FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Seeing the similarities: Patriots Hall of Famer Kevin Faulk had an up-close look at Mac Jones, the team's hopeful quarterback of the future.
In one respect, he didn't like what he saw. In another, he loved it.
Faulk, who enters his second season as LSU's running backs coach, watched closely from the sideline last December as Jones sizzled in leading Alabama to a 55-17 win against his Tigers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
It was the type of performance from Jones (20-of-28 for 385 yards, four TDs, no interceptions) that makes for sleepless nights for an opposing coach, but one that also sparked optimism when Faulk considers a bright future for the only NFL team he played for (1999-2012).