Stories continue to accumulate about the signs in Aaron Hernandez’s background, stories that paint a more complete if complicated picture about his character.
And according to the Boston Globe, he flashed a temper and made threats to one of the Patriots’ respected veterans within days of arriving for work.
In an anecdote near the bottom of a longer report, it was mentioned that Hernandez was at the team facility trying to watch film, when he grew frustrated at not being able to operate the equipment. Wide receiver Wes Welker walked by, Hernandez asked for help, and Welker replied: “Rookie, you figure it out.”
According to the report, Hernandez “responded with expletives.”
The Globe being a family publication, didn’t expound, but one of their reporters did on Twitter.
According to Shalise Manza Young, Hernandez’s reply was “f--- you Wes, I’ll f--- you up!”
While rookies getting their backs up with veterans is not an uncommon act, the threat within a few days of being drafted was unusual, and as was noted, it was not said in a joking manner.
It was also reported in the newspaper that Hernandez spent “little, if any time with his Patriots teammates off the field,” preferring to surround himself with friends from his old neighborhood.
Taken on its own, the story might not be that big of a deal, especially within the legal context of “innocent until proven guilty.”
But coupled with everything else we’ve learned about Hernandez this week, it adds to the pile of anecdotal evidence which is becoming harder to ignore.