Newest New England Patriots React To Being Drafted
By Matt LaPan
The newest members of the New England Patriots had their first chance to chat with the New England media, Friday. What did Cyrus Jones, Joe Thuney, Jacoby Brissett and Vincent Valentine have to say?
Each year the NFL Draft weekend is filled with raw emotions as players are fronted the ability to live out their dreams and join an NFL roster. With coaches, owners and front office members greeting a new crop of young talent, there is always the potential for some great reactions on both sides.
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That is no different in Foxboro, Massachusetts where the New England Patriots welcomed four new players into Gillette Stadium – selecting Cyrus Jones, Joe Thuney, Jacoby Brissett and Vincent Valentine in the second and third rounds of the 2016 NFL Draft.
When the Patriots selected Cyrus Jones at 61 overall, they got a potential starter who has thrived in Nick Saban’s system. “It’s the best feeling in the world,” Jones said when speaking with the New England media for the first time. “I’ve worked so hard. I can’t explain how I feel right now. It’s still overwhelming.”
Jones addressed a wide range of topics, including where he thinks he is best fit to play in the NFL. “I don’t think there’s anywhere I can’t line up and be successful on the football field,” Jones said when asked about lining up on the outside in the NFL. “I played outside most of my career at Alabama and I had success. I don’t think there’s any reason why I can’t line up on Sundays and do the same thing, so I feel as though I’m very confident that I can play on the outside.”
He also covered some lighter topics, including his unique Twitter name of #ClampClampington. “My best friend actually watched one of my games and I had a good game,” Jones said. “I forget which game it was and he said that I played so well that it looked like my name should be Clamp Clampington and I just thought it was pretty hilarious at the time and kind of catchy. I ended up changing it on all my social media pages and it just went on from there.”
After Jones came Thuney, who was selected 78th overall out of NC State. The versatile lineman opened by talking about where he is comfortable on the line of scrimmage. “I think I see myself as more of an interior guy: more as guard, center. If it gets to a pinch in the game, I can go at tackle but it’s really wherever coach wants me to play. And I have experience at all five so wherever he sees me best, I think that’s the best fit for me.”
Thuney then went on to discuss his academic career. “I graduated with a degree in accounting in 2014,” he said. “Then for the past year and a half, I’ve been working towards another degree in international studies and a minor in Spanish. I just wanted to expand my studies and explore everything that college had to offer.”
Thuney also got to hear some breaking news during his conference call, finding out from the media that his former teammate Jacoby Brissett was now his new teammate in Foxboro.”No way. That’s awesome,” Thuney said with a great deal of excitement. “Great leader, great teammate, loved playing for the guy. He did a really good job at NC State, and I couldn’t be happier to hear that news.”
Moments later, Brissett took to the conference call after being selected 91st overall. He discussed the surprise in becoming a Patriot. “Not until they called me and I talked to Coach Belichick and Mr. [Robert] Kraft and they just gave me the word right before the pick was announced and I was ecstatic,” Brissett said when asked how far in advance he knew he would be drafted by New England. “It was a moment you look forward to all of your life and a dream come true.”
Brissett also spoke about his relationship with former Patriots head coach Bill Parcells. “It started in high school,” Brissett said. “He has a house out here and he comes around my high school a lot and him and my high school coach, Jack Daniels, are real good friends and I got the privilege to meet him and he’s been – I can’t even describe what type of person he is and what he’s meant to my life. Just him grooming me as a man and preparing me for tough times, hard times, good times. He’s been so helpful to me throughout this process and just keeping my steady and keeping a good head on my shoulders and you know I just can’t thank him enough.”
The final player to talk with the media was the 96th overall pick Vincent Valentine from Nebraska. The massive, versatile lineman broke down how the pre-draft process went with the Patriots. “I actually talked to them at the Combine,” Valentine said. “And then the next time I talked – I had a workout with Michael Lombardi and then I had a workout with [defensive line] coach [Brendan] Daly and then they flew me up for a pre-draft visit. It was definitely busy with the Pats and I mean I was excited. I thought I had a chance of them taking me but it worked out exactly how I wanted it to work out.”
The Patriots have an extremely busy third day of the NFL Draft, being slotted to take eight more picks. While New England Patriots Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio stated in his press conference that it was unlikely the Patriots would take all of those picks, they are currently on the clock for eight more players and eight more chances for great moments.
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In a weekend full of vague statements and veiled comments one thing can be certain, the newest members of the New England Patriots are very happy in their new homes.