It was much different for Aaron Hernandez on the night of Feb. 5, 2012, much different for him catching a 12-yard TD pass from Tom Brady in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVI from Tom Brady that made it Patriots 17, Giants 9, before it ended badly for him, and for them, against Eli Manning. It ended far worse yesterday for him, and for them, yesterday, a dark day and a black eye for Roger Goodell’s NFL.
Super Bowl one year, Super Bum the next.
NOT THE PATRIOTS WAY: Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is arraigned in court yesterday, charged with first-degree murder and five gun-related charges. (Reuters)
NOT THE PATRIOTS WAY: Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is arraigned in court yesterday, charged with first-degree murder and five gun-related charges. (Reuters)
Robert Kraft’s Patriots sent the strongest possible message to everyone representing the NFL shield by releasing Hernandez and swallowing millions of dollars as soon as they learned he was going to be arraigned yesterday afternoon for murder.
Not obstruction of justice.
Murder. First-degree murder. Of a 27-year-old man.
It will always be about winning a fourth Super Bowl for Kraft, for Bill Belichick, for Brady, but not at any cost. And never at the cost of human life.
There was Hernandez, the defendant, hands cuffed in front of him yesterday inside Attleboro District Court, standing next to his attorney, Michael Fee, victim Odin Lloyd’s family members seated on benches, all of them listening to first assistant attorney William McCauley deliver the sordid details of yet another mindless, senseless tragedy that changes lives forever.
HERNANDEZ ACCUSED OF MURDERING ACQUAINTANCE
Hernandez, wearing a white T-shirt, betraying little emotion as the charges were read, lowering his head every now and then, looking around, probably wishing he was inside a team meeting being lambasted by Belichick for running a wrong route, unless he truly is as remorseless as the prosecution is certain he is. Lloyd family members, their faces etched with sorrow, some fighting back tears.
As this graphic blared on ESPN: “BREAKING NEWS
“Aaron Hernandez charged with murder and 5 gun-related charges; pleads not guilty.”
Hernandez is innocent until proven guilty, of course. Maybe he’ll get as lucky as O.J. Simpson did once. Ray Lewis? He had murder charges dropped in favor of 12 months probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor of obstruction of justice in the stabbing death of Richard Lollar and Jacinth Baker in January 2000. Different case, different league, different NFL Commissioner. This was then-NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue after the Lewis verdict: “If anyone in the NFL needed a reminder that high-profile professional athletes need to be extraordinarily careful in their associations and activities, Ray Lewis’ experience provides that reminder.”
Hernandez never got the memo. Same as former Panthers wide receiver Rae Carruth, still serving an 18-year, 11-month sentence at Nash Correctional Institute near Raleigh for arranging to murder Cherica Adams, eight months’ pregnant with his child in 1999. Carruth was 27. Hernandez is 24.
The NFL statement: “The involvement of an NFL player in a case of this nature is deeply troubling. The Patriots have released Aaron Hernandez, who will have his day in court. At the same time, we should not forget the young man who was the victim in this case and take this opportunity to extend our deepest sympathy to Odin Lloyd’s family and friends.”
No matter how hard Goodell tries, no matter how many times he metes out Above the Law Goodell justice, we are constantly reminded that the NFL — among others — remains a league of pros and cons.
The Patriots statement: “A young man was murdered last week and we extend our sympathies to the family and friends who mourn his loss. Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this investigation. We realize that law enforcement investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do.”
Hernandez listened passively as Fee argued to no avail that he was not a flight risk who should not be prevented from returning to his North Attleboro home, fianceé and 8-month-old daughter.
The Patriots signed Hernandez, a character risk out of the University of Florida, to a seven-year, $41.115 million contract before last season that included a $12.5 million signing bonus and fully guaranteed salaries of $1.323 million in 2013 and $1.137 million in 2014. How much the Patriots will fight to keep is a matter for another day.
The prosecution believes it has enough evidence to prove that Hernandez “orchestrated the execution” of Lloyd on June 17. Football coaches talk about execution all the time. Not this kind of execution. Hernandez is a big loss for the Patriots. Odin Lloyd is a far bigger loss. For everyone. Everyone, perhaps, but Aaron Hernandez.