Mitchell still a fan
Ex-Pats WR keeps roots local
FOXBORO — Every Sunday, Malcolm Mitchell carves out a three-hour window to become a fan. He even dresses the part. “I put on my cutoff sweatshirt,” Mitchell said, “and I sit down, and I watch and I cheer them on.”
It’s an unfamiliar position for Mitchell, who was arguably the most successful rookie receiver of the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era. He caught five passes in the fourth quarter of the Patriots’ legendary Super Bowl LI rally against the Falcons, including a clutch conversion on a third-and-11 comeback route as the Pats trailed 28-12.
That was the final game he’d play as a Patriot. For Mitchell, the next 18 months were spent rehabbing a chronic knee issue. The Pats finally released him in early August.
Despite an abbreviated stint with the Pats, Mitchell left his mark in New England. He was an exciting player on the field, especially dangerous after the catch, and he became a frequent presence in the community, encouraging children to develop of love for literature with his “Read With Malcolm” foundation.
Today, Mitchell pushes forward with his work on both fronts.
He underwent a knee surgery two days after his release from the Patriots. Mitchell continues to aggressively rehab, building strength in and around the knee so he can once again “handle the day to day process of playing in the National Football League.”
“My No. 1 priority in terms of football is to make sure that the next time I step on the field it’ll be for a substantial amount of time, not to go through the same cycle of injuries again,” Mitchell said.
The rest, he said, is up to his agent. He’s not putting a target date on a potential return to the league.
Now living in his home state of Georgia, Mitchell’s typical day begins with 6:30 a.m. yoga. From there, it’s knee rehab and then a “regular workout.” By noon, Mitchell’s focus shifts to his creative interests — writing, photography, work with his foundation.
He signed a three-book deal with Scholastic Publishing and is in the process of writing his second book. The first was a newly illustrated version of “The Magician’s Hat,” a children’s book that emphasized the power of reading. He’s currently working on one that tells the story of a “reluctant reader.”
“First I start off with a very raw idea, right?” Mitchell said. “It has no boundaries. It doesn’t have parameters. It’s just like pulling back the curtains of your brain and just letting whatever comes out come out, which often is quite scary what I put down.
“And as time goes on it morphs into more presentable ideas,” he added, laughing.
Patriots fans can expect to see Mitchell back in the Boston area after this season.
“I love the community, and just because I’m not playing there doesn’t mean I’m going to stop the foundation stuff that we were doing,” Mitchell said.
He plans to visit Boston-area schools in the spring and summer. He’ll host “A Magical Evening of Literacy” at the Fairmont Copley Plaza on March 29. He’s also promoting READBowl ‘19, a nationwide reading contest for K-8 classrooms that kicks off on Jan. 7, the day of the College National Championship Game, and concludes with Mitchell announcing the winners on Super Bowl Sunday.
At this rate, he might be making the announcement before another Patriots game. Perennial Super Bowl contenders, the Pats have surged to 5-2, regularly cranking out 38-point performances. They’re on track to be in the mix when January rolls around.
Mitchell was a major contributor in the Super Bowl two years ago, emerging as a trusted target for Brady. Last winter, he was brought off injured reserve for three weeks of practice, but was never moved to the active roster. He was a spectator for the madness of Super Bowl LII.
Reflecting on his past few years, Mitchell called his time in New England “one of the best experiences of (his) life.”
“I love Boston, I love the Patriots,” Mitchell said. “I love Mr. (Robert) Kraft, I love Bill (Belichick), I love my teammates. I loved everything about being there, to be completely honest. It’s unfortunate that a situation arose to where I’m no longer there performing with the team, but I will always consider Boston, Foxboro, the New England area a place where I can visit. If I’m ever in a situation where I have the opportunity to live there, I’ll do that.”
“Football is one of those uncontrollable things, right?” he added. “You have injuries, you have situations. But the love I have for New England, that’s not going to change.”