When Jalen Mills Met Belichick, He Lost His Shit and Started Screaming. We've All Been There.
Today a few of the newest Patriots did virtual press conferences with the media. Among the highlights have been these nuggets from WR Kendrick Bourne about the people in the Niners organization who know Foxboro best giving him words of encouragement:
Hunter Henry admitting that he was as surprised as the rest of us when the Pats signed him:
And by far the best story of the day comes from Jaylen Mills. When they first signed him, I thought Mills was the classic Patriots system fit. A versatile, virtually positionless defensive back with experience at moving all over the secondary. Not only from game to game, but from down to down. According to Pro Football Focus, his snaps last season in Philly broke down as:
Up on the D-line: 39
In the box safety: 329
Slot corner: 182
Wide corner: 227
Free safety: 236
But until he spoke today, I didn't comprehend how perfect a fit he'd be here.
Providence Journal - Jalen Mills found himself in the team’s cafeteria. The defensive back was talking to the team’s nutritionist about meal plans and the different diets they have for players. After finishing up the conversation, Mills was about to leave when he heard someone call his name.
It was Bill Belichick. …
“I’m about to walk out of the cafeteria and I just hear, ‘Hey Jalen.’ So I turned around and it’s coach. In my mind, I’m saying, it’s coach, but it really didn’t click it was coach Belichick,” Mills said. “He was just talking to me, ‘telling me, happy to have you, glad for you to be here. I’m excited for you to be here.’
“And I literally turned my back to him and screamed out loud, and said, excuse my language, ‘this is [expletive] Coach Belichick.’ I screamed it loud and then I turned back around and he was still monotone, regular, still having a casual conversation with me when I’m freaking out. I’m like, ‘I’m sorry. Coach, one more thing, I’ve got to cut you off, I don’t want to disrespect you, you’re a legend to me, I’m happy to be here.’ He was like, ‘same. Happy for you to be here. Can’t wait to get going and coach you up.’ That was definitely a highlight of my moment, outside of making it official and signing my contract, meeting him and then also meeting Mr. (Robert) Kraft.”
That's a hell of a "Welcome to New England" moment. And speaking for all of us who've met the man, we can relate. There's no shame in getting that excited. As a matter of fact, this story cements Mills' status as One of Us. A Masshole to the core, no matter that he grew up in Texas and went to LSU. We all get this excited when we are in the presence of this legendary figure. Which is why he was so blase about it. He gets that all the time.
I mean, my own experience was a little different. My first full day on WEEI back in 2014, we were from the studio inside Gillette. He walked in while we were on the air, said hello to my co-hosts whom he'd been talking to for years and then said, "And Jerry? It's an honor to finally meet you." True story. On the souls of my children, a true story. No humble; only brag. Being the professional I am, I told him "I know it is." But on the inside, I was going full Jalen Mills.
So welcome to Mills and all the new guys. As well as the ones like Trent Brown, Kyle Van Noy, Ted Karras and David Andrews, who went away and then came back. Let's all remember Mills' story and theirs the next time someone suggests that nobody wants to play for this man because he's such a prick. He's not just a prick. In Jalen Mills' own words, he is fucking Bill Belichick. And this looks like the beginning of something special.