Patriots Jerod Mayo Retires

New England Patriots’ NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2008, Jerod Mayo, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 29.

The linebacker confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Tuesday. “After a lot of thought [my wife] Chantel and I take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for what we consider a life changing event … that of becoming a New England Patriot for the past 8 years,” Mayo wrote.

“We are extremely grateful to ‘Thundercat’ [Patriots owner Robert Kraft], [Patriots president] Jonathan [Kraft], the Kraft family, Coach Belichick, the Pats organization, and the most amazing fans in contributing to these pages of our lives. As my family and I prepare for the future be sure that the Pats memories will always hold a special place in our hearts. #51 JMayo.”

While Mayo’s retirement comes while he is still in his prime, his decision is not necessarily a continuation of a trend exemplified by 49ers linebacker Chris Borland, who quit the NFL last year at the age of 24 due to fears over head trauma. Mayo had struggled with knee, shoulder and pectoral injuries over the last three seasons – although he played every game in the most recent campaign – and was unlikely to be kept on by the Patriots this year with his $11.4m cap number the second highest on the team behind Tom Brady.

Mayo’s future could lie in coaching. According to the Patriots official website, fellow New England linebacker Dont’a Hightower said Mayo’s intelligence means he “could be a defensive coordinator” straight away if he so desired.

As well as winning defensive rookie of the year in 2008, Mayo was picked for the Pro Bowl twice, in 2010 and 2012. Mayo was also named a team captain by his team-mates in 2009, and 2015 and Julian Edelman and Chandler Jones paid tribute to him on Tuesday on Twitter.

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Patriots Fleming in Road Heroism

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New England Patriots linebacker Darius Fleming said he didn’t hesitate when he saw a woman trapped in a smoking car: he kicked out the window, enabling her to escape. But Fleming says he cut his right leg in the process, and he soon began to worry about how coach Bill Belichick would react.

“The first concern was, like, ‘Man, Bill’s going to be pissed about my leg,’” Fleming said in the Patriots locker room on Wednesday after word of his rescue filtered out. “I explained the story to him and he said, ‘That was pretty cool. I’m glad you were able to help her.’”

Fleming, 26, said he was on his way home from practise on Thursday when a truck up ahead slowed down to turn, causing a three-car collision behind it. The former Notre Dame and San Francisco 49er linebacker was behind the third car and pulled over to see if he could help. What he saw was a woman unable to open her doors or windows as her car began to fill with smoke.

“I saw her panic on her face,” Fleming told reporters.

The 6ft 2in, 250lbs Fleming said he needed a few kicks to break the passenger side window, cutting his right leg on the glass as he pulled it back out of the car. The woman climbed out safely.

“My adrenaline was going up and I wasn’t thinking much about it. I was just thinking about whether she was safe,” Fleming said. “Once I got her out of the car, she said ‘Thank you,’ I said ‘You’re welcome,’ and I saw my leg and I got out of there.”

Local police appeared to corroborate Fleming’s version of events on Wednesday. “[The woman involved in the incident] said that ... her vehicle lost power and she could not get out,” said Walpole police in a statement. “At that time a male who she believed to be a Patriot approached the passenger side and indicated to her that he would kick in the passenger side window which he did. She then crawled over to the passenger side and the unknown male assisted her in climbing out of the window.”

Police said there had been no fire at the accident but a released airbag may have given the impression of smoke. “There was no fire involved in this crash however there was air bag deployment, which to the untrained eye can appear as if the vehicle is enveloped in smoke.”

Fleming, a fifth-round draft pick in 2012, needed 22 stitches to close the gash. He played with the injury on Saturday in New England’s 27-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, filling in when starters Jamie Collins and Jerod Mayo were injured. “I was more worried about just getting out there and playing. I’m glad it didn’t affect my play much,” Fleming said. “The worst thing that could happen is that I would tear them [stitches] open and get restitched. It wasn’t like it was a life-threatening injury or anything like that.”

Patriots safety Devin McCourty said on Wednesday that Fleming tried to keep it quiet. “But once the guys on the team got a hold of it, we forced him to give a speech and everything,” McCourty said, calling it “the hero’s speech.”

Roadside heroism is becoming a bit of a playoff tradition for the Patriots. Last year, defensive lineman Vince Wilfork pulled a woman from a car that had flipped on its side after New England won the AFC championship game.

“We’ve got great guys around here, no matter the time — playoffs, regular season — we’re always out in the community trying to save people,” McCourty said with a laugh. Like Wilfork before him, Fleming said he didn’t think he did anything special.

“It represents his character,” linebacker Rob Ninkovich said. “He’s a great person. ... It’s definitely somebody that you want in a situation like that, to kick in windows and taking stitches.”

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Panthers Overcome Seahawks

The Panthers, who led 31-0 at half-time, beat the Seahawks 31-24 as they remain on course to win the Super Bowl for the first time.

They will meet the Arizona Cardinals after their 26-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

The Denver Broncos will host defending champions the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

Denver were trailing 13-12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers with 10 minutes to go before CJ Anderson scored the only touchdown to help the Broncos win 23-16.

The Patriots, who are aiming to make a record ninth Super Bowl, ended the Kansas City Chiefs' 11-game winning run with a 27-20 success.

Carolina won 15 of their 16 matches during the regular season and looked on their way to an easy victory against Seattle. Two touchdowns from Jonathan Stewart and one apiece from Luke Kuechly and Greg Olsen helped Carolina into a 31-point lead.

However, two touchdowns from Jermaine Kearse and one from Tyler Lockett brought Seattle within seven points, but Carolina held on.

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