Breer On Toucher & Rich: Patriots Knew Hernandez Was In Trouble
BOSTON (CBS) - Earlier this week it was revealed that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft were interviewed by investigators last summer about Aaron Hernandez and the murder of Odin Lloyd.
Those interviews, as well as 33 pages of text messages between Belichick and Hernandez from Februrary to May 2013, were submitted as evidence to prosecutors. Details of what was written in the texts have not been released.
Albert Breer of the NFL Network joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich show Wednesday to explain what the evidence, specifically the text messages, could mean for the Patriots.
"When you're talking about that time period from February through May 2013 that's after Hernandez flew to Indianapolis to meet with Belichick at the NFL Combine," said Breer.
"The reason why those 33 pages of text messages would be pertinent is because it's my understanding that Hernandez told Belichick he was in trouble, that he needed help and that he should probably stay out of New England for awhile."
Breer points to the time frame of when the texts were sent and finds that to be curious, because players don't just fly out to to the combine.
"I know for a fact [Hernandez] was there. My understanding was that Aaron had a play to work out in California. If you remember he was coming off of shoulder surgery. My understanding was that Hernandez believed the heat was on in New England. Being so close to the center of it all in Bristol and Foxboro he didn't think it was a good idea [to stay]. So he goes out to Indianapolis to tell Bill that he doesn't think it's a good idea to be in Massachusetts right now. I think the Patriots knew he was in trouble to some degree.
"Now, do I think the Patriots knew he was going to commit murder in June? No. Do I think they knew he allegedly had been involved in a double murder the summer before? No. It's pretty vague the details you do get, but I do think the Patriots knew he was in some sort of trouble. ... What we don't know right now is the extent to which Belichick knew what was going on."
The Patriots have already offered to turn over hundreds of pages of medical and other records to the lawyers for Hernandez, but remain steadfast in refusing to provide them with scouting reports and a psychological profile.
Breer thinks that's a bad look for the Patriots.
"I think anything between the team and the player at this point will, more than anything else, help draw a picture of who Hernandez was. I don't think it's going to put the Patriots in any sort of legal trouble, but it could make them look worse from a public relations standpoint because I'm assuming what will come out in those cases is that they knew a little bit more than they were letting on."
The Patriots begin training camp Thursday July 24th.
Listen below for what action the NFL can take, if any, on the Patriots in this trial:
Bert Breer of the NFL Network
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