Rolling Stone: Aaron Hernandez used PCP, hung around gangsters

Rolling Stone magazine is set to publish a story about jailed Aaron Hernandez. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was a frequent user of angel dust and carried a gun with him at all times because he was paranoid, according to a new story in Rolling Stone.

"The Gangster in the Huddle," published online Wednesday and in the next issue of the magazine, details Hernandez's transformation from high school football star to alleged murderer.

Among the revelations in the story: Hernandez hung around with a cohort of gangsters, cut himself off from his family and teammates and regularly used drugs. The report, citing friends of his family, says he sometimes smoked "three or four blunts” during the drive home from games. He also started carrying a rifle in his gym bag because he worried his gangster friends might be trying to kill him. The Rolling Stone story says the tight end flew to the NFL Combine in February and told Patriots coach Bill Belichick he thought his life was in danger.

Hernandez had reportedly infuriated Belichick over the years with missed practices and thug-life stunts. In March, after Hernandez was involved in an alleged domestic incident, Belichick reportedly threatened to trade or release him after the 2013 season if there were any more disruptions.

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Hernandez is behind bars awaiting trial in the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd. He pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge and five other gun charges.

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