Aaron Hernandez Letter to NFL Before 2010 Draft: "Trust Me When I Say You Have Absolutely Nothing to Worry About"
Before being selected fourth by the New England Patriots during the 2010 draft, Aaron Hernandez wrote a letter to NFL teams promising good behavior after concerns about his past arose.
With the help of his agents, Aaron Hernandez drafted a letter to prospective NFL teams to assure them about his past drug usage. Concern had arisen among some teams who feared the player's past- predominantly his use of drugs. In the letter, obtained by the Boston Herald, Hernandez promises to submit to bi-weekly drug tests.
Coming off a statement earlier this week during which Patriot's owner Robert Kraft explained that he and his team had been duped, the former tight end's opening line appears a bit ironic. In the beginning of the letter Hernandez says he "understand[s] that NFL teams want to conduct thorough due diligence before making the significant financial investment inherent in a high draft pick."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Hernandez goes on to offer what he calls an "unorthodox" solution regarding drugs tests in order to be allowed a slot on the team.
"If you draft me as a member of the New England Patriots, I will willfully submit to a bi-weekly drug test throughout my rookie season (8 drug tests during the 2010 regular season)," Hernandez wrote. "In addition, I will tie any guaranteed portion of my 2010 compensation to these drug tests and reimburse the team a pro-rata amount for any failed drug test."
If caught using drugs, Hernandez even offers to donate the pro-rate portion of his guaranteed money to the teams' charity of choice.
"My point is simple – if I fail a drug test, I do not deserve that portion of the money," he added.
The letter goes on to explain Hernandez's hope about his future.
"I realize that this offer is somewhat unorthodox, but it is also the only way I could think of to let you know how serious I am about reaching my potential in the NFL," he writes. "My coaches have told you that nobody on our Florida team worked harder than me in terms of workouts, practices or games."
However, while promising to be drug free, Hernandez does not address his history of violence.
"In closing, I ask you to trust me when I say you have absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to me and the use of recreational drugs," he says near the end of the letter.
After weeks of silence, Kraft said in a recent statement that he had no knowledge of Aaron Hernandez's criminal past prior to his arrest. Describing Hernandez as a "most likeable young man" he admitted that the team's organization might have to make some procedural changes in the near future. Kraft said, "if this stuff is true, then I've been duped and our whole organization has been duped," according to Sports Illustrated.
