Embattled Patriots try to make sense of Hernandez affair

For a club like the New England Patriots, it shook them to their core.

But for the sport of American Football, it’s just the latest controversy of many.

Rape, murder, domestic assaults... these charges have become commonplace for America’s Game’s elite. But the Patriots. For one of their players to become embroiled in it. This was a new low.

For those of you not familiar with the gridiron game, imagine if one of Manchester United’s players was accused of murder and the fallout from it. Somehow, despite the sport falling down a moral vacuum, the Patriots always stood for values.

When Aaron Hernandez was arrested in June for the murder of his friend Odin Lloyd, the Foxborough franchise’s ethos which epitomises excellence through hard work, was thrown up in the air. Hernandez was one of the best college tight ends in the game and signed a five-year contract extension last year with a $12.5m (€9.5m) signing bonus.

Prosecutors yesterday confirmed they found a spent .45 caliber shell casing in a car rented by the former Patriots star that matched the five bullets found in the body of murder victim together with footage captured on his own home surveillance cameras holding a gun minutes after his friend was shot dead.

The Patriots could remain silent no longer. First Bill Belichick was wheeled out before the media, then the club’s iconic Tom Brady. Their duty — to protect the reputation of the team. The “Patriots Way” is a popular saying in their Foxborough base. It means several things, such as no distractions, establishing a strong football culture, and playing consistent and smart football.

Asked if he thinks the famed Patriot Way still exists, Brady was resolute. “To win football games and represent the community? No question,” Brady declared.

“Everyone who has played here has played a part of what the New England Patriots are all about,” Brady continued. “We realise that in light of the recent situation that those things get overshadowed. We have to work hard to reestablish what we’re all about.”

Brady spoke, along with fellow captains Vince Wilfork, Devin McCourty and Jerod Mayo, in advance of the start of training camp. All of them tried to follow the Belichick marching order to not discuss Hernandez out of respect for the legal case. Brady said he got along well with Hernandez, despite tape surfacing of him telling Tim Tebow — now his team-mate — after a 2011 game in Denver, Hernandez was “a lot to handle”.

Brady declined to comment when asked if Hernandez had reached out to him or if the two had contact since the arrest. Brady was reluctant to share his initial reaction to the charges against Hernandez except to say he has “moved forward”.

“It was six weeks ago, so it’s hard to remember the exact emotion I felt, but it’s probably what everyone else here felt.”