ESPN, citing its own sources and a National Football Post report, says today that the Patriots have decided to franchise quarterback Matt Cassel for slightly more than $14 million. The Pats don’t have to make a decision until late February, but apparently they’re comfortable putting the tag on Cassel, who experienced a breakthrough season in place of Tom Brady.

The franchise tag pretty much guarantees that the Pats control Cassel’s fate, whether it’s returning next year as Brady insurance or departing in a trade.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Pats VP of player personnel Scott Pioli is scheduled to be interviewed by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday for their vacant GM post. According to their sources, however, that interview may be pushed up to Saturday - at Pioli’s request - so he can come to a decision between the Browns and Chiefs.

According to a report on the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s website, Browns owner Randy Lerner will be interviewing Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels today in the New York City area for the club’s head coaching position. Lerner has also met with VP of player personnel Scott Pioli about the vacant GM post.

McDaniels may also sit down with the Denver Broncos over the weekend.

McDaniels is the third candidate Lerner has interviewed for the Browns coaching job. Ex-Jets coach Eric Mangini and New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo have also had interviews. Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is also expected to be interviewed by Lerner today.

The ultimate hiring of the head coach, however, will likely hinge on whether or not Pioli takes on the role of running the football operations.

Colleague Ron Borges passed along word from his league sources that the Denver Broncos have received permission to speak with Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and could do so as early as this weekend, while they’re on the east coast, interviewing Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

According to ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is among the candidates that the Broncos are considering for their head coaching vacancy. In the report, Williamson writes the Broncos have asked for permission to speak with McDaniels, but have yet to get the official green light from the Pats - which is expected.

McDaniels, who just completed his third season as offensive coordinator, has become a bit of a hot commodity, as that’s the third team - Detroit and Cleveland the others - who have sought interviews.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer, citing a league source with knowledge of the negotiations, just reported that Pats vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli was not on a strict deadline to give the Browns an answer today on their general manager job.

The newspaper’s website also indicated the Browns’ planned session with Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, which was scheduled for today, was put off for a later date. He is a candidate for the same job as Pioli.

What might all this mean?

The Herald had reported in its sports pages Pioli had to provide an answer today. It could be the two sides are still working toward a deal, and needed more time to hammer out something workable for both parties. The Browns appear to be enamored with former Jets coach Eric Mangini, and would like him to be the next Browns coach. It’s not clear if this works for Pioli, whose first choice is Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, or if it’s a potential deal breaker, given the friction between Mangini and Bill Belichick as well as the Pats organization as a whole.

Pioli also has permission to be interviewed by Kansas City for its vacant GM post, and going into the process, wanted to meet with the Chiefs as well as the Browns.

Given the yeoman work he did in 35-to-50 mile-an-hour winds at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Sunday’s 13-0 in, Pat’s punter Chris Hanson earned AFC special teams player of the week honors. Hanson punted three times for 135 yards (45.0 average). His best punt of the day came against the wind, as he was able to connect on a 46-yard punt from deep in his own territory to put the Bills back on their 36.

During a conference call with the media, Jerod Mayo talked about receiving AP’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award. 

”It definitely means a lot to me. I know when they first drafted me, I was going to a winning organization, and guys that would support me, and there would be guys on the team I could learn from,” Mayo said. ”But I look at it as a team award, because I couldn’t have done it without those guys. ”

Prior to the season starting, Mayo had told media members he would work toward being the best linebacker he could be, and planned on winning the award. So it seems like it was a mission accomplished.

”That was one of my personal goals coming into the season, but the team goals came first, and we fell short,” Mayo said. ”We won 11 games. My main goal is to make it to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. It’s definitely an honor to win this award. Hopefully, I can build off this and have a successful campaign next year.”

Jerod Mayo, who adapted quickly to the Patriots complex defense in his first year, takes home the Associated Press 2008 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

According to the AP story, Mayo, selected with the 10th overall pick by the Pats, was nearly a unanimous choice, earning 49 of 50 votes from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league,  The inside linebacker led the team with 137 tackles.

”Jerod’s done a lot for us,” coach Bill Belichick was quoted as saying in the AP story. “We’ve asked a lot of him and from Day 1 he’s really been a well-prepared, very mature player who can do a lot of things: play the running game, play in the passing game, blitz, helps us in the kicking game.”

The Pats signed five players to future contracts, including defensive lineman Tutus Adams, linebacker Angelo Craig, punter Tom Malone, linebacker Darrell Robertson and offensive lineman Ryan Wendell. All five, who will join the team when the 2009 year begins on Feb. 27th, closed out the season on the Pats practice squad.

Colleague Ron Borges, passing along info from his sources, says the Detroit Lions have asked to talk with Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels about their head coaching job. The Lions, who recorded the worst record in NFL history by going 0-16 this season, had fired Rod Marinelli earlier today.

McDaniels is also said to be a candidate for the vacant head coaching position in Cleveland. So the off-season for the Pats is really starting to heat up in terms of potentially losing personnel both on the coaching staff, and front office, with vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli also being wooed for several GM positions.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer, citing multiple sources, writes that Pats Vice President of Player Personnal Scott Pioli is very interested in the Browns vacant GM position, and could interview for the job as early as Tuesday.

The Browns have been granted permission by the Patriots to interview Pioli, who has been with the Pats the past nine seasons. According to Mary Kay Cabot’s report, Pioli has also been contacted by either the Kansas City Chiefs or Detroit Lions and will interview for that job as well as the Browns job.

Cleveland owner Randy Lerner, along with targetting Scott Pioli for his vacant GM’s position, earlier today told reporters Pat’s offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was one of several candidates the Browns on his wish list to fill his now open coaching job.

Earlier in the day, Lerner fired Romeo Crennel from the post.

McDaniels hails from Ohio, having attended McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio. His father Thom McDaniels was a long time head coach at McKinley. He’s also currently head coach at Jackon High in Massillon, Ohio.

The Patriots’ opponents for 2009 have been released and they’re brutal. As things stand today, it can be argued that there’s not a single gimme on the entire schedule. Instead of playing the putrid NFC West, as they did this season, the Pats have to deal with the following:

Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Just for fun, this year’s playoff teams are in bold. Clearly, if the Patriots are going to make the playoffs, they’re going to have earn it.

Here are the opponents for the rest of the AFC next year.

AFC EAST

1. Miami Dolphins

Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

2. New England Patriots

Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

3. New York Jets

Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4. Buffalo Bills

Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

AFC NORTH

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

2. Baltimore Ravens

Home: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Away: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

4. Cleveland Browns

Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

AFC SOUTH

1. Tennessee Titans

Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

2. Indianapolis Colts

Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Away: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

3. Houston Texans

Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Away: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

AFC WEST

1. San Diego Chargers

Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

2. Denver Broncos

Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

3. Oakland Raiders

Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

4. Kansas City Chiefs

Home: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Away: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner told reporters this morning he had received permission to talk to New England Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli about the club’s now vacant GM’s post. 

Pats coach Bill Belichick avoided discussion on the topic during his recently completed press conference. The Cleveland Plain Dealer website has more Lerner’s remarks and the direction the team is headed.

The Patriots did their part today, but did not receive one ounce of help from their playoff rivals and became just the second 11-5 team in history to miss the postseason.

The Pats’ fate was not sealed until the Dolphins held on to beat the Jets 24-17. Coming on the heels of Baltimore’s easy victory over the Jaguars, the Pats were denied the AFC East and wild card, respectively.

Here are some of the highlights from today, with the obvious caveat that when reporters spoke to players and coaches, they did not yet know their postseasonfate.

WHAT A SEASON: There are not enough superlatives to describe what Matt Cassel did this season. He transformed himself from a guy that was going to be cut at the end of training camp to one who’s either going to be one of the premier free agents on the market or earn the franchise tag from the Patriots for roughly $12 million.

“I don’t think you can say enough,” noted center Dan Koppen. “Matt’s gotten better every week and become a really great NFL quarterback.”

Koppen used the word “great” intentionally and at this point it’s hard to argue. If Cassel hits the market, he may end up making $30 million guaranteed.

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY: The wind was something to behold at Ralph Wilson, with gusts topping 60 mph and the goal posts practically bending sideways to the ground. Brian Moorman is a Pro Bowl punter whose first attempt boomed off his leg like a 50-yarder before traveling all of 13 yards. Pats Pro Bowler Stephen Gostkowski started a 26-yard field goal down the middle, only to see it hook practically off the field. He had an extra point clear the uprights and then almost blow back through. He did somehow manage to make a pair of field goals.

“It’s definitely a factor when the winds are going over 40 and 50 miles per hour,” Gostkowski said. “It’s not like it was one way.  The winds kept switching in and out.  It was insane and I’m lucky I didn’t miss all three of them.  I’m pretty happy I made two of them … You can’t beat Mother Nature.”

GROUND ASSAULT: With the wind wreaking havoc on the passing game, the Patriots rushed for 168 yards on 47 carries. They only attempted eight passes all afternoon, and Cassel completed six of them.  Sammy Morris led the way with 85 yards, while LaMont Jordan chipped in with 64 and a touchdown.

THE AGONY OF DEFEAT: Might as well get to the whole playoff thing. The Patriots did their part. It’s hard to argue with 11-5. But the Jaguars didn’t show up against the Ravens and the Jets continued the mistake-prone ways that defined them down the stretch and that was the end of that.

While missing the postseason is disappointing, and the Patriots can say all they want about success being measured in championships, let’s face facts — this was a successful season, even if it ended today. With no Tom Brady and a slew of injuries on both sides of the ball, the Pats could have folded up shop like the Bills or Browns or any of the other teams that had no shot at the postseason.

It’s a credit to them that they hung in there. They can get after it again next year.

Said head coach Bill Belichick tonight after the team landed and returned to Foxboro: “As disappointed as we are that the season is over, I remain very proud of this team.”

There were all kinds of conspiracy theories floating around this week that the NFL was out to “screw” the Patriots by moving the Jets game to 4 p.m.

Apparently, Mother Nature has it in for the Pats, too.

The story of the first half has had nothing to do with the teams on the field or the strategies employed by either coach, and everything to do with a wind so bad that it took a dead-center Stephen Gostkowski 26-yard field goal and blew it practically out of the side of the end zone.

That, mind you, was after the officials had to halt play so some guy with a ladder and length of rope could lasso the goal posts and pull them up straight after they had been blown to a 45-degree angle by gusts reaching 60 mph.

It’s 3-0 Patriots and in retrospect, Gostkowski earned his Pro Bowl nod with the 33-yarder he made with the wind at his back in the first quarter.

The wind is doing CRAZY things to the ball and the box score reflects it with a stats line that could be straight out of the Tri-County League. At halftime the two quarterbacks have combined to complete 7 of 8 passes for 55 yards.

To anyone starting Trent Edwards or Matt Cassel in their fantasy finals … here’s hoping you get points for completion percentage. And sorry.

Bills running back Fred Jackson set a career-high when he carried for the 17th time with a minute left in the first half. The two teams have rushed 45 times for 205 yards, with Jackson gaining 103 by himself.

This game may be decided by which squad can tear off a 70-yard touchdown run. Considering that the two defenses are basically playing 11 in the box, and that the leading receiver for either team is Patriots fullback Heath Evans (2 receptions, 31 yards), here’s hoping you compulsive types bet the under.

The half, incidentally, ended with the Bills unable to attempt a game-tying field goal because time ran out before they could get to the line of scrimmage. There was a scrum in the Pats defensive backfield that helped New England’s cause.

The second half oughta be fun.

Two series into the Patriots-Bills game, the wind is wreaking havoc, as expected. Neither team has attempted a pass, and punts have been an adventure. Pro Bowler Brian Moorman drilled his first punt into the wind … and watched it promptly blow back into his face. It ended up traveling all of 13 yards.

When the Pats punted with the wind at their back, return man Leodis McKelvin couldn’t get a handle on it and his stumbling attempt at a fair catch ended up ticking off his hands and into the end zone, where the Pats’ Matthew Slater could not corral it and the Bills recovered it for a touchback.

This is going to be an adventure. The teams might combine for 100 rushes.

Tom Curran at NBCsports.com has an in-depth look at Tom Brady’s rehab from left knee surgery and sounds a bleak tone over the franchise quarterback’s recovery.

According to the report, Brady is well behind in his rehab, has developed scar tissue that may require surgery to remove, and most seriously of all, his ACL and MCL are “loose,” which makes him more susceptible to injury in 2009. The only way to tighten the ligaments up would be with a second surgery that would end his 2009.

Matt Cassel should probably get ready to be franchised, at the very least.

The inactives for today’s game were just released and the Bills are going to be down three key players: running back Marshawn Lynch, left tackle Jason Peters, and return man supreme Roscoe Parrish. Add corner Jabari Greer and the Bills are going to have a lot starters on the sidelines.

No surprises among the Pats inactives, most of which have already been announced:

DB Lewis Sanders
DB Ray Ventrone
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis
LB Tedy Bruschi
T Wesley Britt
G Billy Yates
DE Richard Seymour
3rd QB Matt Gutierrez