FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Bill Belichick broke his six-week silence on Aaron Hernandez today by saying he is “shocked” by the murder case and open to changes in the way his Patriots do business.
In a 22-minute minute press conference here that was combative at times and partially overlapped with Hernandez’s latest court hearing just 12 miles away, Belichick defended his track record in screening players but admitted mistakes were made with the troubled tight end from Florida.
“This case involves an individual who happened to be a New England Patriot,” Belichick said while reading from a prepared statement. “We certainly do not condone unacceptable behavior, and this does not in any way represent the way that the New England Patriots operate.”
Belichick was speaking for the first time since Hernandez, a former Pro Bowl pick and rising young NFL star, was arrested and charged with the June 17 murder of friend Odin Lloyd.
Boston police reportedly are investigating Hernandez’s connection to a double murder there in July 2012, and Hernandez also has been linked in media reports to a double shooting in Gainesville, Fla., six years ago and by way of a lawsuit to shooting another friend in the face in Miami earlier this year.
The Patriots released Hernandez just hours before his June 26 arrest in the Lloyd case, a move Belichick said Wednesdaythat he made “swiftly and decisively” in consultation with owner Bob Kraft.
“I and other members of the organization were shocked and disappointed when we learned that someone in [our] organization was involved in a murder investigation,” said Belichick, who added that the team had no knowledge of the two shooting incidents before the Lloyd murder.
Kraft recently told Boston-area news outlets that the Patriots were “duped” by Hernandez, and Belichick said today that he agreed “100 percent” with Kraft’s statement.
Belichick appeared contrite and didn’t try to defend his decision to take Hernandez in the fourth round of the 2010 draft despite concerns around the league about multiple failed drug tests and the people Hernandez associated with off the field.
“We’ll continue to try to look at ourselves in the mirror and see where we can do a better job and where we can improve the process,” Belichick said, adding that he was out of the country on vacation when he first learned of the Lloyd murder.
Belichick refused to discuss Hernandez by name or his feelings about his now-infamous former player, with the coach saying he has “respect for the judicial process.” He also has told his players — who report here Thursday for the start of training camp — to avoid comment on Hernandez or the murder case.
But when asked by The Post if this incident would cause him to change the Patriots’ process for psychologically screening draft prospects, Belichick said that is definitely on the table.
“We’ve talked about that,” he said. “We’ve talked about what we want to do on that subject going forward. We’re not quite there yet. Can the process be improved or modified? It possibly can. We’ll certainly look at it. We’re in constant evaluation.”
At the same time, Belichick claims it isn’t fair to judge the Patriots organization for the actions of one person.
“Most of [our] decisions have worked out, but some don’t,” he said. “Overall, I’m proud of the hundreds of players that have come through this program, and I’m personally disappointed and hurt in a situation like this.”
Belichick added that he “isn’t trying to make this story disappear” but considers it time for the Patriots to move on — a tall task with every step in Hernandez’s trial sure to be never far from the headlines.
“We’ll learn from this terrible experience,” Belichick said, “and become a better team from the lessons we’ve learned.”
bhubbuch@nypost.com