FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Here are some quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and the NFL:
1. Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin coached against each other in some of the NFL’s highest-stakes games, and their respect for one another was always easy to see. "I'm sure he misses us," Belichick said in September. "He always did pretty well against us." Now, for the first time since they were on the same New York Giants staff in 1988-1990 under Bill Parcells, they are talking about joining forces on the practice field -- for a few days at least.