FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. The Patriots capped off their mandatory three-day minicamp on Thursday by presenting returning players their 2017 AFC championship rings inside the team auditorium, according to multiple members of the roster. The ceremony is naturally different from the raucous party that owner Robert Kraft has hosted at his home to hand out Super Bowl rings in the past, as it is much more understated. But one similarity is that Kraft addresses the team (and makes a significant financial commitment with the rings), and players said the essence of his message was that while it wasn’t the ring that he hoped to present them, the only thing worse than losing a Super Bowl is not being in the Super Bowl at all.