Michael Bennett and Tom Brady have taken the field together for practice at New England Patriots training camp. Bennett explained that they’re swapping stories and getting to know one another. Surely, they’ve got some interesting intel going back and forth. That’s a lot of NFL experience, between the 42-year-old quarterback and the 33-year-old defensive end. But they’re not just talking shop.
“He takes time to get to know me as an individual and I love that,” Bennett said on Tuesday during a meeting with reporters.
Brady is well-known to introduce himself and chat with his teammates — he’s not above small talk and bonding. Though, he does seem to enjoy the occasional perk of being a six-time Super Bowl champion. On Tuesday, for example, the Patriots’ rookies had to do a fumble drill on sopping wet grass. They had to dive for a ball while Brady held a hose to spray them. It was a football version of slip-and-slide. Bennett admitted Brady seemed to be having a bit too much fun. Bennett, however, valued his 1-on-1 time with the Patriots quarterback.
“Tom is one of the — is the greatest player in the NFL, so it’s an opportunity to just talk life. Tom has a lot of experience I haven’t experienced. I have some experience he hasn’t experienced,” Bennett said. “Just being fathers and being husbands and talking about life — I think that’s the greatest thing you can do with a teammate is to learn him as an individual.
“I think Tom does a great job connecting with his teammates every single day. I think personally, that’s been good for me to come in and have a guy like Tom just talking about his story and having a good time. … That’s what’s most important to me is to earn everyone’s trust from the top of the organization down from the media staff to the training staff.”
Bennett seems to be doing just that, with a handful of younger players praising the veteran for his leadership since joining the Patriots this offseason. He appears to be a big part of New England’s plans for the 2019 season.
