FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. O'Brien impact: Quarterback AJ McCarron played for new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien with the Houston Texans in 2019 and 2020, and so he has a good feel for what Mac Jones is about to experience this year.
He summed it up in what might be the four most important words of the Patriots’ season: “A quarterback-friendly offense.”
The 32-year-old McCarron was in the midst of preparing for his XFL debut Sunday -- his St.