Kobe Bryant visits Patriots Brady, Gronk not there
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots were thrilled to have a five-time champion with them at practice this week.
Not Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant.
With their quarterback skipping organized team activities along with tight end Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots returned to Gillette Stadium for offseason workouts this week. After Bryant visited the team on Wednesday, several New England players noted the similarities between him and Brady.
“They’re both highly competitive guys,” defensive back Devin McCourty said Thursday. “I think everybody sees that.”
Although the Patriots wouldn’t elaborate on what Bryant said to them, McCourty came away impressed with his attention to detail with everything involved in basketball — not just shooting, but practice and working out and his relationship with his teammates.
Several Patriots posted pictures of themselves with Bryant on social media on Wednesday. Belichick said he has a lot of respect for the 2008 NBA MVP and thought his team could learn from meeting him.
“It was a cool experience,” running back James White said. “It’s an honor to meet a guy who’s one of the greatest athletes of all time.” Of course, White knows another guy like that.But Brady has reportedly been working out with his personal trainer instead of with his teammates.