New Patriots executive Ryan Cowden is a 'systematic thinker'

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Cowden addition: One of the signature plays of Ryan Cowden's football career came in his senior season at Wofford College. A strong safety and nickelback who also served as the holder on field goals, he threw a 29-yard touchdown on a first-half fake that helped the Terriers beat Chattanooga 41-34.

"We had been a Division II team and were moving toward I-AA, so we were facing teams that were well established and tough," longtime Wofford coach Mike Ayers recalled of the 1999 season. "We tried every way we could to come up with a way to win. We weren't above onside kicks, fake field…