The Patriots made a number of moves this week, but the biggest may have been adding tight end Hunter Henry.
The 26-year-old reportedly signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal with $24 million guaranteed.
Henry spoke to Patriots.com's Megan O'Brien about the signing and stepping foot into the facility for the first time this week.
“It’s been good," he said. "It’s been different and it’s been a good different. I am very, very excited and ready to immerse myself in this culture and into Foxborough and to just everything. Obviously, it’s a winning tradition, so I am very excited.”
Henry added: “Just a lot of excitement. It’s obviously a proud franchise and I am glad that I got to join it and be apart of this and be part of that locker room -- be part of this class of free agents, getting to meet those guys today. It is going to be a fun time and I am really looking forward to it.”
The tight end has a long history with Bill Belichick, as the Patriots coach is friends with Henry's high school coach, Kevin Kelley (Pulaski Academy), and has been targeting him really ever since his high school days.
“It’s cool. It’s really, really cool," Henry said. "A ton of respect for Coach [Belichick]. Obviously, the connection with my high school coach, too. It’s kind of gone a long ways back and to finally get coached by him and be under him, I am fired up.”
Henry finished last season with 60 receptions for 613 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games. He has 21 touchdowns in 55 career games and certainly will help the Patriots in the red zone.
With that being said, Henry doesn't care what his role is -- he just wants to win.
“I just want to win, that is my biggest thing," he said. "Whatever it takes to win. If that’s blocking one week, or if it’s really being tenacious in the run game, whatever it takes to win, I don’t care what it takes. That is the result I want.”
