When the Atlanta Falcons were considering hiring Bill Belichick as head coach, Robert Kraft reportedly spoke to Arthur Blank with "a stark assessment of Belichick's character," two sources tell ESPN.

"Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill," said a source.

Multiple sources said that Kraft spoke with "some candor" to Blank about Belichick, though the sources declined to elaborate.

One source close to Belichick said Kraft "was a big part" of why the Falcons passed on hiring him.

"Blank likes coaches who feel part of a family," a Falcons source said, "and it wasn't going to be that way with Bill."

The New England Patriots and safety Kyle Dugger have agreed to a four-year extension, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

The contract has a base value of $58 million and can be worth up to $66 million and includes $32 million guaranteed, the sources said.

Dugger's new deal has an average annual value of $14.5 million.

First-year New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said Sunday that the team isn't locked into making a selection at No. 3 in the NFL draft.

"Obviously, quarterback is definitely a priority. With that being said, we're still open to any type of deals that come our way," Mayo said on the first day of the NFL annual meeting, when asked where the team stands in its evaluation of quarterbacks.

"We're very far [into] the process, but we still have a long way to go. Definitely feel like we have time to really nail down our prospects in who we are going to go after."

The New England Patriots filled a need at wide receiver by agreeing to a one-year contract with K.J. Osborn, a source told ESPN on Sunday.

The agreement is for $4 million and can be worth up to $6 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The New England Patriots have re-signed guard Mike Onwenu on a three-year, $57 million deal.

Onwenu, who was a sixth round pick in 2020, was one of the NFL's best available offensive linemen in free agency.

Kendrick Bourne is remaining with the New England Patriots on a three-year, $33 million contract.

The deal includes a signing bonus of $4.2 million, according to a source.

Bourne is recovering from a torn right ACL sustained in a loss to the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 29. He had totaled 37 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns in eight games.

The New England Patriots are interested in a reunion with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, according to a report.

Brissett, a draft pick of the Patriots in 2016, is drawing "real" intrigue from his old team.

New England is expected to have competition for his services in free agency.

The New England Patriots are expected to pursue left tackle Tyron Smith when free agency begins next week, according to a report.

Smith is preparing to leave the Dallas Cowboys.

The Patriots are in need of a left tackle with Trent Brown's contract voided.

Matthew Slater, who holds the NFL record for most special teams Pro Bowl appearances with 10, announced his retirement on Tuesday after 16 seasons.

"I have given all that I possibly can to respect and honor the game," Slater wrote in a social media post shared by the New England Patriots. "Though it is time for my relationship with the game to evolve, the love I have for it will last a lifetime."

The quarterback situation for the New England Patriots might have been even worse than it appeared.

Mac Jones struggled in his third season and towards the end of the year Bill Belichick wouldn't even name a starter ahead of games. According to a MassLive report, communication between Jones and Belichick was "nonexistent."

Belichick is gone and Jones remains on the roster, for now.

According to Sports Illustrated, Jones was "well-liked" when he first arrived, but "lost support of the building" when his promising rookie season did not carry over. The report described the situation as "toxic," saying there were times when, as a rookie in 2022, Bailey Zappe would watch tape in the receiver room, because the quarterback room was such a mess.