Goodell made it clear that the NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame are separate entities. He also brushed off a question about whether he feels responsible for Belichick's exclusion after he fined Belichick and the Patriots for their role in Spygate, which was reportedly one of the things that kept Belichick out of the Hall of Fame this year.

Many eyes are sure to be on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on Monday night. Last week, Maye battled a shoulder injury and an illness and was listed as questionable on the initial Super Bowl injury report. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters he’s not worried about Maye’s throwing shoulder. Maye echoed that sentiment Monday.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Not so fast on an 18-game NFL season. A week after Patriots owner Robert Kraft made it seem inevitable, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said expanding the regular season to 18 games is “not a given.

Roger Goodell was asked about Bill Belichick not being a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

News broke last week that Belichick, who won six Super Bowl rings during his time leading the Patriots, had not earned enough votes to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That led to an outcry in the NFL world, and plenty of speculation as to why.

Bill Belichick will not be announced as a first-ballot Hall of Famer come Thursday, according to an ESPN story published last week.