McGinest’s ‘Football Life’ delivers a winner

FOXBORO — In the opening scene of the latest NFL Films “A Football Life,” documentary series, former Patriot Willie McGinest is seen at Gillette Stadium standing at a podium, lecturing the team during training camp in August. He’s a guest speaker of Bill Belichick.

The message is familiar. It’s one McGinest carried out and delivered during the Patriots first Super Bowl run: “Put all your individual stuff in the trash can and say I’m going to sacrifice for my brothers no matter what happens . . . come together fellas, stay together regardless of what (the critics) say on TV, or what (expletive) that floats around. The strongest advice I can give is staying together, being together.”

McGinest, the subject of episode that premieres tonight at 8 on NFL Network, is the seventh former Patriot featured in this platform. The show certainly won’t disappoint for Patriot fans, who get an inside look at the three-time Super Bowl winner, and his journey from the streets of Long Beach, Calif., to a prominent seat in the Patriots locker room.

As Belichick pointed out in the show, McGinest epitomized everything the Patriots stood for: “high performance, high character, mental and physical toughness, consistency, teamwork, dependability. He transcended every aspect of the team and coaches.”

It’s become well-known the linebacker had the locker right next to the door the players exit to leave. They would always have to pass him on the way out. As legend has it, if there was an issue with someone, they’d have to deal with McGinest.

“Willie had the ability to hold his teammates accountable,” said Belichick. “No one wanted to take Willie on.”

There were plenty of stories told, one in particular about McGinest and Ferric Collons that illustrated how no one dared mess with the linebacker.

“I think the stories were enough to scare everybody,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who was also interviewed for the special.

There were so many moments where you saw McGinest essentially as the authority figure and conscience of the team. One of the most poignant tales came during Pete Carroll’s tenure. McGinest became furious with players who were laughing in the locker room after a 7-6 playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1997 season.

“It became personal for me. I respect Pete and what he tried to do. A lot of guys didn’t,” McGinest said. “I went off on everybody who didn’t care enough . . . one thing I’m not going to accept is being a loser.”

Speaking with McGinest Monday, he said he was “a little nervous” about having a documentary done. He shouldn’t have been. It’s a terrific portrayal of the Patriots Hall of Fame linebacker, who the Pats drafted No. 4 overall in 1994. You get to see just how angry that made Dallas owner Jerry Jones, who was enamored with McGinest.

“I knew (the Cowboys) were going to make a move up the board,” said McGinest. “I didn’t know the Patriots were going to take me at four. But it worked out.”

Three rings later, it certainly did.