Patriots hope Gonzalez is a perfect fit

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

John Rooke, GoLocalWorcester Sports Editor

The official off-season program doesn’t begin for the Patriots until next Monday, but don’t tell that to newly-acquired wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez. He’s hoping to fit in with his new team as quickly as possible.

“I just wanted to get up here. I want to get immersed as quickly as possible,” Gonzalez told reporters at Gillette Stadium Tuesday. “It's a lot easier to get to know people when it's small groups. I'm kind of sneaking around trying to learn as much as I can.”

Gonzalez, along with wide receiver and special teams captain Matthew Slater, quarterback Brian Hoyer, linemen Ryan Wendell and Kyle Hix and safety Josh Barrett worked out on the Gillette Stadium field Tuesday, in advance of the Patriots’ official start to the off-season workout program next week. Gonzalez, who signed as a free agent with New England last month, told reporters he was hoping to get a look from the team in free agency but was still surprised it happened.

“This was my first time as a free agent, I didn't know what was going to happen - I didn't know how it worked,” Gonzalez said. “The phone call early was great, and somewhat surprising, but it was the one I was hoping to get, to be honest, when I evaluated free agency and different teams and how I thought I would fit culturally.

“Also from an offense standpoint, this was one that I had targeted,” he added. “To have the interest be mutual, that worked out well.”

Gonzalez spent five years with the Indianapolis Colts and didn’t catch a single pass during the 2011 season, playing in eight games total. He lost his starting slot in the Colts’ offense in 2010 after missing all of ’09 on injured reserve. To say his pro career thus far has been injury-filled might be an understatement. The former first-round pick (2007) from Ohio State isn’t dwelling on what might-have-been in Indy.

Image courtesy: nfl.com

“I don't go home and think to myself 'oh my gosh, I've been hurt all these times, how am I going to do whatever,'” Gonzalez said. “My focus has always been and will continue to be what am I doing today, what I am I doing tomorrow, what am I doing next week, and you just kind of deal with things as they come up.”

Gonzalez’ best season was in ’08, catching 57 passes for 664 yards and four touchdowns, and in ’09 he earned a starting spot with Reggie Wayne after Marvin Harrison’s release. He injured his right knee in the opener that year against Jacksonville, and the fight has been uphill ever since.

“I'm excited to be here (in New England). It's probably the best professional football environment that there is,” Gonzalez said. “Just being in the NFL and being on the other side of that rivalry for a while, there's not like hatred or anything, it's more respect.

“As you learn more about the teams you are playing, especially this one, you kind of get an appreciation for how they do things, and just the way it's run, and that sort of thing,” he added. “To me it was the perfect fit in a lot of ways.”