Metro

Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez quizzed in possible homicide case after body found near NFLer’s home

A star New England Patriot tight end was questioned by authorities yesterday in a possible homicide investigation, according to reports.

Aaron Hernandez was interviewed by Massachusetts cops after the body of a 27-year-old Boston man was discovered by a jogger less than a mile from the player’s North Attleboro house, according to Sports Illustrated.

The victim was described as an “associate” of Hernandez, sources told ABC News.

The player, who last year signed a five-year deal worth $40 million, was not considered a suspect, according to reports.

Authorities searched the $1.3 million home of Hernandez, who was initially uncooperative, ABC said.

The body was found at 5:30 p.m. Monday in an industrial park. It could have been there as long as a day, according to the Sun Chronicle of Attleboro.

Authorities focused on Hernandez when they found a rented Chevrolet Suburban with Rhode Island plates — and which was tied to his name — near the scene, a source told SI.

Cops swarmed his house, and investigators were inside with him for hours, ABC said.

Officers walked around the driveway and in the garage with flashlights. Before ending the search, one cop took a box out of the house.

Two of Hernandez’s friends tried to leave the house during the search, but cops stopped them, according to the network.

Police then searched the friends’ cars.

A Patriots rep declined to comment, but a team source said they did not believe Hernandez, 23, had any role in the death.

The tight end is represented by the Athletes First agency, which said it has no comment “on the Aaron Hernandez situation.”

The player’s mother said she had no knowledge of a case involving him.

Hernandez scored five touchdowns and made 51 receptions last season.

He was drafted in 2010 by the Patriots in the fourth round, but might have been drafted higher had he not repeatedly failed marijuana tests while he was playing for the University of Florida.

“I felt I should have been drafted higher, but some of that was my fault,” Hernandez told the Hartford Courant last year.

“I also knew once I got here, I’d have an opportunity to prove myself.

“It was in my hands. And I’m a competitor.”

His drug use was tied to the 2006 death of his father, the Boston Globe reported in 2010.