FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Elliss' time: When the Patriots held their final spring practice on Tuesday, with the defense buzzing as music blared and the offense worked with a silent snap count, linebacker Christian Elliss was at the heart of the action.
Elliss aligned next to big-money free agent signing Robert Spillane with the top unit -- a reminder of how far he's come, and how this offseason has been transcendent for him and his growing family.
"Humbling, especially," the 26-year-old Elliss said in a quiet moment as minicamp concluded.