Tom Brady is ready for life without Aaron Hernandez.
The Patriots star quarterback became the first former teammate to speak about the tight end, who was charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd and then released by the team.
“I’ve seen a lot of things over 13 years, and what I have learned is that mental toughness and putting aside personal agendas for what’s in the best interest of the team matters most,” Brady told MMQB.
“My job is to play quarterback, and I’m going to do that the best way I know how, because I owe that to my teammates regardless of who is out there on the field with me. I have moved on.”
Hernandez is not the only pass-catching target Brady will be missing. Leading receiver Wes Welker signed with the Broncos and Rob Gronkowski still recovering from offseason forearm surgery. New England did sign Danny Amendola this offseason, which should help makeup for the loss of Welker.
But it’s Hernandez’s alleged actions which will certainly be getting the most attention.
“I’m focusing on the great teammates I have who are committed to helping us win games,” Brady told the website.
“The only thing I care about is winning. Nothing is going to ever get in the way of that goal. I’m just excited to report to camp and see what we can accomplish as a team. The fate of our season will be determined by the players in our locker room — nothing else.”
The Patriots are scheduled to report to training camp on Wednesday, when coach Bill Belichick will speak to the media and perhaps offer his insights on Hernandez. Owner Robert Kraft said recently if the accusations turn out to be true that the team got “duped” by Hernandez.