The New England Patriots began the NFL free agent signing period Friday by signing veteran running back Fred Taylor to an undisclosed contract. The Boston Globe reported that the 33-year-old Taylor, who spent his entire career with Jacksonville before the Jaguars released him this month, has scored 62 touchdowns after 11,271 rushing yards in 11 NFL seasons.

"Now we can look ahead." Bill Belichick, a coach of few words, said it all with that sentence after his New England Patriots claimed the AFC championship trophy.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick didn't like the way the defense executed in the first half and sure enough he expressed his displeasure to the players. "We get cussed out every week.

Minnesota counts itself among the many NFL franchises trying to copy the New England Patriots' plan for success. The Vikings learned on Monday night that they still have a lot of catching up to do.

MINNEAPOLIS - Rhys Lloyd's 51-yard field goal try drifted left with 28 seconds remaining, allowing 19th-ranked Iowa to hold on for a 29-27 victory over Minnesota Saturday - the Hawkeyes' sixth straight win.