Luck isn’t dismissing one of the league’s premier young quarterbacks the one who engineered an epic Colts’ comeback against the Kansas City Chiefs on wild-card weekend. But Brady didn’t watch any of Luck’s heroics in the game.

Instead, he focused on the Indianapolis defense.

“Truthfully, I’m not worried about the opposing quarterback,” Brady said on his weekly Boston radio show, WEEI. “I’m thinking about the defense and what I need to do to play against them.

“I didn’t watch one snap of Indy’s offense, nor will I this week. I’ll be focused on the defense and what we need to do to score points, because that’s what my job is.”

Indeed, while it’s natural to pit the quarterbacks against one another, Brady needs to be far more worried about linebacker Robert Mathis, who led the NFL with 19.5 sacks in the regular season. According to Pro Football Talk, Mathis has sacked Brady five times in seven games.

“He kind of wreaks a lot of havoc,” Brady conceded, according to ESPNBoston.com. “We’ve got to be able to figure out how to slow him down and then we’ve got to be really balanced on offense like we’ve been. We’ve got to run it, and when we throw, we’ve got to throw it good.”

Brady has a playoff record of 17-7, compared to 1-1 for Luck. Brady also has three Super Bowl titles. He doesn’t need to give Luck his full attention, obviously. But the way Luck played that second half against the Chiefs, somebody in the Patriots’ locker room better keep an eye on him.


DOLPHINS FIRE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR


The Miami Dolphins have fired offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, the team announced on Monday. Sherman, who coached both Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill in college and head coach Joe Philbin in high school, worked with them for two seasons.

Sherman, 59, was the scapegoat of the Dolphins' late offensive woes that cost the team an AFC wild-card playoff berth in the final two weeks. Miami managed only 7 points in back-to-back ugly losses to the Bills and Jets.

Overall, the Dolphins finished 24th in scoring offense (21.0 points per game), 26th in total offense (yardage) and 25th in rushing offense. Although Tannehill improved his completion percentage, doubled his touchdown pass total (from 12 to 24) and bumped up his passer rating, there was still a regression in two key categories from his rookie season: interceptions (13 to 17) and sacks (35 to 58).

Sherman had developed Tannehill into a first-round quarterback prospect while the pair were at Texas A&M together. But according to multiple reports, the Tannehill-Sherman relationship had a bit of a fracture late in 2013.

Before joining the Dolphins in 2012, Sherman had been head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 2000-2005. While early in his career at Worcester (Mass.) Academy, Philbin, 52, was on that team. Philbin got his first opportunity as NFL assistant for Sherman's Packers from 2003-'05, before his eventual promotion to Green Bay's offensive coordinator and hiring by Miami.

“I would like to thank Mike for his contributions to the Miami Dolphins,” Philbin said in a team-issued statement. “Mike has been a mentor to me throughout my coaching career, dating back to 1979. He is a man of great integrity, dedicated to his family, his team, his players and his profession. On behalf of the entire Miami Dolphins organization I want to wish Mike and his family the very best in the future.”

Moving on from Sherman, the Dolphins will look first for someone who can work better with Tannehill and his promising group of receivers, as well as restore consistency to the offenisve line and ground game.


CRABTREE ‘GREATEST’


Remember when a guy named Jerry Rice played for the San Francisco 49ers? Well, coach Jim Harbaugh says current Niners’ receiver Michael Crabtree is the “greatest catcher of all time.”

Whoa, there.

Granted, Crabtree is splendid. Even on a surgically repaired Achilles’ tendon — which he still appears a bit hobbled by — he has been terrific and undoubtedly a key reason why the 49ers are in the divisional round against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

In the win against the Green Bay Packers, he caught eight passes for 125 yards — all for more than 10 yards. Without him, the 49ers lose that game.

But does that make him the “greatest?” Perhaps Harbaugh, clearly jubilant, was caught up in the moment.

“People talk about cold weather and it’d be tough to catch balls,” Harbaugh said after the game. “But the greatest catcher of all time, Michael Crabtree, catches everything. It’s unbelievable.”

For that matter, there are receivers this season who could claim better hands. If Calvin Johnson — who was hampered all year by a knee injury — is Megatron, then Alshon Jeffery this season was Optimus Prime. Marvin Jones was outstanding this year, as well. So was rookie Keenan Allen.

Even if healthy, Crabtree might not have been the greatest this year — let alone of all-time. But we get the euphoria. That third-and-10 grab for 17 yards that kept the 49ers’ game-winning drive alive was worthy of praise.

At the very least, Crabtree, who has played in only five games, has shown he is every bit as dependable this year as last. His presence only makes Colin Kaepernick more dangerous. Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin, along with Crabtree, elevate the threat on short, medium and deep routes.

“If my life depended on it and somebody had to catch a ball, I’d enlist Michael Crabtree to do it,” Harbaugh said.


JACKSON WANTS NEW CONTRACT


DeSean Jackson believes he deserves a new contract after having the best season of his career. Jackson just completed the second year of his five-year deal and is already ready to return to the negotiation table.

“I definitely feel it’s something deserving,” he told CSN Philadelphia. “We’ll see how that plays out, and hopefully we can work things out smoothly and not have to worry about anything out of the ordinary.”

Jackson finished the year with 82 catches for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns. He, along with Riley Cooper, were favorite targets for Nick Foles.

He signed a $48.5 million contract with $18 million in guarantees in March of 2012, according to NFL.com. He’s set to make $9.7 million in 2014. That’s less than mega-deals held by Calvin Johnson ($16.2 million) and Larry Fitzgerald ($16.1 million), but still ranked seventh in average salary among receivers, reports Spotrac.com.

“I’m going into the third year of my deal. Just feel it’s deserving. So we’ll see,” he said. “I feel like I’ve proved everything on the field. To do some of the things that top receivers in this league do, I think like I’m right there at the top. So we’ll see how it goes.”


SEASTRUNK TURNING PRO


Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk is entering the 2014 NFL Draft, he announced on Monday.

Seastrunk, who transferred from Oregon to Baylor and helped to lift the Bears’ program to national prominence, rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

At 5-10 and 210 pounds, Seastrunk has the strength and size to be an impact runner in the NFL. The Jaguars are allowing Maurice Jones-Drew to test the free agent market. That is just one of the teams that could benefit from having a player of Seastrunk’s caliber. He missed two games this season due to an injury, but if he’s able to prove he can stay healthy, a team will surely jump on him.

“Playing in the NFL has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I’m fully prepared to take the next step toward realizing that goal,” Seastrunk said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to compete in the NFL draft process. I look forward to giving teams every ounce of energy I’ve got and proving to them that I’m a good person, a relentless competitor, and a great player, too.”


WATKINS ENTERS DRAFT


Clemson's record-setting wide receiver Sammy Watkins says he's headed to the NFL.

The 6-1, 205-pound junior from Fort Myers, Fla., confirmed reports that he's leaving school, saying Monday that he is entering May's NFL draft.

"After much prayerful consideration, I have decided to take the next step in pursuing my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL," Watkins said in a statement released by Clemson.

Watkins has set 23 school records in three seasons. He finished his career as the most outstanding player of the Orange Bowl. He caught 16 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns in No. 12 Clemson's 40-35 win over seventh-ranked Ohio State.

Watkins is considered the top receiver prospect available and a top-15 selection in the NFL draft.

Watkins leaves as the school's all-time leader with 240 receptions, 3,391 receiving yards and 15 games with 100 or more yards. His 27 career touchdowns tied the Clemson mark of former teammate DeAndre Hopkins, who left after his junior season last year and became a first-round draft pick of the Houston Texans.

Watkins was an instant sensation from the moment he walked on campus in 2011, helping the Tigers to an 8-0 start and their first Atlantic Coast Conference title in two decades. He was an AP All-American that season with 82 catches, 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Things took a turn as a sophomore due to injuries and a two-game suspension to start the season after Watkins' offseason drug arrest. Watkins pledged to rededicate himself to football and the Tigers and that showed this past fall with single-season school marks of 101 catches and 1,464 yards.

"I would not have this opportunity without the support and encouragement of my family, coaches, teammates, and the best fans in college football. No matter where my next steps may lead, I will always take pride" in Clemson, Watkins said.

Clemson will also be without receiver Martavis Bryant and cornerback Baushad Breeland, both who announced they'd given up their final seasons for the NFL draft.


UCF’S BORTLES, JOHNSON GOING PRO


Blake Bortles arrived at UCF as a virtual unknown quarterback with modest expectations. Running back Storm Johnson was a transfer looking for a new start.

Both are heading to the NFL after leading to the Knights to the most successful campaign in program history.

The players announced Monday that they will skip their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft.

"After a lot of deliberations and talking with my parents, I've decided to try and pursue my goal to playing the NFL and capture my lifelong dream," Bortles said. "I just couldn't be more proud to say I played football at UCF and it was the best four years of my life."

In his second year as the Knights' starter, Bortles helped UCF bounce back from a narrow early season loss to South Carolina to win end the season on a nine-game winning streak and upset win over heavily favored Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl.

Bortles was a constant throughout UCF's run to its first BCS bowl, helping the Knights survive in seven games decided by seven or few points. It included a 21-point comeback in an upset win over then-top 10 ranked Louisville. The 12-1 record was a program best.

He finished 2013 passing for 3,581 yards and 25 touchdowns. The season followed a sophomore campaign in which he tossed 25 touchdowns and threw for more 3,059 yards.

Johnson, who transferred from Miami after his freshman season in 2010 and after sitting out in 2011 spent his first year at UCF in 2012 backing up Latavius Murray. He was then elevated to the starting job as a junior this season and finished with 1,139 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had three touchdowns in the Baylor win.

"This was a tough journey for me and I'm just super proud to have the support of coach (George) O'Leary and the coaching staff," Johnson said. "It was a hard decision, but I had to make the best decision for me."

Bortles sought a rating from the NFL Draft Advisory Board and reportedly received a first-round grade. Several analysts project him as one of the top three quarterbacks available in the draft.

Daunte Culpepper is UCF's highest-ever draft pick, having been taken 11th overall in 1999.


DETAILS OF CONCUSSION LAWSUIT REVEALED


Lawyers representing former NFL players in the proposed $765 million settlement of thousands of concussion-related claims detailed Monday how the money would be divided among the men and their families.

The awards could reach $5 million for athletes with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease; $4 million for a suicide involving brain trauma; and $3 million for dementia cases.

Under the payout formula, those maximum awards would go to players under 45, who would likely need more lifetime care. For a man in his early 60s, the awards top out at $3 million for ALS and $950,000 for Alzheimer's disease. An 80-year-old with early dementia would get $25,000.

Individual awards would also reflect how long the player spent in the NFL, unrelated medical issues and other factors. For instance, the award could be reduced significantly if someone had injuries from an unrelated stroke or car accident.

Men without any neurological problems would get baseline testing, and could seek compensation if test reveal any problems.

"This is an extraordinary settlement for retired NFL players and their families — from those who suffer with severe neurocognitive illnesses today, to those who are currently healthy but fear they may develop symptoms decades into the future," lead players' lawyers Christopher Seeger and Sol Weiss said in a statement.

Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody of Philadelphia must still approve of the plan, and is expected to hold a fairness hearing next spring or summer. Individual players can also opt out or object to the settlement, which followed five months of court-ordered talks between the players and the NFL.

Contributors: Rana L. Cash, Vinnie Iyer, The Associated Press

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