It has been reported that Aaron Hernandez abused angel dust and started carrying guns because he was paranoid. The former New England Patriots player traveled with his gun everywhere before being accused of murder, according to a new story in Rolling Stone.
“The Gangster in the Huddle,” published online Wednesday, and soon to be in stores, delves into Hernandez’s life as he went from a high school football star to sitting in jail awaiting trial for murder.
Highlights of the story include Hernandez’s regular use of drugs, associations with gangsters, and his alienation from his teammates and family. According to a friend of Hernandez’s family, he sometimes smoked “three or four blunts” during the drive home from games. He carried a rifle with him in a gym bag because he worried gangsters might be trying to kill him.
The Rolling Stone story says that Hernandez flew to the NFL Combine in February and told Patriots coach Bill Belichick that his life was in danger.
Hernandez had reportedly frustrated Belichick over the years by violated team policy and behaving like a thug during team engagements. After the former tight end was involved in an alleged domestic incident in March, Belichick reportedly threatened to release the player after the 2013 season if he had any more incidents.
Hernandez is currently in a Massachusetts county jail accused of the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd. He recently pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and five gun charges.
