The New England Patriots have put a lid on all matters involving Aaron Hernandez since he was first connected to the death of Odin Lloyd. As a result, it's been difficult to find first-hand knowledge of Hernandez's relationship with teammates and coaches over the past three years.
"I never talk about other guys," Light said Tuesday, "but I will say I have never embraced -- never believed in -- anything Aaron Hernandez stood for."
It's interesting that Light's comments came one day before Hernandez's arrest and subsequent release by the Patriots.
Light apparently wasn't alone in his uneasiness with Hernandez. Appearing on NFL Network Wednesday, the Boston Globe's Ben Volin pointed out that Hernandez never fit the Patriots' locker room culture. Volin relayed one incident from Hernandez's rookie year when the tight end "went way out of line" and "lashed out at" Wes Welker in an expletive-filled overreaction to locker-room chiding.
Hernandez was widely viewed as a second-round talent entering the 2010 NFL Draft, but he dropped to the fourth round due to failed drug tests and rumors of "hanging around the wrong people" at the University of Florida and in Connecticut. One AFC front-office executive opined to the Boston Globe that the Patriots were likely the only team willing to roll the dice on Hernandez at the cost of a fourth-round draft pick.
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.
