FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots:
1. The Patriots’ interest in adding receiver Eric Decker to their team intensified a few days into training camp, but in another sense, it was nine years in the making.
Rewind to the third round of the 2010 draft, when the Patriots were watching the players come off the board as their selection at No. 90 approached. Decker, according to those familiar with the team’s plans that year, was squarely in their sights.