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!"

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 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.

Rob Gronkowski met with the New England Patriots on Tuesday and informed them he will play this coming season.

There had been speculation that the tight end might retire.

Gronkowski then announced his plans on Instagram.

According to a source, the Patriots will not consider trading Gronkowski.

The agent for Tom Brady confirmed he expects his client to play in 2018.

Brady's status has had some degree of uncertainty this offseason.

"Tom's intentions have not changed," Don Yee said Monday. "He's consistently said he'll play beyond this contract and into his mid-40s, or until he feels he isn't playing at a championship level. I understand the constant speculation, but this is one point he's been firm about."

Multiple sources said last week that Brady wasn't certain he would return.

"He customizes his preparation to each season in order to maximize his performance," Yee said. "His training methods are always evolving and getting better. The year he missed the first four games -- that month of training on his own was particularly efficient."

The New England Patriots hosted Lamar Jackson on a pre-draft visit, according to sources.

The visit took place earlier this month and the Patriots were "intrigued and impressed" with the quarterback prospect.

The Patriots have the 23rd overall pick and would likely have to move up in the draft in order to take Jackson, or any of the handful of quarterbacks expected to go early on.

Tom Brady is seeking a new contract before the upcoming season.

Brady has typically taken team-friendly deals throughout his career with the Patriots to afford more cap flexibility. 

"It's not a pressing issue," Mike Garafolo emphasized on Wednesday's edition of NFL Up to the Minute. "It's not anything that is contentious right now. But Brady would absolutely be interested in revisiting this contract."

There is a belief that reports of Brady wavering about whether to play next season are a contractual ploy.

"Tom Brady is going to play in 2018," Ian Rapoport explained. "He said it. Everyone close to him has said it. Everyone I've spoken to has said it. The Patriots are going forward with the very strict and stern belief that he will be playing for 2018. I don't get the sense that they considered any of these reports this morning about 'maybe he doesn't play.'

"I also know Brady is planning a little passing camp with some of his buddies before training camp. That does not sound like the kind of the thing you would do if you were not going to play in 2018."

Tom Brady has yet to commit to playing in 2018.

People who know Brady, however, believe he will play in the coming season.

"My money would be on him playing football for the foreseeable future, but what goes on away from the football field, I don't know," one source told ESPN. "I don't know."

Brady turns 41 in August and wants to spend more time with his family and there are people around him who would prefer to see him retire.

"I believe he's going to be there," another person who knows Brady told ESPN. "However, having said that, we're dealing with a human being. Things can change. But I do believe he will be playing."

Brady was not present for the start of New England's offseason program.

Brady is planning to spend more time this offseason with body coach Alex Guerrero. 

James Harrison is retiring from the NFL after 15 seasons.

Harrison will turn 40 next month.

In an Instagram post, the linebacker wrote: "I've missed way too much for way too long...and I'm done. Many thanks to my family, coaches, the fans, and everyone who played a role in my football life."

Harrison, who signed with the New England Patriots on Dec. 26 after he was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers, had said in the week leading up to Super Bowl LII that he hoped to play another season or two.

Rob Gronkowski will not attend the start of the New England Patriots' offseason program on Monday.

Gronkowski still is considering whether to play the upcoming 2018 season, and has had "good communication" with the Patriots.

Gronkowski has a $250,000 workout bonus in his contract for 2018 that is tied to attending a percentage of the voluntary workouts.

Tom Brady also won't attend the start of the offseason program. Brady has been on a business trip to Qatar.