Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is focused on his next game - not the ones that follow.

On Friday, Belichick was asked if he'd retire should the Patriots defeat the New York Giants in Super Boxl XLVI on Sunday.

His response? Well, none.

Belichick elected to brush aside the question and keep focused on both the Giants as well as the health of tight end Rob Gronkowski and his team in general.

The 59-year-old Belichick has spent 37 years of his life in the NFL.

The NFL will take a more prominent role on Thursdays.

Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Friday that NFL Network will air 13 games in the upcoming 2012 NFL season.

The network, which currently airs eight games a season, will begin its coverage in Week 2.

“We think that's great for the fans ... and that's great for the network,” Goodell said at his annual state of the NFL news conference on Friday.

Goodell also noted that while he'd love for the NFL to have a team in Los Angeles, there has been no talk of expanding the league to 34 clubs.

There are two current proposals to build a new stadium in the suburban Los Angeles area.

Los Angeles is the nation's second largest media market.

New York Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty promised a parade next week, essentially guaranteeing a Super Bowl victory.

For their part, the New England Patriots were less than impressed with Canty's comments, according to the New York Daily News.

“They've got a parade?” Patriots wideout Deion Branch told the newspaper. “I don't know, man. Anybody can throw a parade. I can throw a parade if I want to. I think anybody can throw a parade.”

New England tackle Matt Light also dismissed Canty's comments, saying it goes “in one ear and out the other.”

Canty told the New York Daily News to “get ready for a great game on Super Bowl Sunday. And get ready for a parade on Tuesday.”

The two teams will play on Sunday in Super Bowl XLVI - with a parade going to the winner.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick detailed on Friday that tight end Rob Gronkowski is no worse for wear after his first practice since suffering a left high ankle sprain.

“I think he's OK this morning. I think he's OK. I don't think we had any setbacks,” Belichick said.

Gronkowski, who returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday, is expected to play in Sunday's Super Bowl versus the New York Giants.

Prior to Thursday's practice, Gronkowski played to the camera and exagerated his injury to the laughter of many.

Gronkowski suffered the injury during the team's AFC Championship Game win over the Baltimore Ravens.

On Wednesday, Gronkowski said the team is looking into a specialized cleat he could wear on Sunday.

Gronkowski has had a monster season, setting league records for tight ends for touchdowns (17) and receiving yards (1,327).

He also came up huge in New England's 45-10 playoff win over Denver, hauling in 10 catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford admitted he wants a ring.

When pressed as to which he'd like first - a Super Bowl ring or one to announce an engagement - a clearly flushed Stafford chose the former.

Although Stafford has been dating girlfriend Kelly Hall, the Lions quarterback admitted that the young couple won't be headed to the alter “anytime soon.”

As for the question posed by the host of the “The Dan Patrick Show,” the 23-year-old Stafford admitted that winning on the NFL's grandest stage is his highest priority.

“Oh, my gosh, this guy,” Stafford answered. “Hopefully, (a) Super Bowl ring. Hopefully, (a) Super Bowl ring.”

The top overall pick of the 2009 draft, Stafford completed 421 of 663 passes for a career-best 5,038 yards with 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions this season.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay refuted an ESPN report which detailed that quarterback Peyton Manning received clearance from doctors to return to football.

After the network reported that the NFL's only four-time Most Valuable Player had been medically cleared to resume his NFL career, Irsay took to Twitter to set the record straight.

“Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for the Indianapolis Colts,” Irsay wrote late Thursday. “Team statement coming on Friday.”

Manning, who underwent three surgical procedures on his neck in a 19-month period that forced him to sit out the entire 2011 season, received the green light from two doctors, according to ESPN's report.

One of them was Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed the last surgery on Manning in September - a cervical neck fusion to repair a bulging disk.

However, Manning still faces a significant hurdle to getting back on the field as he awaits the nerves in his right arm to regenerate.

That has been the biggest issue since Manning was given the OK to resume throwing in December. Doctors have no way to predict a timetable for the nerve regeneration.

Signed to a long-term contract before the season, Manning is due a $28 million roster bonus on March 8. If the Colts decline to pay the bonus, he will become a free agent.

Indianapolis has the No. 1 selection in April's NFL draft and is expected to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.