FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Patriots fans are still getting to know towering tight end Matt Lengel, who was signed off the Bengals practice squad in early November, caught a touchdown pass in late December against the Jets and played in nine of the final 10 games of the 2016 season (including the playoffs).
The 6-foot-7 Lengel, 26, has been using his platform as an up-and-coming NFL player to highlight something that has significant meaning to him: Supporting police offers.
Specifically, Lengel has used his Twitter account to acknowledge police officers who have been killed in the line of duty.