Part 4/10:
The trade was a surprise, learned unexpectedly when seeing it on the bottom ticker while casually at home. The call confirming the move was humorous, with his agent delivering the news: “Yeah, man. You're a Patriot now.” His first meetings with Scott Pioli and Bill Belichick were brief but revealing; Belichick’s direct and serious demeanor made him understand the importance of respecting the coach’s discipline.
He recalls the crucial question from Belichick—"You think you can play for us?"—to which he confidently replied yes. The coach's focus was on a player's dedication to winning, exemplified by the player's impressive first season statistics—over 1,600 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns—demonstrating that he was aligned with the Patriots' core values.