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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft held court Monday and the owners meetings.

Here are some additional notes of interest from Kraft and the reigning AFC East champs:

• Kraft said the Patriots are for the proposed rule of being able to take a player off injured reserved if healthy. Currently, teams have to make the decision to carry an injured player on the active roster or end his season. "I think [this] is the biggest [proposed change]." Kraft said. "Even the year with [Tom] Brady and the Kansas City game, he possibly could have come back at the end of that year. He actually wanted to, I remember the discussion. I think all it does is just allow us to keep the game more exciting for those teams that are trying to play to make it [to] the playoffs. It’s a great opportunity to be able to do that."
• The Patriots are still open to signing leading receiver Wes Welker long term, and Kraft hopes that is the case. But it was hard to tell whether there was legit optimism. Welker was given the one-year franchise tag for about $9.4 million in 2012. "I'm happy he's part of our team this year, and I'm hoping that he’s part of our team long-term," Kraft said. "He represents everything we love."
• Kraft explained New England's philosophy in free agency as "quality depth management" and get players who provide "good values." New England did not jump into the free-agent spending spree during the first few days. But the team landed veteran receiver Brandon Lloyd at a modest price. "You can only pay so many players top dollar and field a team that will be competitive," Kraft said.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- The New York Jets' recent trade for quarterback Tim Tebow made plenty of headlines throughout the NFL. But New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft gave his biggest rivals a thumbs up for the trade at Monday's owners meetings.

"I think it's exciting; I think it's a lot of fun," Kraft said. "You know, the NFL is about rivalries...And I'm a big fan of Tim Tebow. I love that he’s into spirituality, and I think it makes the rivalry an even bigger rivalry."

Kraft then went on to say with a smile, "I don't know if there will be enough media hype around the game."

New York acquired Tebow and a seventh-round pick for a fourth- and sixth-round pick in April's draft. The Jets also had to pay $2.5 million to facilitate the trade.

Kraft wouldn't discuss whether the Patriots had any interest in Tebow once he became available. But it's no secret New England coach Bill Belichick has always had high praise for Tebow, and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels drafted Tebow in the first round in Denver in 2010.

"I know that both our head coach and offensive coordinator are big fans of Tim Tebow and appreciate his unique skills," Kraft said. "He's just a great young man, and we’re looking forward to the rivalry -- and we want him to go see 'Evita.'"

Tebow recently went to see his first Broadway play in New York. Kraft jokingly mentioned "Evita" because he is financially invested in the play.

INDIANAPOLIS — If you didn't know by now, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft loves this team.

Kraft met again with the media on Wednesday to discuss his Patriots going for their fourth Super Bowl title under head coach Bill Belichick. Kraft, in his 18th year owning the team, said chemistry played a huge part in the team's success.

"This team is something special. This might be my favorite," Kraft said as the Patriots prepare for the New York Giants. "I have, like, 53 extra sons. Once again, I'll tell you, they presented me with an oil painting. It had to be planned out six to eight weeks in advance. And in this world where well-to-do players who are narcissistic and selfish, to take the time to give me something that was meaningful to me, every coach and player contributed to that.”

The Patriots certainly have their weaknesses. But they have proven to be able to mask those with toughness and playing to their strengths.

New England plays like a team and it’s easy to see that on the field. Kraft had an interesting comment Wednesday that made me think of the recent struggles with the AFC East-rival New York Jets.

"One thing I’ve learned is that many games are lost and won in the locker room before the game starts," Kraft said. "Now they have to go out and execute [in the Super Bowl]."

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has seen his share of football teams come and go. But the 2011-12 Patriots seems to be one of his favorite groups.

Kraft has been very complimentary of this season's team, and not just because they are winning. Kraft likes the character in the locker room, the team's mental and physical toughness, and the way this team has stayed together through the ups and downs.

That was never more on display Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens statistically outplayed the Patriots and led at one point in the fourth quarter. But New England answered and pulled out a dramatic 23-20 victory to advance to Super Bowl XLVI. New England will be going for its fourth Super Bowl title under head coach Bill Belichick.

"I believe in this team big time," Kraft said this week.

The matchup won't be easy. The New York Giants have won three straight playoff games against a trio of good teams -- the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers. New York also beat New England in the regular season.

Patriots-Giants is also a huge rematch of the Super Bowl XLII, when New York ruined New England's run for a perfect season. That loss four years later still sticks with Kraft and the Patriots organization.

"I've never been able to watch it," Kraft said of that game. "[Sunday], you saw a kick being missed at the end of the game. But that kick would have tied the game and then put it into overtime, which is amazing. I do remember the end of the game, a ball going through our cornerback’s hands [Asante Samuel] that if he had caught that ball and it hadn’t gone through his hands, we would have been able to take a knee and we would have won the game.

"And, you know, that Eli [Manning] doing a great job escaping from that pile of guys that we had on him, and whether the whistle blows and the great catch and all these things. In the end, there are a lot of little things. That was a great game, that was a great team and we’re looking forward to having the privilege of going to Indianapolis."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had never been in a game quite like this. It was evident when the 22-year-old Pro Bowler stood up to watch Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff line up for a 32-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining.

Leading by three points, Gronkowski followed his instincts and wanted to see Baltimore's triumph or train wreck. That's just the kind of guy "Gronk" is. Meanwhile, most of his Patriots teammates couldn't stomach the situation and looked the other way.

"I watched it, and I looked around I saw everybody not watching it," Gronkowski explained, somewhat surprised. "It's whatever way you want to take it. But I watched it, and I was glad watching it."

Cundiff shanked a chip shot wide left to give New England a 23-20 victory over Baltimore in the AFC Championship Game. The surprising finish helped the Patriots advance to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis to face the New York Giants on Feb. 5.

Many of Growkowski's teammates didn't realize they were going to the Super Bowl until the crowd at Gillette Stadium reacted. The response on the New England sideline was that of shock, disbelief and jubilation -- all wrapped into one moment.

In the end, the Patriots knew they were pushed to their limits -- and thrived. Yes, New England had three losses in the regular season. But the Patriots learned more about themselves in Sunday's heart-stopping, back-and-forth slugfest with Baltimore than all three losses combined.

New England entered this postseason going one-and-done in back-to-back seasons. This Patriots team won last week against the Denver Broncos with skill. But getting past Baltimore on Sunday took pure will.

"We are a pretty mentally tough team," Patriots receiver Wes Welker said. "We don’t even really get down or get too high or too low or anything like that. We just try to stay steady and understand that we need to make plays. No matter what the circumstances or what happens out there, we’re in it together and that’s how we’re going to win games."

How tough was this game for New England? The Patriots had to do something you didn't see from them all season: win with their 31st-ranked defense.

New England's much-maligned group held a three-point lead in the fourth quarter by stopping the Ravens on the final three possessions -- OK, maybe two? possessions -- to seal the game. New England's offense, which averaged 40.5 points in its previous four games, scored only 23 points and committed two turnovers.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was responsible for the offensive turnovers with two interceptions and admitted, "I sucked pretty bad today." New England had issues moving the ball for long stretches and also stalled in the red zone, where the Patriots were two of five.

New England's defense gave up 398 yards but stuffed the Ravens when it mattered.

"[The defense] is the real MVP of this game, without a shadow of a doubt," Patriots Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters said. "I'm sure there are some things they want to clean up. But more than anything, we put them in some bad situations and they kept us safe and clean and kept us in the game."

New England and Baltimore were unquestionably the two best teams in the AFC. The difference between them Sunday was only a missed field goal. The Patriots were just a little bit better.

There was talk of New England not beating anybody of substance all season. Before Sunday’s game, the Patriots hadn't defeated an opponent that finished with a winning record. The Denver Broncos (8-8) were the only playoff team the Patriots had beaten. New England swept Denver in two games -- once in the regular season and once in the divisional round of the playoffs.

When I mentioned this to Patriots veteran running back Kevin Faulk, he shrugged and indicated he didn't care. The Patriots have won 10 games in a row and are heading to the Super Bowl.

"We never put those teams on our schedule. The NFL schedules that," Faulk said. "So we just have to play the teams that they schedule for us. It doesn’t matter what their records are. They’re still a football team that’s in the NFL."

New England didn’t play its "A" game Sunday. The Ravens had a lot to do with it. But looking ahead, the Patriots will have to play a lot better to win their fourth Super Bowl of the Brady-Bill Belichick era.

Brady wasn’t happy with himself after the game but he did tie his childhood hero, Joe Montana, for the most playoff wins in NFL history. This was the first time in a long time Brady didn’t have much to do with New England’s postseason win. His defense was finally there to back him up after Brady carried the Patriots with an MVP-caliber season.

Despite Brady's performance, Patriots owner Robert Kraft entered the locker room Sunday night with a big smile and the AFC Championship trophy in hand. Kraft said he was comforted by something Brady told him after the game.

"Well, here's what he said to me: He said to me, 'I promise you I’m going to play a lot better in two weeks,’” Kraft said. "He's still pretty good in my book. I’ll take him over any quarterback."

The Patriots knew they were good. But it took the 18th game of the season for the Patriots to truly learn their level of toughness and resilience.

After being pushed to the limit by Baltimore, the Patriots will go to Indianapolis confidently knowing their team is championship material.

Here is scary news for the rest of the NFL: Tom Brady wants to play quarterback for the New England Patriots until he's 40 years old.

That means, theoretically, Brady and coach Bill Belichick plan to dominate the AFC East and keep New England in title contention until 2017. Brady will turn 35 in August.

But five more years? That is an eternity in the NFL in which the average career span is approximately 3-4 seasons. Does Brady have enough in the tank to play 17 years at such a demanding position?

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only four quarterbacks in NFL history have started on opening day at 40 or older. Warren Moon (41) was the oldest, followed by Brett Favre (40), Vinny Testaverde (40) and Johnny Unitas (40). Brady wants to become the fifth player to accomplish that feat.

Former quarterback and ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer played 14 seasons in the NFL and believes Brady will reach that goal. According to Dilfer, the key to quarterback durability is the lower body, not the upper body.

"What goes first with quarterbacks is their legs. Once you lose your legs, you kind of lose everything else," Dilfer explained. "I remember Kurt Warner talking about that late in his career, and obviously I experienced it. Every quarterback experiences it. I think Tom works hard enough to maintain the leg strength he needs to be as precise as he is, and I think he's a competitor that if he puts something in his mind that he's going to do something, he's a guy that goes out and does it.

"There's very few people in sports like that, talk about the Kobe Bryants and the greats in all sports. I think Tom is right up there. When he puts his mind to something, he's going to do it. So I fully expect him to be playing at 40 if he says he's going to."

It's hard to say when that window will close for Brady, who will lead the Patriots (14-3) in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens (13-4). He's proved over the past dozen years that as long as he's healthy, he's an elite player. Brady is an MVP candidate this season and by far the best remaining quarterback in the playoffs.

A case can made that Brady's three best statistical seasons occurred after 30 -- in 2007, 2010 and 2011. He also is coming off a record-tying, six-touchdown performance in a 45-10 playoff victory over the Denver Broncos. It was one of his top single-game performances.

Brady projects to be an elite player for at least the next two or three seasons. Injuries are probably the only thing that can derail him at this stage of his career.

Brady had reconstructive knee surgery and missed 15 games in 2008. Otherwise, he has had a clean bill of health. Outside of 2008, he has missed just one start since taking over the job in 2001.

"If anybody can pull it off, it's Brady, but like we saw with Peyton Manning, he could break down easier [with age] too," Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. "Manning may never be the same. He may never play at that same high level. Who knows? If Brady hits one stumbling block like Peyton did, all of a sudden 40 is a long way away for him. But nobody is playing better than Brady right now."

Brady has been fortunate with pass protection throughout his career. He has been sacked 26 times or fewer in six of the past seven seasons.

Former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi was a longtime teammate of Brady's and knows firsthand the importance of protecting the veteran quarterback. Brady is a classic pocket passer who moves well in the pocket. But he doesn't have the ability to run away from defenders.

"As players progress up into the years, the more shots you take, the shorter the second half of your career will be," Bruschi said. "And I think Tom Brady will play as well as his offensive line, his protection, allows him. I think he's shown over the course of the last few years that there are the usual [ailments], they're becoming normal now. Late in the season, where he had a rib or a shoulder or various injuries like that over the course of a season.

"You end up accumulating some damage, especially as a quarterback, because you're the most sought-after hit in terms of the defensive perspective. So if he can be protected, I think that goal is possible. He can play as long as he wants to."

Brady currently is playing with a left shoulder (non-throwing) injury that has to be managed during the playoffs. This week Brady sat out of Wednesday's practice to rehab and watched extra film of Baltimore's defense.

An under-the-radar aspect of Brady's longevity could be the development of tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Both have been tremendous weapons and security blankets for Brady in their second season together.

Throwing in the middle of the field is the quickest and easiest completion for quarterbacks. It also keeps the pass rush at bay.

"They're obviously a huge part of what we do," Brady said of his tight ends this week. "They are on the field quite a bit and they’ve been healthy so it’s been good to have them both out there. ... They're pretty good with the ball in their hands and break a lot of tackles so that’s definitely a plus for us also. We have a lot of yards after catch this year, and those two guys certainly do a great job with the ball in their hands."

Patriots owner Robert Kraft still remembers when the late-round draft pick came to Foxborough as a long shot in 2000. Kraft shared a great story about his first encounter with Brady this week.

"I still have the image of Tom Brady coming down the old Foxboro Stadium steps with that pizza box under his arm, the skinny beanpole," Kraft said. "When he introduced himself to me and he said, ‘Hi, Mr. Kraft,’ and he was about to say who he was and [I said], ‘I know who you are, you’re Tom Brady, you’re our sixth-round draft choice.’ He looked me in the eye and said, ‘I’m the best decision this organization has ever made.' It looks like he could be right, although hiring Bill Belichick, I think, also has been a pretty good decision."

Brady's Hall of Fame legacy is secure. If he retired today, Brady already would be among the top quarterbacks ever to play the position. He has three Super Bowl rings and could tie his childhood hero -- Joe Montana -- for the most playoff victories (16) with a win over Baltimore Sunday.

But the difference between being a top-five quarterback and the greatest ever could come down to these next five years. Brady can tie Montana (four) and Terry Bradshaw (four) for the most titles in these playoffs. But if Brady plays through age 40, he has a legitimate shot at being the winningest quarterback in NFL history.

"I'm really happy that we have him as our quarterback," Kraft said. "I hope we have the best quarterback and coach in the history of the game. I guess to prove that, we have a little more execution that we have to do over the next few years. I certainly hope we do it."

The New England Patriots will take their game overseas to the United Kingdom next season. The team announced it will play the St. Louis Rams at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 28.

For the Patriots, this will be considered a road game. The Rams agreed to a three-year series in the United Kingdom and will be the hosting team. The NFL is working to grow its international fan base.

"The response to NFL games in the U.K. among our British fans has been exceptional," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "We are confident that having the Rams host one game in the U.K. in each of the next three seasons will allow us to better serve the growing popularity of our sport beyond the borders of the United States."

The Patriots last played at Wembley Stadium in 2009. There is a chance New England could return to the United Kingdom as defending Super Bowl champions. The Patriots host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday in the AFC Championship Game for a chance to play in the Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

"We are honored to be selected for this year's game and eager to return," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. "We had such a great experience during our last visit to London. We are proud to have great support from our fans when we are on the road."

Buffalo Bills

Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: "The way most of the Buffalo Bills played Thursday night in their 16-6 loss to the Detroit Lions, it's likely that more players lost potential jobs, allowing others to win positions by default."

The Buffalo News' Jerry Sullivan writes that he remains skeptical that linebacker Shawne Merriman can still play at a high level for a full game.

Miami Dolphins

Ready or not, here comes the regular season. Greg Cote of The Miami Herald: "Preparing for an uber-anticipated Monday night season opener vs. mighty New England by playing an anticlimactic scrubs-only exhibition is sort of like getting ready for a heavyweight championship fight by sparring with your grandmother."

Selling tickets to Dolphins home games remains an issue for the franchise.

New England Patriots

Patriots owner Robert Kraft sat down with The Boston Globe's Greg A. Bedard to discuss the upcoming season, the team's high-profile acquisitions, his role in the new collective bargaining agreement and more.

Albert Haynesworth is in a happy place now, crediting the Patriots with saving his career.

New York Jets

ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini: "Their 2-2 record notwithstanding, the Jets can call it a successful preseason, mostly because they didn't suffer any major injuries to their starting lineup. That's no small accomplishment, considering there was no organized training in the offseason due to the lockout."

Gary Myers of the New York Daily News is sticking with his prediction of a Jets-Eagles showdown in the Super Bowl.

Buffalo Bills

Alex Carrington is still adjusting to his new role as a linebacker.

Kraig Urbik knows he'll have to be on top of his game Thursday night when the Bills face Ndamukong Suh and the Detroit Lions.

Miami Dolphins

Running back Larry Johnson hopes he gets a chance to show what he can do Thursday in the Dolphins' preseason finale.

Jake Long says he's not optimistic that he'll see the field Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys.

New England Patriots

Wide receiver Wes Welker remains hopeful that he'll be on the field for the regular-season opener after injuring his neck on Saturday.

Owner Robert Kraft shared his thoughts of Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth.

New York Jets

Coach Rex Ryan on his defense: "I wouldn't trade this defense for anybody's in the league. You're not going to be perfect, but will we end up being the best defense in football? I think so. Believe me, the least concern I have is about our defense. I think our defense is going to be outstanding."

The offense, on the other hand, still has some work to do.

The veteran receiver talks about being back and the impact Patriots owner Robert Kraft had on the NFL lockout.

Few owners in the history of professional sports have a moment like the one the New England Patriots' Robert Kraft experienced Monday afternoon in Washington, D.C.

At a time of deep personal pain, as he was grieving the death of his wife Myra, who passed away last Wednesday, Kraft was singled out as one of the main reasons the 2011 football season was saved. It was a powerful moment that couldn't be scripted.

To hear it was one thing. But this was one you had to see to really feel the impact.

It was the way 295-pound offensive lineman Jeff Saturday, a leader among the players' executive committee, brought his right arm around Kraft and pulled him close, Kraft's head nestling into Saturday's chest to receive the embrace with feeling.

If anyone needed a snapshot to know the NFL's lockout had officially come to an end, this was it. Players and owners united in a moment that had a strong New England twist.

For the follow story, click here.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft talks about the agreement to end the lockout.

Random thoughts and observations as we head into the homestretch of the lockout:

If free agency starts next Saturday, the latest tentative starting date, it'll make for a bizarro training camp. For the first few days of camp, teams will have swiss-cheese depth charts as their free agents shop the open market.

Imagine what it'll be like for the Jets: They will have Jerricho Cotchery (if medically cleared) and Patrick Turner as their starting wide receivers, with Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith potentially shopping for deals. At safety, you could see Jim Leonhard (if cleared) and Dwight Lowery, with Brodney Pool, Eric Smith and James Ihedigbo testing the market.

On, say, Day 3, they could have a new starting receiver show up, maybe Randy Moss. He'll sign his contract, receive a playbook and be sent out to the field to meet his new teammates. It's going to be chaos. It'll be a distraction for players and coaches, all of them wondering who's coming and who's going. It'll be taxing for the coaches, who will have to spend extra time teaching the system to new players. It'll be minicamp, OTAs and training camp all in one, with a revolving door of players. Fasten your seatbelt.

• I'm all for player safety, but the elimination of two-a-days and the reduction of padded practices in the regular season (only 14) is a bit ridiculous. Come on, it's football, not lawn tennis. I agree with Bart Scott; it'll make player soft. The product on the field will suffer, especially the tackling. Old-school coaches believe players lose their edge when they're not practicing in pads.

• The elimination of the No. 3 quarterback on the game-day roster, one of the proposed changes in the CBA, will increase the value of free agent-to-be Smith. A former college quarterback at Missouri, Smith can be the unofficial/emergency No. 3 while playing all his other roles. He'll save a roster spot or two, and that has value.

• I don't know Robert Kraft, and I didn't know his late wife, Myra, but after reading all the tributes and seeing the number of players and former players that attended her funeral (including Curtis Martin), it's not hard to see why the Patriots are such a well-run organization.

• You give Mike Tannenbaum six months to prepare for free agency, and you have to expect a big-splash move that catches people by surprise. He's not the wallflower type. If you're a Jets fan, though, you have to hope he doesn't outhink himself.

• If I'm the Jets and I can get Nnamdi Asomugha for Darrelle Revis money (about $11.5 million per year), with a creative, backloaded deal, I'd do it. I'd rather spend a few million more for Asomugha instead of overpaying Antonio Cromartie. How often does a player of Asomugha's caliber hit the open market? I say go for it.

• Question for owners: Was it really worth it?

The wife of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has died.

The team said in a statement posted on its website that Myra Hiatt Kraft died Wednesday morning after a battle with cancer.

Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic give their take on the sudden chaos once attorneys returned to the NFL labor negotiations.