Patriots’ Malcom Brown Seems Unfazed By Bright Lights Of NFL

FOXBORO, Mass. — Malcom Brown is not easily intimidated.

The 6-foot-2, 320-pound rookie doesn’t appear overawed by his New England Patriots teammates or the amount of work expected out of him after being drafted in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

“I actually just walked up to Tom and shook his hand and just went to work,” Brown said about meeting Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. “Everybody’s trying to work right now. It’s easy to learn right now, because we’re just taking things stage by stage and everybody’s just really trying to focus and work towards being better next year.”

Brown didn’t waste time looking at Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski or any of his other teammates as a fan. The Texas product is just focused on getting down to business, so much so that he said “work” 38 times in his eight-minute news conference.

“Not really. I can’t be a good teammate if I’m focused on that stuff — this is that and this is that,” Brown said. “I just go to work, and I just use their work ethics to help mine and adapt to theirs, because they work hard everyday and go to work.”

Brown is willing to put in overtime to improve aspects of his game, which the Patriots must love hearing from their 21-year-old rookie. He’s has been in Foxboro for a little under three weeks so far, and he’s already participated in rookie minicamp and the first day of organized team activities.

“Obviously there’s not one perfect player in the NFL, and you can also work and get better at many things,” Brown said. “After practice, whatever my coaches think I need to work on, that’s what I’ll take, I’ll take it to head and spend my own time working on that after weights or after practice or something and get my own time in.”

The big defensive tackle was introduced to the media by Patriots owner Robert Kraft and president Jonathan Kraft. Brown said he wasn’t envisioning himself running through the tunnel onto the Gillette Stadium game field just yet, however.

“Not really focusing on that right now,” Brown said. “I’m just trying to practice with the guys and get to know people and make sure I have everything down.”

Brown hasn’t moved his wife and two daughters from Texas to Massachusetts, but the first-round pick is enjoying his time in New England so far.

“It’s great. Foxboro’s a great place to be,” Brown said. “It’s quiet, country, you know I’m from the country, so I’ll adapt to this real well.”

Brown has big shoes to fill after veteran defensive tackle Vince Wilfork elected to sign with the Houston Texans as a free agent. Robert Kraft even compared Brown to Wilfork as the rookie was being introduced Wednesday. The former Longhorn doesn’t seem overwhelmed by the task of filling in for the All-Pro, however.

“Not really. I haven’t really thought about replacing anyone,” Brown said. “I’m just here to work. I can’t stress that enough, just compete every day and work because nothing is given to you.”

Thumbnail photo via Stew Milne/USA TODAY Sports Images