Big Picture: How 'Elite Ballplayer' Milton Williams Quickly Guided Patriots to Super Bowl

Empower Field at Mile High (Denver) — For nearly two decades, the Patriots knew all too well the annual ritual of NFL teams in pursuit of a Super Bowl writing big checks to poach key players from the defending champs in free agency. This time, it was the Patriots trying to import a championship culture to their locker room. Last March, after the Eagles had won the Super Bowl, New England gave defensive tackle Milton Williams the largest contract in franchise history — four years, $104 million — hoping he could help get their defensive front back to an elite level. And Sunday in the AFC Championship Game against the Broncos, as the Patriots trailed 7-0 in the second quarter, Denver went for...