DENVER -- The Patriots earned a first-round bye in the playoffs -- a valuable week off that will let the players rest their legs and the crdinators schedule their job interviews.Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia have been considered among the best minds in ftball for a while now. The jobs theyre doing this season -- their latest gems came in a 16-3 victory over the Broncos on Sunday -- have only bolstered their standing.McDaniels best work of 2016 came at the beginning, when he was preparing the offense to go the first four games without Tom Brady while the quarterback served his Deflategate suspension. Using backup quarterbacks, New England won the first three and scored 81 points. From there, the Patriots offense has adjusted, as usual, amid a slew of injuries, including that to All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski.Patricia is being lauded for virtually revamping the defense on a near-weekly basis. He has dealt with personnel shuffling -- including the offseason trade of Chandler Jones, the early suspension of Rob Ninkovich and the Jamie Collins trade in midseason- but has also managed to give his defense, devoid of big stars, completely new lks almost every week, depending on the opponent.The Patriots (12-2) enter the final two weeks of the season with the best record in the AFC. They won their eighth straight division title and have already guaranteed themselves a bye in the first week of the playoffs.Patricia and McDaniels would be available for interviews during that off week, if they chse. Last month, when the NFL Career Development Advisory Panel put out a preliminary list of head-coaching candidates, it left McDaniels off the list. That came in the wake of reports that the 40-year-old coach was more interested in replacing head coach Bill Belichick someday than starting over elsewhere.In an un-Patriots-like move, McDaniels went out of his way to say hed love another crack at a head coaching job. Currently, there are openings in Los Angeles and Jacksonville. In his first shot at being a head coach, McDaniels started 6-0 in Denver, but was fired early in his second season after losing 17 of the next 22. Lowlights of his tenure included a videotaping scandal and his draft pick of Tim Tebow -- one of many personnel moves that caused problems and ultimately didnt work out.There are only 32 of those (jobs) in the world, he said. Theyre opportunities that dont come along very often, and if you would ever be so fortunate and blessed to have another opportunity to do it ... it would be an opportunity that I would lk forward to.His latest triumph, on a frigid day in Denver, was more the product of subtle tactics than any single huge stroke of brilliance. New England stayed patient with its running game, and though Brady threw for only 188 yards, the running backs gained 137. The Patriots didnt lose the ball and created three turnovers.It makes you more difficult to defend when you dont have to force the ball to one thing or use one portion of the offense to move it, McDaniels said Monday.For the last two games on defense, the Patriots have figured out how to pressure the quarterback using only three or four rushers. Patricia is a master of bringing pressure from every angle. New England made Denvers offense one-dimensional in two ways: limiting the running game to 57 yards and taking Denver receiver Emmanuel Sanders almost completely out of the game (3 catches, 48 yards). The Patriots have allowed the fewest points (233) in the league.Asked about the defenses preparation on a short week, after a Monday win over Baltimore, safety Devon McCourty said: You could tell. Guys were talking. Guys were communicating. Were trying to get to our (scout) offenses the best we can so when we get out here on Sunday we can just fly around, and I think thats what you saw out there today.McDaniels could have an edge in Los Angeles or Jacksonville because those teams might be lking for an offensive mind after years of being coached by former defensive crdinators. Patricia could be the hot candidate for any other job that comes open, given his uncanny ability to morph his defense from week to week.To hear Belichick tell it, any team would be fortunate to get either coach.They should absolutely be on any head coaching list, he said recently. I cant imagine that there are many other coaches that could present a resume equal or comparable to theirs. Theyve done a great job here for a sustained period of time, so a great track record. I personally think that a list of head-coaching candidates that didnt include them would be incomplete.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Kevin Huerter Hawks Jersey . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schling the Ducks in power ftball. Alex Len Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.authenticbasketballshophawks.info/tracy-mcgrady-hawks-jersey/ . 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Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber believes his league is in transition when it comes to star players.Its a youth movement slowly taking hold as teams shift from older designated players to younger options to fill the premier roles.Without doubt the target is younger players who are coming at the prime of their career or even as theyre beginning to establish their career, Garber said.Garber spoke with The Associated Press by phone this week leading to Saturdays MLS Cup final between Seattle and Toronto, discussing the hiring of national coach Bruce Arena and league expansion to Atlanta and Minnesota in 2017.The evolution of the designated player role is tilting younger, with some of the bigger and older names leaving. Stars like Sebastian Giovinco, Mauro Diaz and Jozy Altidore are in their prime and spending that time in MLS.Thats not to say MLS will close the dr on prominent players lking to the league as a place to spend their final few seasons -- in the manner of Robbie Keane, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Andrea Pirlo. David Villa at 34 was the MLS MVP this season, and Garber raves about his role.But Garber suspects the older stars will supplement the league as it moves forward.The strategy in the past might have been to sign players that were well known who have already established their legend playing someplace else, Garber said. Now were able to bring in a (Nicolas) Lodeiro who is an accomplished player at 28, but hes the MLS newcomer of the year and were hoping he can create a legend for himself in Major League Soccer and in Seattle.Certainly Sebastian Giovinco has been able to prove that, and Giovani dos Santos who has seen his career really rise to an entirely new level by playing in (Los Angeles). Its part of the evolution of our league.The tipping point, Garber believes, has been the success of Giovinco, who signed with Toronto in 2015 at 28 and was the league MVP in his first season. Garber also noted the performances of Ignacio Piatti in Montreal and Diego Valeri in Portland as key signings in helping create the shift.Somebody told me the other day its OK to give those guys who helped get us here a gold watch, Garber saidd.dddddddddddd But now its time to sign players who are younger, who arent thinking about that gold watch. Theyre thinking about winning some silverware, the MLS Cup trophy.Among other topics Garber addressed as MLS completes its 21st season:U.S. SOCCER: Garber expects a strong relationship between Arena and the league, but did not address whether Arenas appointment will lead to more MLS players being considered for the national team. Garber also remained confident of the U.S. qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia despite losing its first two matches in the final qualifying round.Were obviously very excited about him taking the reins of our national team, Garber said. He knows our league. He knows our national team and hes deeply experienced in knowing the game and managing the game.COMING ON BOARD: Garber is pleased with the foundation set by Atlanta and Minnesota, the two expansion teams coming on board in 2017, bringing the league to 22 teams. Atlanta has topped the 20,000 season-ticket plateau. Minnesota will break ground next week on its soccer-specific stadium.Los Angeles Ftball Club will join the league in 2018 as the 23rd team. Garber seemed less enthusiastic about David Beckhams drawn-out attempt at bringing a team to Miami as the leagues 24th franchise. Asked about developments on that front, Garber said, Nothing new on Miami.Garber confirmed new guidelines and a timeline on expansion to 28 teams is expected to be put in place at league meetings this month.CHINA: Garber doesnt see the Chinese Super League as a competitor even though it is luring recognized players with large contracts.I dont believe they are a competitor at all, Garber said. When professional soccer grows in emerging markets its a positive for the professional sports business.SCHEDULING: MLS expects to release its 2017 schedule shortly after the New Year, with the season likely starting in early March. Garber said the league plans to be mindful of FIFAs international breaks for national team commitments and next summers CONCACAF Gold Cup. ' ' '