WATCH: Patriots Rookies Welcomed to NFL
What's it like to receive a draft-day phone call from Bill Belichick? How do you react to meeting Robert Kraft? And what are the emotions involved in becoming a member of the New England Patriots?
Those questions and more are partially answered and revealed in a new video produced by team's social media department. In the short film, cameras followed Belichick as he called New England's Day 2 and 3 picks and the dozen rookies sit down for interviews in which they are asked for their initial response to being inside Gillette Stadium for the first time.
Says fourth-round pick Sidy Sow, "It was one of the happiest moments of my life."
Upon arriving at the Pats' headquarters in Foxboro, third-round pick Marte Mapu was introduced to Kraft. To his credit, the rookie from Sacramento State kept his cool. And then some.
"What's going on?" Mapu says as he shakes the hand of a man with a net worth of $10.6 billion. "Nice to meet you."
Belichick's "congratulatory" phone calls to the rookies are exactly what you would expect: typically monotone like a man ordering the same breakfast at the same restaurant for the 237th consecutive day.
Grumbles Belichick to second-round pick Keion White, "We're getting ready to select you and make you a New England Patriot, so ..."
Come to think of it - and considering White's subdued draft-day reaction - those two may be made for each other.
After the Pats selected three offensive linemen in the span of 37 picks, Kraft is seen beaming.
"It's been a good day for our offensive line," he says during Day 3.
Says Michigan State punter and sixth-round pick Bryce Baringer upon seeing Gillette:
"I grew up watching Patriots games, so everything is coming to fruition."
The rookies will officially hit the field together when the Patriots begin OTAs May 22.
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