Greg M. Cooper-USA Today Sports
Just hours after Aaron Hernandez was arrested in connection to a North Attleborough, Massachusetts murder, the New England Patriots made the obvious decision to release the star tight end.
It’s been a crazy week and the Hernandez story has only continued to worsen and get darker. The tight end, who signed a $41 million contract extension just last August, has since been charged with first-degree murder and five gun charges. Hernandez is being held with no bail and is currently awaiting trial. At this point, he is likely facing life in prison if he is found guilty of the charges against him.
Well, in response to all of the negativity, the Patriots have made a choice and an offer to their fans and will hold an exchange for any and all Hernandez jerseys at their Pro Shop on July 6th and 7th. The jersey must have been purchased at the Pro Shop, but the team is offering an exchange of another jersey of comparable value for free.
This is a nice gesture and a good PR move for New England. Although they probably will never break away from the shadow that Hernandez has left amid his legal issues, the Patriots are at least attempting to prove that they want to distance themselves as far away from him as possible.
The Patriots made the detachment relatively quick with their decision to release him just hours after his arrest, but regardless, that’s the only team that he has ever played for.
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
