FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots listed 21 players on their final injury report before the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos.

Receiver Julian Edelman (foot) and tight end Rob Gronkowski were among the 16 listed as questionable. Quarterback Tom Brady (ankle) was listed as probable with four other players. Brady didn’t miss any practice this week.

The Patriots held their final practice in New England on Friday. They will play the Broncos in Denver on Sunday for a chance to go to Super Bowl 50.

Danny Amendola was fined $23,152 for a blindside block during a punt in the playoff victory over Kansas City.

Amendola was back as the return man when Jamell Fleming of Kansas City circled under a kick in an attempt to down it inside the 5. Amendola lowered his head and took the Chiefs’ coverage man out with a hit to the shoulder and head. He was flagged for unnecessary roughness.

Coach Bill Belichick defended the hit, saying this week, “It was a legal play. We’re allowed to block him.”

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The Patriots went on to win 27-20 and advance to the AFC title game Sunday at Denver.

TEXANS: Houston hired Larry Izzo as special teams coordinator, Sean Ryan to coach wide receivers and Anthony Weaver as defensive line coach.

Izzo replaces Bob Ligashesky, who was let go earlier this month, and Ryan takes over for Stan Hixon, who was also fired after the season. Weaver takes the place of Paul Pasqualoni, who resigned this week.

Izzo, who played 14 seasons in the NFL, spent the last five years as the assistant special teams coach of the New York Giants.

BEARS: Chicago hired Dave Ragone as quarterbacks coach to work under new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.

Loggains was promoted from quarterbacks coach to coordinator nearly two weeks ago, filling Adam Gase’s vacated position after Gase was hired as Miami’s head coach.

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Ragone has coached four seasons in the NFL. He was an offensive quality control coach for Washington last season after spending three years as an assistant for Tennessee, coaching receivers in 2011 and 2012, and quarterbacks in 2013.

PANTHERS: Defensive end Jared Allen was ruled out for the NFC championship game Sunday against Arizona with a foot injury.

Kony Ealy will start in his place.

SEAHAWKS: Running back Marshawn Lynch may be “leaning toward retirement,” General Manager John Schneider said in a pair of radio interviews.

Schneider said in separate interviews with KIRO-AM and KJR-AM that he believes Lynch is leaning toward ending his career. But Schneider cautioned that with Lynch, “you never really know.”

BUCCANEERS: John Lynch is the latest addition to the team’s Ring of Honor.

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Lynch, a hard-hitting safety, played his first 11 seasons with the Bucs, and teamed with Hall of Famers Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks to form the nucleus of a defense that helped transform a franchise that was the laughingstock of the NFL into Super Bowl champions. He spent the final four seasons of a 15-year career with Denver.

CARDINALS: George Boone, a longtime player personnel executive for Arizona, died at age 77.

Boone was the team’s director of player personnel from 1973 to 1991. He served as the team’s assistant personnel director for the preceding five years.

WASHINGTON: Greg Manusky is returning to the team as outside linebackers coach.

Manusky is a former player and, later, linebackers coach for Washington.

JAGUARS: Jacksonville gave Coach Gus Bradley a one-year contract extension and promoted Todd Wash to defensive coordinator.

The Jaguars also promoted Tony Sorrentino to assistant receivers coach, promoted Aaron Whitecotton to assistant defensive line coach and hired Daniel Bullocks as assistant defensive backs coach.

THE NFL Players Association and daily sports fantasy website FanDuel are teaming up.

Active NFL players will be allowed to participate in FanDuel’s product marketing and promotions under a multiyear group licensing partnership.


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