The Patriots would like to forget Aaron Hernandez ever played for them. Cris Collinsworth apparently already has.
The NBC analyst praised Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib, who has several run-ins with the law, for his play in Sunday night’s win over the Falcons.
“All Bill Belichick does is brings them in here, and there hasn’t been one ounce of a problem,” Collinsworth said of New England players with troublesome histories.
“There’s something about when they come in and play for Patriots, whatever their issues may have been before, they disappear. They play great football for them, and Aqib Talib is on the top of that list.”
Aaron Hernandez is probably on the bottom of that list. Collinsworth either opted or forgot to include the team’s former tight end, who is currently awaiting trial for the murder of Odin Lloyd. Hernandez had legal problems while in college at Florida, but the Patriots selected him in the fourth round of the 2010 draft and give him a contract extension last offseason.
This offseason he was accused of murdering Lloyd execution-style, and he has also been implicated in a double murder from last year.
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In other Patriots news, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork — a team captain and perennial Pro Bowler — has a torn right Achilles tendon, according to multiple reports, and likely is out for the season.