If that’s the case, the Patriots’ rookies have already embarked upon one of the most physically demanding stretches of their careers. With about seven weeks of offseason camps, plus training camp, four preseason games and 11 regular-season games under their belts, the rookies have gotten a quick lesson in how different the pro game is from the amateur one.
“Definitely, coming out of college, you don’t really realize how much physical demand there is in the NFL,” Patriots rookie cornerback Devin McCourty said. “But there is.”
And to think, the Patriots have five games left on the schedule before they get to the playoffs. All the while, the temperature is dropping, and the weather is deteriorating. That’s going to make things extra difficult for all of the guys who played college ball in the south.
“It all comes down to how you take care of your body,” said rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez, who is one of three draftees from the University of Florida. “If you’re one who takes care of your body — which is demanded here, but you have to be a man about it — get your massages and everything, then you’ll be all right.”
The regular season in college football has already come to an end for some teams, and most college players don’t play more than one or two games once December hits. But this is the most crucial point of the season in the NFL, and the Patriots are preparing for a season-defining game against the Jets.
What’s more, the Patriots have really relied upon a number of rookies to make contributions this season. McCourty has emerged as a rock-solid cornerback, while Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski have major contributors to the offense. Linebackers Brandon Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham have earned starting-level responsibilities, while linebacker Dane Fletcher, defensive end Brandon Deaderick, defensive tackle Kyle Love and safety Sergio Brown have provided necessary depth.
Point being, the Patriots need these players to keep producing as they make a push for the postseason. The rookies know this, and leaning on each other, as well as the trainers and the coaching staff to make sure they’re physically able to close out the season appropriately.
“It definitely is a grind, but you’ve got to have your mind set to come out every day and get better,” Gronkowski said. “It is definitely a grind. We’ve played in preseason, played a lot of games, more than college teams already. But it’s been fun, and we’ve just got to keep on grinding, all the rookies do, and we’ve got to have our mind set right to get through it.”
