Dec 30, 2012; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) is congratulated by tight end Aaron Hernandez (81) after his touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins 28-0. Both are featured in Episode 6 of The Dynasty. Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The Apple TV New England Patriots docuseries The Dynasty continued on Thursday night. This week saw the debut of episodes five and six, which mostly covered the time between the Patriots’ two mini-dynasties.
Last week’s episodes left off with the Patriots dealing with Spygate, and the revenge-tour 2007 season that followed. Episode 5 handled the immediate aftermath of that season, while Episode 6 turned more towards the rebuilding of the second dynasty core.
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In particular, there was a heavy focus on the crucial 2010 draft that brought the Patriots a number of key players for the second Super Bowl runs. That draft also saw the Patriots add Aaron Hernandez, whose murder investigation became a main focus.
What stood out in the latest edition of The Dynasty? Focusing mainly on newly-recorded interviews, here are the most notable quotes from Episode 6…
The Patriots weren’t happy with Rob Gronkowski’s reaction to being drafted
Aug 26, 2010; Foxboro, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) reacts after making a touchdown during the pre-season game’s second half at Gillette Stadium. The Rams defeated the Patriots 36-35. Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE
Gronkowski: “When I was drafted by the Patriots it was a proud moment. My family came on stage as well. We got in a huddle…Then all of a sudden I get a phone call from the Patriots. And they said ‘hey Rob, you can get off the stage now. Enough is enough.’ And I’m sitting there like ‘wow, I’m already in trouble. It’s been five minutes since I’ve been on the Patriots, and I’m already in trouble. I can picture Bill in that draft room, just being like ‘why the f— did we just draft this kid?”
Gronk’s draft night already has some lore to it, from carrying a helmet out onto the stage to his big handshake with Roger Goodell. This story adds another layer to that.
Ernie Adams on drafting Aaron Hernandez
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 18: Aaron Hernandez #81 of the New England Patriots breaks free on a pass play as Quinton Carter #28 of the Denver Broncos gives chase on December 18, 2011 during the first half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)
Adams: “We knew that there were issues, but you make a calculation on draft day. Look, we’re getting first-round talent for fourth-round price. If it doesn’t work out, we can always cut him.”
Adams shares the Patriots’ mentality when drafting Hernandez. Earlier in the portion of the episode, Jackie MacMullan of The Boston Globe shares Hernandez was off some teams’ draft board entirely because of off-the-field concerns.
Robert Kraft on his relationship with Aaron Hernandez
TAMPA, FL – AUGUST 18: Tightend Aaron Hernandez #81 of the New England Patriots warms up just prior to the start of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on August 18, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
Kraft: “We knew that there were some issues outside of our building. But it was our hope and desire that the Patriot Way would be a great influence on him…Aaron and I, we had a genuine feeling of connection and love. Every time he’d see me, he would kiss me on the cheek. I mean, this is something I do with my sons. I think he viewed me as sort of a loving, paternal figure. I remember when Myra died of ovarian cancer, Aaron handed me a check for $50,000 to the fund that we had set up in memory of Myra…I felt he was what we wanted as the perfect Patriot player.”
Robert Kraft gave an extended reflection on his relationship with Aaron Hernandez. Less than a year before Hernandez’s arrest the Patriots had given Hernandez a five-year, $40 million contract extension, which would have set him up as one of the faces of the franchise had he played it out.
Robert Kraft shares a conversation he had with Aaron Hernandez shortly before his arrest
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 28: Owner Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots looks on during Super Bowl LIII Opening Night at State Farm Arena. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Kraft: “I found out he was working out in the weight room. I went down immediately and I said, ‘Aaron, tell me, did you do this? Because if you did, I know you must have had some good reason. I’m gonna get you the best defense lawyer we can get and I’ll do it at my cost.’ And he looked me right in the eye, not blinking or anything, and said ‘Mr. Kraft, I didn’t do that. I was in Rhode Island’ or something. And when he said it, I believed him. He actually changed my life, and how I look at people because – it just – I – to this day I can’t believe I got snookered like that.”
Kraft shares this conversation that occurred on Hernandez’s final trip to Gillette Stadium. This occurred on that day that Hernandez was tailed by the media for a full day as the investigation heated up.
Jonathan Kraft on the process of cutting Aaron Hernandez
Oct 31, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; New England Patriots president Jonathan Kraft reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kraft: “It looks like he’s done the ultimate bad thing and he can’t – we can’t have him on our team any longer. At that time, my dad and Bill were both out of the country, but I felt strongly we couldn’t wait. And so I called my dad, and he very much agreed. And we called Bill. And Bill, as is his wont, was always more measured. In the beginning, he said ‘you know, he’s not guilty yet.’ And there were competitive issues too. He didn’t want to have to lose an amazing football player. So, Bill’s instinct would be play this f—ing thing out ’till the end. And I just knew we couldn’t play it out ’till the end. Not ’cause of how it looked on us, but because we had to set a f—ing example. I mean, like, this guy’s a murderer.”
Kraft lays out the planning that went into Hernandez’s release. Although the team officially released him the day he was arrested, they had initially planned to do so a week earlier. Kraft takes the credit for leading the way in that regard, and within that retelling makes a point of citing Belichick’s initial hesitance to do so.
Ernie Adams, Robert Kraft reflects on Aaron Hernandez’s tenure
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 19: Aaron Hernandez #85 of the New England Patriots runs through a tackle from David Harris #52 of the New York Jets during the first quarter at the New Meadowlands Stadium on September 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Adams: “We knew he wasn’t the ideal citizen, but did we ever suspect this is a guy who’s gonna be running around with guns shooting people? No. Aaron was obviously a very talented player, and he got a big contract, which in retrospect, no, we shouldn’t have done that. Probably the best thing for Aaron Hernandez’s pro football career and his life might have been to go to the Seattle Seahawks. Not be within a two-hour drive of the people he grew up with from his home town of Bristol [CT]. Someone got killed. A young person lost his life because of Aaron Hernandez.”
Kraft: “When we bought the team, I said that we could make a difference in our community and make things better. We didn’t in this case. There are parents who wake up every day without their sons. And a young daughter without her father. We messed up on this one, and for those of you who feel pain, I apologize.”
This episode starts off with Adams reflecting on why the Patriots chose to draft Hernandez despite the red flags in his background. The episode closes with Adams and Kraft looking back on his tenure with the Patriots and the decisions made around it as a whole.
