"The spotlight now shines on Josh McDaniels.

The Patriots received permission to speak with their former offensive coordinator, a source told the Herald, with the conversations possibly beginning today. Current offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien is leaving to become Penn State's coach, and McDaniels is a top candidate to fill the looming vacancy.

McDaniels has a year left on his contract in St. Louis. But with a new, unnamed regime taking over for fired head coach Steve Spagnuolo, the Rams almost certainly will allow McDaniels to walk.

The Pats aren't alone, as the Chiefs also will speak with McDaniels. But one must figure the Pats have the upper hand thanks to his relationship with coach Bill Belichick, his familiarity with quarterback Tom Brady, and his entire comfort level with the franchise that saw him rise from lowly personnel assistant in 2001 to celebrated offensive coordinator from 2006 to 2008.

McDaniels ran the 2007 offense, the most prolific in NFL history, and then helped the Pats go 11-5 with backup quarterback Matt Cassel."