The Aaron Hernandez Story
Don’t call it a comeback. University of Florida Tight End Aaron Hernandez was selected 114th overall by the New England Patriots in the 2010 Draft, bringing the Bristol, Connecticut kid back to his roots and into a jersey he’s long since admired.
“It was a long draft,” said Hernandez during a team conference call. “I was just happy regardless of where I got picked because it’s a dream come true.”
It’s not too often that a New England native gets to set up shop in the house of hero-worship, but it’s the sort of dream that manifested at a very young age.
Bristol High School coach Doug Pina knew he had something in Hernandez, and in January of 2006, his most talented athletes lost his father to surgical complications. Mr. Hernandez’ passing inspired Pina to help young Aaron, a junior at the time, who was already in the process of choosing colleges.
Pina passed along a tape to Gators head coach Urban Meyer. It didn’t take long for the famed UF coach to recognize a true talent. He extended the TE a visit to Gainesville, and Hernandez committed on the spot.
Meyer took him under his wing. Hernandez had monster potential, illustrated by the numbers he put up during his senior year at Bristol. Hernandez set a state record with 67 receptions and 1,807 receiving yards, to go along with 24 touchdowns and 42 tackles-for-a-loss.
An all-around, versatile, blocking-TE, with wide receiver hands and acrobatic athleticism, Hernandez worked hard under Meyer, earning him top slots on the NFL Draft board. Certainly well deserved.
Florida Tight Ends coach Brian White agreed. “Aaron has all the ability to be considered an elite tight end and one of the best, if not the best in America. He just needs to continue to improve.”
But the Hernandez story has recently hit a schneid. Before being picked up by New England, Hernandez fell three rounds in this year’s draft, and a lot of scouts wanted to know why. Allegations have since emerged of Hernandez’ involvement with marijuana and a failed drug test at the university.
After another media handicap, multiple sources confirmed that Hernandez tested positive for the drug during his junior season at UF. How many tests, no one is quite sure. But a number of NFL teams have stepped forward to contribute their two cents, including Albert Breer of the Boston Globe, who reported Monday that Hernandez “failed absolutely, positively, more than two.”
This isn’t the first time one of Meyer’s pupils has been caught “under fire” so to speak. Last season, top recruit Percy Harvin failed his drug test at the NFL combine, but that didn’t stop the Minnesota Vikings from making him a first round selection.
Recreational use of the drug has gained national attention in recent years, after famed running back Ricky Williams notably disappeared from the NFL to devote more time to his “smoking hobby.”
For the terminally ill, marijuana is a common herb reputed to cure a variety of afflictions, for Aaron Hernandez, one could pose a lot of questions.
Was this a case of mentor turning away from an apprentice? Or a protégé still self-handling the pressures of the NFL and the loss of his father?
Florida Substance Abuse Committee tests student athletes on a regular basis, and “issues a one game suspension for two failed tests, and an indefinite suspension after five.”
Hernandez missed the first game of the Gators 2009 regular season under ambiguous circumstances. If NFL teams failed to draft the top TE because of character issues, it’s their player to lose, and Belichick’s to gain.
Belichick constantly endorses Meyer and his players, it hasn’t stopped New England Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio from selecting three other Gator Alumni. The Patriots have been on the hunt for the perfect TE since the Ben Coates retired. Former top draft choice Daniel Graham has since moved on to the Denver Broncos, while Benjamin Watson has signed with the Cleveland Browns.
The Patriots drafted two top-tier blocking tight ends in this year’s draft, in their effort to provide more pocket protection for quarterback Tom Brady. New England hopes to re-invent the role of the “power tight end,” using Hernandez and 2nd round pick Rob Gronkowski as significant, red zone weapons.
With players like Vernon Davis out in San Francisco, Antonio Gates in San Diego, and Dallas Clark in Dallas, the Patriots hope that both Hernandez and Gronkowski will follow suit, and supply great offense for New England.
Despite his loyalty to Drew Bledsoe, Hernandez is honored to catch passes from Tom Brady.
“I still can’t believe it, but I’m just glad I’m going to a team that has a great quarterback.”
It’s also a nice return for Brady, who will have some new, young faces surrounding him this season. Hopefully, Hernandez will bring out the best in his quarterback, and that Brady will respond in kind. Both QBS are known for their frozen-rope accuracy, and professionalism, defining characteristics that made Bledsoe an iconic sports figure just ten years ago.
Funny how everything in life, comes full circle.
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