"Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien spent yesterday on the sideline at Gillette Stadium, helping his team take a 49-21 win over the Buffalo Bills. Could he end up on another sideline next season?

O'Brien is a hot name in the coaching industry, and he plans to sit back over the next few days and evaluate his options for advancement. Yet despite what has been reported, nothing is impending involving O'Brien and the opening at Penn State.

"Any imminent contract signing or agreement (with Penn State) is just off-base," agent Joe Linta of JL Sports told the Herald. "The most important thing for him is to win the Super Bowl. But if someone is going to be interested in him in the NFL, it's going to happen this week. He could be going somewhere else, he could be returning to the Patriots. But we'll wait and find out if someone is interested in him and seeks permission to talk with him."

A variety of reports, including those by ESPN and USA Today, say O'Brien has emerged as a top candidate at Penn State. The scandal-ridden program has had the vacancy since Joe Paterno was forced out on Nov. 9.

O'Brien, whose contract is up, remains focused on the playoffs. Linta did not rule out a move to Happy Valley, though there does not appear to have been contact yet. If nothing materializes, he would return to Foxboro."