The New England Patriots have fired coach Jerod Mayo after one season, beginning another reboot for the franchise just a year after it parted with longtime coach Bill Belichick.

Owner Robert Kraft announced the firing in a statement shortly after New England closed its 4-13 season with a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Kraft called it “one of the hardest decisions” he’s had to make.

A former Patriots linebacker who worked as an assistant under Belichick, Mayo started the season with a strong endorsement from Kraft. But he struggled to get the most out of a young roster that included rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

Patriots players publicly stated their support for Mayo, but team sources have described a poor culture with a lack of leadership that can make demanding and decisive decisions.

The Patriots must now open their first head-coaching search in 25 years. Former Tennessee Titans head coach and ex-Patriots player Mike Vrabel is expected to be a strong candidate for the job.

Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf is currently expected to remain in his current role as de-facto general manager.

Browns fire OC Dorsey, O-line coach Dickerson

The Cleveland Browns fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson following their 3-14 season.

Dorsey and Dickerson were informed of the moves in the aftermath of the team’s 35-10 loss in Baltimore on Saturday.

Dorsey and Dickerson were in Cleveland for just one season.

Cleveland’s offense struggled under Dorsey, who was fired last season by Buffalo. The Browns scored more than 20 points in only three games and the unit was plagued by injuries. Dickerson had the tough job of replacing Bill Callahan, the former NFL head coach who left to join his son Brian’s staff with Tennessee.

Frustrated Hill appears to want out of Miami

Tyreek Hill could be on his way out of Miami.

The star wide receiver appeared to indicate after the Dolphins’ 32-20 loss to the New York Jets that he might want to play elsewhere next season.

Hill said he has to do what’s best for him and his family and he’s “opening the door” and added “I’m out.” Hill had two catches for 20 yards against the Jets after being listed as questionable with a wrist injury and illness.

Coach Mike McDaniel said he was told in the second half Hill was unavailable to play and it wasn’t because of a new injury.

PGA

Matsuyama sets record in win at The Sentry

Hideki Matsuyama is off to a record-breaking start to the new PGA Tour season.

The Japanese star made an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole at The Sentry to break the tour’s record to par.

He finished at 35-under par, breaking by one the record set three years ago at Kapalua by Cameron Smith. Matsuyama also set the PGA Tour mark with 35 holes at birdie or better for a tournament.

It added to a three-shot victory over Collin Morikawa. Matsuyama now has three big wins in the last 10 months. Kapalua is his 11th career PGA Tour title.

women’s College basketball

Bueckers injures knee in win against Villanova

Geno Auriemma has seen more than his fair share of “freaky” injuries over the last few years.

When UConn star guard Paige Bueckers went down with a knee injury late in the third quarter going for a loose ball, he hoped this wouldn’t be another one of those.

The early reports the Hall of Fame coach said of the severity of it were encouraging.

“The news from what you can tell was not lousy,” Auriemma said after the 83-52 victory over Villanova. “Let’s put it that way.”

Bueckers had 15 points and nine assists before getting hurt. The injury occurred in the same knee that she tore her ACL in 2022.

Bueckers was going for a loose ball when Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe dove and went into the All-Americans’ left knee, bending it back awkwardly.

The redshirt senior sat on the court for a minute before limping off. She went to the locker room before returning to the bench a few minutes later with ice on the knee. She didn’t go back into the game.

Gophers’ Plitzuweit earns 400th win

The Minnesota women’s basketball team (15-1, 3-1 Big Ten) fought back from an 11-point deficit to beat the Illinois Fighting Illini (11-4, 1-3 Big Ten) 68-61 at Williams Arena.

The win marked head coach Dawn Plitzuweit’s 400th career win. Plitzuweit has a career record of 400-158 and is 35-17 in her second season leading the Gophers.

men’s College basketball

Kansas bids to stay in Top 10 with big win

Hunter Dickinson scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half and No. 7 Kansas posted the second-largest margin of victory in program history, beating UCF 99-48 in a Big 12 matchup.

The Jayhawks (10-3 overall, 1-1 Big 12) are vying to remain in the top 10 of the rankings after losing their third game of the season on Tuesday at West Virginia.

IIHF hockey

U.S. defeats Finland in OT for Juniors title

Teddy Stiga scored on a breakaway at 8:04 of 3-on-3 overtime to give the United States a 4-3 victory over Finland in the world junior hockey championship game.

The Boston College forward beat goalie Petteri Rimpinen through the leg pads to end it.

The Americans avenged a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland in group play, overcoming a two-goal deficit in the second period to win their second straight title and seventh overall.

Boston University teammates Brandon Svoboda and Cole Hutson scored late in the second period to tie it.

Svoboda cut it to 3-2 with 2:22 left on a deflected shot, and Hutson fired a wrist shot from the slot past Rimpinen with 29 seconds remaining.

Boston College’s James Hagens also scored.

— From news services