Cam Newton says has been vaccinated against COVID-19 and wants to keep playing football.

The quarterback published a video on his YouTube channel over the weekend.

Newton, 32, was released by the New England Patriots shortly before the season. He had missed three practices because of what the Patriots called a COVID-19 protocol "misunderstanding," although Bill Belichick said Newton's vaccination status didn't factor into the decision to release the quarterback.

"Hell yeah I still want to play football," Newton said in the video. "I still get that urge to go out and perform and do something that I've been doing since I was 7 years old."

The Carolina Panthers have acquired Stephon Gilmore from the New England Patriots for a 2023 sixth round pick.

Gilmore and the Patriots were unable to agree to terms on a contract and he was set to be released.

The New England Patriots will release Stephon Gilmore after the two sides couldn't agree on a restructured contract, according to sources.

Gilmore has been named to four Pro Bowls as a cornerback.

"We enjoyed so much success together and you have been an incredible inspiration for my individual achievements," Gilmore wrote on Twitter Wednesday. "... To Mr. Kraft, the coaches, and the organization thank you for providing me with this platform and allowing me to be part of greatness. Most of all I want to thank my teammates who lined up next to me every Sunday with one goal in mind."

The Patriots were roughly $54,000 under the salary cap and now will find themselves with an additional $5.8 million in cap space. Gilmore had a $7 million base salary in 2021 in what was the final season of his contract.

The New England Patriots are working to sign Jamie Collins for a third stint with the team.

Collins was released by the Detroit Lions on Sept. 28 after the team couldn't find a trade partner for him.

Collins entered the NFL as a second-round draft pick of the Patriots in 2013, was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2016, and then returned to play for the club in 2019. Collins had signed a three-year deal with the Lions as a free agent in 2020.

Tom Brady's return to New England drew a big audience this past Sunday night.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers-New England Patriots game drew 28.5 million viewers, the second-largest audience ever for a Sunday Night Football game.

The 2012 Week 17 playoff play-in game between the Cowboys and Washington drew an audience of 30.3 million.

Bill Belichick visited Tom Brady in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' locker room after what the quarterback described as a "very emotional week" in New England.

The Buccaneers defeated the Patriots 19-17 in a tight game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night. On the field, the pair shared a quick embrace.

Belichick was seen walking into the visitors locker room, and it wasn't until about 20 minutes later that he exited, soon followed by Brady. Belichick reached out to arrange the meeting with Brady leading into the game, according to a source.

"We've had a personal relationship for 20-plus years. He drafted me here. We had a lot of personal conversations that should remain that way. They're very private," Brady said.

"I would say, so much is made of our relationship. ... Nothing is really accurate that I ever see. It definitely doesn't come from my personal feelings or beliefs."

Rób Gronkowski is listed as doubtful for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Week 4 game at the New England Patriots.

Gronkowski didn't practice on Friday and is dealing with a rib injury.

Gronkowski suffered the injury when he caught a pass and was hit in the midsection by Rams linebacker Terrell Lewis early in the third quarter of Week 3.

Tom Brady believes his breakup with the New England Patriots 18 months ago was handled "perfectly" and that "things worked out the best" for all involved.

Brady's comments came a day after Bill Belichick denied a passage in a soon-to-be released book stating that the New England Patriots coach refused to meet with the quarterback in person before Brady left New England to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2020.

"All those things are super personal," Brady said. "We had a great relationship. Everything was handled the right way. We handled everything as gracefully as we could. It was an amazing time, it was handled perfectly. I think everyone understood where we were at -- the people involved in the situation. Things worked out the best for all of us.

"We're all trying to do the best we can do now -- that's what happens in life. You don't know where life is gonna lead. I think the only thing I know how to do is give it all I can in every day, every moment and the people who really bet on me, I want to do really well for them. [General manager] Jason [Licht] and [head coach] Bruce Arians -- with them coming into my life, and saying, 'Hey, we really want you here' -- it's been an amazing thing for me."