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Michael Smith of ESPN.com reports that the New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick recently agreed to extend his contract. Belichick's deal now runs through the 2013 season.

Per Smith, the extension was worked out before the recent cheating scandal arose. It's unknown whether the revelations of videotaping of defensive signals has changed ownership's view of Belichick, or whether the contract contains language that would allow the team to terminate Belichick "for cause" (and thus owe him no further money) in light of the proof of rules violations.

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