search and made sure we left no stone unturned to get the right fit. He has a track record of success and has proven to be a great teacher. We feel John will have good chemistry with our team and we are all eager to get to work," Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said in a press release.

 

--Despite plenty of speculation to the contrary, cornerback Richard Sherman expects to remain with the Seattle Seahawks in 2018, the final year of his current contract.

When asked Thursday if there are any doubts about whether he will be on the team's roster next season, Sherman told reporters, "Not in my mind."

The four-time Pro Bowler will turn 30 in March and is coming off of a ruptured right Achilles tendon. The Seahawks openly shopped him in trades last offseason, and he will cost $11 million in base salary and $13.2 million against the cap in 2018. With several other veterans set to become free agents this March or entering the final year of their contracts, many have expected the team to cut ties with Sherman this offseason.

--The Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they signed offensive lineman B.J. Finney for the 2018 campaign.

Finney was slated to become an exclusive rights free agent. He has started seven games over the past two seasons and plays both guard and center.

The 26-year-old Finney, who started four games in 2017, originally joined the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Finney has played in 27 games the past two seasons.

--The Detroit Lions agreed to terms with general manager Bob Quinn on an extension to his current contract following this week's head-coaching hire, the team announced. Quinn has been with the Lions since 2016.

The extension matches the length of new head coach Matt Patricia's deal with the team. Both reportedly now have five-year deals. The extended contract term for Quinn ensures organizational stability for the GM and head coach, the team said in a news release.

Patricia's hiring was made official on Monday after his time as the New England Patriots' defensive coordinator came to an end following the team's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. Patricia was Quinn's first head-coaching hire after Jim Caldwell held the job for Quinn's first two years in Detroit.

--Field Level Media

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