FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Spending in context: When Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994, he paid $172 million, the highest price for a professional football team at the time.
This came to mind when looking for the best way to highlight how unprecedented the Patriots' current offseason spending spree has been. When it comes to guaranteed money, the Patriots have nearly matched the total that Kraft bought the team for 27 years ago.
Accounting for 16 of the Patriots' 19 signings and re-signings, they have guaranteed about $162.