ESPN's Adam Schefter returned to the WEEI airwaves Friday morning on the Dennis & Callahan show and talked about a number of NFL-related issues. Schefter indicated that things might soon get even worse for Eric Mangini, who is in his first year as coach of the winless Browns. Schefter said he expects Mangini will survive the season but might not return for Year 2 of his four-year contract.

"Their season is going to be so abysmal, and they're going to hit so many bumps in the road, and so many things are going to come out," Schefter said, implying that more Mangini mayhem might soon be divulged. "That heat and pressure is only going to intensify to the point where it may be difficult for Eric Mangini to go into next year [as Browns coach]."

Schefter also talked about another former Patriots assistant, Josh McDaniels, whose Broncos await the Patriots on Sunday.

"I don'...

Patriots tight end Ben Watson appeared on Dennis & Callahan Friday morning and discussed the reports that running back Fred Taylor had surgery and could be lost for the rest of the season.

"It's hard to see somebody like Fred go down with an injury," Watson said. "I've been a fan of his for a long time. He's been a great player down in Jacksonville and a great player here, too. It's always tough when a veteran guy like that goes down. You feel for him. I feel bad that the injury happened to him, But it is part of the game. It's something that everybody has to deal with."

The Patriots head to Denver and look to hand the Broncos their first loss under new coach Josh McDaniels. As if Denver didn't have enough of a home-field advantage, Sunday's forecast calls for temperatures of 37 degrees and snow.

"I heard a rumor of that, I was trying not to pay attention to it,"...