Tom Brady publicly said he plans on playing in 2018 and repeated his goal to extend his career into his mid-40s.

Brady's comments came during an appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference in California.

"Part of this offseason for me is certainly about still preparing for what's ahead in my next journey, my next mountain to climb with this group of teammates, but it's also [acknowledging] that a lot of people are getting the short end of the stick in my life -- certainly my wife and my kids," Brady said in an hourlong conversation with moderator Jim Gray.

"Football is year-round for me. It's a lot of thought, a lot of energy and emotion put into it, but I need to invest in them, too. My kids are 10, 8 and 5. They're not getting younger, so I need to take time so I can be available to them, too. ... I've really spent the last two or three months doing those things, and I think I'm really trying to fill my tank up so that when I do go back, I can go back and I think I'll actually be, in my mind, a better player, a better teammate, because I'll be really rejuvenated."

Asked if he is happy with the people he works with and for, Brady said, "Yeah. I would say absolutely. And in general, I'm a very happy person. I'm a very positive person. It's just my personality, I always look at things as the glass is half full. I think there are different times; when you've been on the same team for a long time, you have relationships for a long time, they ebb and flow like every relationship. But there are no people I'd rather play for or be committed to than the team I've been with for a long time, and really the fans and the community."

Asked if he feels appreciated by Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft, and if they have the appropriate gratitude for what he has achieved, Brady said, "I plead the fifth!"

The Indianapolis Colts received trade offers for Andrew Luck in October, but Chris Ballard never took them seriously.

The offers came before the trade deadline, prior to the Colts placing Luck on injured reserve because of complications associated with his ongoing rehab from shoulder surgery.

"Look, we had some calls last year at the trade deadline," Ballard said. "And I just -- come on man. I'm not taking those seriously.

"We're not trading Andrew Luck. I'm not putting that on my resume."

The Houston Texans are shuffling their personnel department in the wake of last week's draft.

Assistant general manager Jimmy Raye III, director of college scouting Jon Carr, assistant director of college scouting Mike Martin, college scouting coordinator Matt Jansen and college scout Seth Turner have all been dismissed.

Earlier this offseason, the Texans hired Brian Gaine as general manager when Rick Smith went on leave.

The Dallas Cowboys offered the Seattle Seahawks a third-round pick for Earl Thomas, according to a report.

The report, from 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, claimed the Cowboys offered the No. 81 pick, but didn't hear back from the Seahawks in time and opted to draft Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup.

According to a separate report, the Cowboys remain interested in making a deal for Thomas.

Las Vegas oddsmakers favor the New England Patriots to lead the NFL in wins next season.

The Patriots have won 12 or more games in eight straight seasons.

At the Westgate SuperBook, New England's season win total opened at 11, the highest in the league.

The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers each opened at 10.5, followed by the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings at 10.

The Los Angeles Rams have traded Tavon Austin and one of their two second round picks to the Dallas Cowboys.

Austin was the eighth overall pick in the 2013 draft but had just 13 catches for 47 yards and no touchdowns in 2017. Austin made a bigger impact in the running game, with 59 carries for 270 yards and a touchdown. 

On Friday, Jerry Jones hinted at adding another receiver after selecting Michael Gallup in the third round.

The Los Angeles Chargers informed Antonio Gates they do not intend to re-sign him.

Gates would like to continue his playing career even if it is not with the Chargers.

Gates played 478 snaps, finishing with 30 catches for 316 receiving yards and three touchdowns. 

Philip Rivers said two weeks ago that he and Gates talked through text messages about his future.

"Shoot, I've been not only locker mates but spent a lot of time with Antonio over the last 14 seasons," Rivers said. "Great player. Great person. We all know our friendship. You'd love for him to get one more shot to be with us and go make a run at it. ... If it were not to work out, and if he were to decide to hang it up, who knows? He's had a heck of a run. He has nothing left to prove, that's for sure."

Jason Witten is considering retirement to join ESPN as a color analyst for Monday Night Football.

Witten has a meeting set on Friday with Jerry Jones to inform him of his decision. It won't become final without Jones' blessing.

Despite having signed a new four-year contract and saying he planned to play beyond this season, Witten has been engaged in talks to become a game analyst with multiple networks, including ESPN, for several weeks, sources said.

"I know this: The burn is strong inside me to play at a high level and to be a part of one of these groups of guys and one of the leaders to see this thing through and go try to compete for a championship," Witten said after the Cowboys' season-ending win against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 31.

"When I wake up tomorrow, that's where my focus will be on as I move forward. It hurts because you don't get a whole lot more opportunities at this and I realize that. But rest assured that I'm going to do everything in my power to help us be better as we move forward. And I think it needs to be clear that it starts with yourself."

Tony Romo similarly retired last offseason to become a color analyst with CBS.

The New England Patriots have acquired Trent Brown and the No. 143 overall pick from the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 95 overall pick.

Brown traveled to New England on Thursday to undergo a physical.

Brown is considered one of the NFL's best pass-blocking offensive tackles. Brown's contract expires after this season and the 49ers are looking for more of a physical run-blocking tackle. The 49ers selected Mike McGlinchey with their first round pick.

Brown landed on injured reserve last December with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

The Patriots, who had success in 2017 with a four-man depth chart at offensive tackle, are in a state of transition at the position with starting left tackle Nate Solder (Giants) and top swing tackle Cameron Fleming (Cowboys) departing in free agency.

Joe Flacco seems to have competition with the Baltimore Ravens, but John Harbaugh insists that he is still the team's starting quarterback.

The Ravens traded back into the first round on Thursday night to take Lamar Jackson with the 32nd pick.

"Joe Flacco is our quarterback," Harbaugh said. "That's the thing we have to remember. Lamar's going to have a great chance to develop."

Ozzie Newsome also threw support behind Flacco.

"We're trying to win this year. And in order for us to win this year, we need Joe Flacco," he said. "That's why we went and got the receivers, that's why we got the tight end [Hayden Hurst], to give Joe some help. We want to win this year."