FOXBORO, Mass. — Linebacker Jon Bostic already sounds like a member of the New England Patriots just one day after finding out he was traded by the Chicago Bears.
Bostic arrived in New England at 9 p.m. Monday and already had gone through team meetings by the time he met with the media Tuesday at 2 p.m. Bostic said he wasn’t surprised he was traded by the Bears.
“One thing they tell you coming in: It’s a business,” Bostic said. “Can’t be surprised by anything. Really, you’ve got to just keep looking ahead, get in, keep learning the philosophy, special teams playbook, defensive playbook and keep moving.”
Bostic has the advantage of coming to New England as the Patriots are preparing for a bye week. That will buy him some extra time to pick up the Patriots’ system.
“Obviously trying to pick up everything on special teams and defense in a couple days is definitely tough,” Bostic said. “The bye week will help out, but my main thing right now is just take it day by day, worry about tomorrow when it gets here and just take advantage of today.”
Bostic dealt with a back injury last season and missed time in the preseason with an ankle ailment. He has yet to suit up in a game this season but said he’s “pretty much” healthy at this point.
“I’m just taking it day by day, keep working, follow what the training staff says, coaches say and keep working,” Bostic said.
The third-year pro doesn’t know what his role will be yet, but it’s likely he’ll serve as linebacker depth while contributing on special teams, something he did in college at Florida and with the Bears. He hasn’t started diving in his defensive playbook yet, however.
“I just got here,” Bostic said. “I haven’t looked at it too much. Went through a couple meetings so far, but I’m just getting started.”
Bostic played middle linebacker in the Bears’ 4-3 defense last season, but given his athleticism, he could be used as a nickel linebacker on passing downs with the Patriots. The Patriots traded for linebacker/special-teams ace Jonathan Casillas in an in-season deal last year, and he served a similar role.
Thumbnail photo via Doug Kyed/NESN
