'Now we're murderers' T-shirts mocking Patriots are for sale in Pittsburgh

A T-shirt for sale at a place called Yinzers in Pittsburgh is emblazoned with "New England: We used to be cheaters, now we're murderers" on the front.  It's a crude reference the Aaron Hernandez murder case and takes liberties with clumping the rest of the Patriots team in with the accused killer.

The tee might be funny to many NFL fans and tasteless to some, but was probably meant to just mock the Steelers' AFC rival and Hernandez in particular.

Bill Belichick isn't going to like this one bit — at least the cheating part.

Great shirt being sold in Yinzers in Pittsburgh @darrenrovell @Deadspin pic.twitter.com/3StJFphonk
— Jimmy Crivella (@BSJimmy) September 2, 2013

Aaron Hernandez jailhouse letter sold for $18,000

The letter in which former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez proclaimed his innocence resulted in a five-figure profit for the memorabilia store that sold it to TMZ.

According to the Boston Herald, the gossip site paid $18,000 for the letter to Sportsworld, Inc.

Store manager Brendan Brennan said that the handwriting was verified as Hernandez’s.  Though it’s unclear how Sportsworld, Inc. obtained the letter that was sent to an ex-con named “Karl,” Brennan felt no obligation to comply with Hernandez’s request that the contents not be publicized.

“It wasn’t written to us, so we didn’t have to honor anything from that letter,” Brennan said.

Whether or not the letter was legitimate attempt to communicate with the accused murderer or a twisted scheme to make some money is still not clear.

In the letter, Hernandez says that he's 'NOT GUILTY' and that 'all the people who turned on me will feel like crap.'

His response was scrawled on a yellow business pad. Its contents read:

Your letter meant alot and was very true! I know everything happens for a reason and I know 'God' has a plan for me and something good will come out of this. The world just makes things out of false accusations and it will all die down especially when they say NOT GUILTY and all the people who turned on me will feel like crap. I've always been a great person an[d] known for having an amazing heart! I am a strong person and nothing will break me! A [correctional officer] will never nor can they say now for one day have I been down or not with a smile on my face. I know there is a reason I'm going thru this and I will figure it out through my relationship with the Lord. I fell off especially after making all that money but when its all said and done 'God' put me in the situation for a reason. I'm humbled by this ALREADY and this will change me forever. At least I'll know my true supporters. Thanks for being one of them!

Hernandez and "Karl" may not be pen pals for very long since Hernandez closed the letter by asking his new pen pal to "keep this off social media." Too late for that.

Either way, chances are Hernandez will be getting more letters from strangers.  Just don't expect a response.

Aaron Hernandez is still September's featured player on the official Patriots 2013 calendar

The Patriots have done just about everything they can to wipe out the memory of accused murderer Aaron Hernandez from any association with the organization.

But there is one reminder of their former tight end that the folks in New England won't be able to forget — for at least for 31 days this fall.

Hernandez is the featured player for August on the team's official wall and mini calendars for 2013, which Boston.com pointed out in a blog post on Thursday.

The officially licensed NFL team calendar, produced by Perfect Timing, Inc., was still available on Amazon.com as of Friday afternoon at the discounted price of $5 (it originally sold for $15.99).

Hernandez, who was arrested on June 26 and charged with first-degree murder for his alleged role in orchestrating the execution of Odin Lloyd, is being held without bail as he awaits the next legal maneuverings in the case.

The Patriots, who didn't waste any time in releasing Hernandez after his arrest, offered fans an opportunity to rid themselves of their No. 81 jerseys last month. On July 6, hundreds of New England fans lined up outside Gillette Stadium as part of the Patriots' free jersey exchange.

The Patriots aren't alone in erasing the world of any sign of Hernandez.  The NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame even stripped a prize-winning photo of Hernandez in the playoffs from its walls.

And the University of Florida, where Hernandez helped lead the Gators to a national championship in 2008, removed Hernandez's first team All-American brick from outside the school's football stadium in Gainesville last month.

See you in September — or more likely — 25 to life.

USA Today still has high hopes for Hernandez as Patriots 'X' factor

It looks like USA Today didn't hear the news.  According to a tweet by ESPN's Adam Schefter, the newspaper's NFL 2013 preview issue still wasn't aware about the stories out of Boston concerning accused murderer Aaron Hernandez when they went to press last week.

Maybe with all of the excitement about Tim Tebow coming to town and everything — the story just got lost. It might be the right time to tell them about that whole other Titanic thing.

Picked up USA Today's NFL 2013 preview issue. Here's what it listed as Patriots "X" factor... pic.twitter.com/eh4dyxmOZP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 21, 2013

Schefter was then alerted to ESPN's own gaffe by an alert Twitter follower. Ouch.

Touché... @bucbolthead: probably printed same time as ESPN preview. pic.twitter.com/s3Dwa3DDsp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 21, 2013

Photographer clicked-off that Hall of Fame removed Hernandez photo

An award-winning photograph of Aaron Hernandez — high-stepping into the end zone during a 2010 game against the Green Bay Packers — was removed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the fallout from the sordid murder charges against the New England Patriots tight end.

And the photographer who took the picture isn't too happy about it.

“It is disappointing,” Mary Schwalm told the Sporting News. “I was able to say, ‘I have a photo hanging in the Hall of Fame.’ Can I still say that?”

Every year, the HOF asks a panel of photography experts to choose the best NFL photo of the year. The photographer gets an award, and the picture is put on permanent display at the Hall of Fame.

But the award-winning picture of Hernandez scoring a touchdown in 2010 wasn’t displayed permanently after all. The Hall of Fame took the picture down when visitors complained about seeing a picture of an accused murderer.

According to Cleveland.com, the HOF used the public's perception of Hernandez to justify censoring the photo.

“In the spirit of good taste we thought we’d take it down,” said Joe Horrigan, the HOF's vice president of communication and exhibits.

The decision marks the latest move by the league and Patriots to distance themselves from Hernandez, who’s been released by the team and remains in custody without bail.

Schwalm — of the Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass. —  also said she was disappointed the Hall of Fame didn’t tell her it had pulled her photo. She found out on Twitter.

“I’m bummed. I’m disappointed,” Schwalm said.

It's understandable that the NFL wants to distance itself from the disgraced player but can it separate itself from history of the game by leaving a blank space on the wall?

That was Ms. Schwalm's snapshot capturing a moment in a game — not a glorification or visual image of the player's off-the-field character. 

The Hall should never have taken it down.

Hundreds of Patriots fans line up to trade in Hernandez jerseys

The New England Patriots offer to their fans for a chance to exchange Aaron Hernandez jerseys at the team store Saturday and Sunday has turned out to be a big success. Hundreds of fans lined up outside the Patriots ProShop for a chance to switch the tarnished No. 81 for a clean-cut No. 12 or at least an old marked-down Drew Bledsoe.

Disgusted fans —who started lining up early Saturday morning for a chance to erase the jersey from the public eye — braved sweltering temperatures and inflated offers on eBay to get rid of the disturbing collectible.

The fans who lined for the first day of the exchange up took photos and posted them on Twitter.

Photo: About 250 fans lined up outside Patriots Pro Shop for Aaron Hernandez jersey exchange pic.twitter.com/2OU7Z0TyCB
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) July 6, 2013

Tebow tried to break up Hernandez bar fight when they were college teammates

Long before Aaron Hernandez was arrested and charged with murder, his then-Florida Gator teammate, Tim Tebow, attempted to stop the New England Patriots' former tight end from getting into a bar fight in 2007, the Orlando Sentinel reported, according to Gainesville (FLA) police records.

The police report states that Hernandez, then a 17-year-old freshman, punched a bouncer in the head — breaking his ear drum — on April 28, 2007. When Hernandez could not be located by a police officer, who was looking for a statement, around 1 a.m., Tebow was interviewed about the incident.

According to the report, Hernandez was served two "alcoholic drinks" at The Swamp, which he refused to pay for, at which point, Hernandez claimed bouncer Michael Taphorn began yelling at him. When Taphorn turned away, Hernandez punched him in the side of the head.

The report stated the following:

A waitress at The Swamp bar allegedly brought Hernandez two "alcoholic drinks," which he consumed but refused to pay for. That's when Hernandez got into a fight with a bouncer at the bar.

Hernandez told police [bouncer Michael] Taphorn got in his face and began yelling at him. As Taphorn turned to walk away, Hernandez punched him in the side of the head.

Taphorn declined medical treatment but the next day doctors discovered his right ear drum had burst and the injury would take four to six weeks to heal.

When the officer could not find Hernandez immediately following the incident, he interviewed Tebow and Shaun Young.

“Tebow stated that he witnessed the dispute,” the officer wrote. “… Tebow stated that he went over to try to help resolve the conflict.”

Tebow went on to say he urged Hernandez to leave peacefully and tried to make arrangements to pay the bill. 

Two hours later, another officer found Hernandez and spoke with him about the incident. Tebow was present during the interview.

Hernandez said that he and Tebow had already informed then-Florida coach Urban Meyer about the fight.

Though the officer wrote that Hernandez did not appear to be drunk, and was "very polite and professional," Gainesville police recommended Hernandez be charged with a felony. It is unclear how the case was resolved because Hernandez's juvenile records are sealed.

A day later, the investigating officer told Hernandez’s attorney, Huntley Johnson, he would not be pursuing charges in connection with alcohol served to minors at the restaurant, but he wrote, “it would be noted in the report so the coaches could handle it internally.”

Tebow developed a close bond with Hernandez early in his career with the Gators, hosting Hernandez during his official visit before signing to play for the Gators.

Hernandez is currently in solitary confinement in a Massachusetts jail on murder charges.

Hernandez wore cryptic t-shirt, posed with fan hours after alleged murder says prosecutor

Aaron Hernandez's expression and message on his t-shirt don't exactly fit the profile of a man who allegedly murdered someone only a few hours before this chilling photo was taken. But, according to prosecutors in the case, they say it does.

The photo of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was snapped at a Marshall's in Massachusetts on June 15th, the day after the shooting death of former semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd —whom Hernandez has been charged with murdering in cold blood, reports TMZ.

And speaking of cold blood, check out Hernandez' interesting choice of t-shirt for the leisurely trip to the store.  It reads "Hot Handed Cold Blooded."

Hernandez was seen shopping with his fiancee at the time of the photo. His 8-month-old daughter also came along.

As TMZ has reported, Hernandez' lawyer tried to paint the ex-NFL star as an upstanding citizen and family man while arguing that Hernandez deserved bail. 

The judge didn't buy it and ordered Hernandez to remain in custody while he awaits trial.

Mario Williams pokes fun at Aaron Hernandez on Instagram page

Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams had a little fun with with the sordid Aaron Hernandez murder saga by using the accused tight end's image in a mocked up Instagram for the violent video game Grand Theft Auto

In the digitally-altered image, Hernandez’s face is imposed on the body of a cartoon, tattooed thug sitting on the hood of a car and holding a gun. The logo in the top right reads “Grand Theft New England.”

Hernandez was charged with murder and five other charges Wednesday in the alleged execution-style slaying of Lloyd. The former New England Patriots tight end — he was cut by the team shortly after his arrest — was denied bail Thursday, because he could be a suspect in another murder case from last year.

Ironically, Williams has photos of himself on Instagram holding guns – and those are no parodies of his division rival Hernandez.

Williams was in the news earlier this NFL offseason for saying defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, formerly of the Jets, "always" told players to "kill" opponents. A few days later, he backed off those remarks and said Pettine didn’t use the phrase "kill them."

Earlier this year, Williams also sued an ex-fiancee to recover an $785,000 engagement ring setting off a Twitter war and slew of embarrassing text messages.

Prosecutors looking at piece of blue bubble gum as evidence Hernandez murdered Odin Lloyd

A piece of chewed bubblegum be an important piece of evidence linking New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez to the murder of Odin Lloyd in an abandoned industrial park, prosecutors claimed Wednesday.

Hernandez was charged yesterday with shooting Lloyd five times in what was described as an "orchestrated execution" at the unused park just minutes from his mansion in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Yesterday at a hearing in Attleboro District Court prosecutors said that on the night of the murder, Hernandez stopped at a gas station and bought gas, cigarettes and crucially a packet of blue cotton candy-flavored Bubblicious bubble gum.

Assistant District Attorney William McCauley told the court that the following morning, Hernandez returned the rental car to the hire company and exchanged it for a new vehicle.

The returned car was subsequently cleaned at the rental company where police went through the dumpster and discovered a bullet shell casing next to which was a chewed piece of blue cotton candy Bubblicious bubble gum.

The casing, for a .45 caliber handgun, is understood to match those found at the scene of the crime.

McCauley said that surveillance video from Hernandez's own home security cameras show two friends arriving at his $1.3 million mansion with the three of them leaving at approximately 1:12 a.m., with Hernandez at the wheel.

After stopping at the gas station, Hernandez is said to have driven to nearby Dorchester where he picked up Lloyd.

Apparently, Lloyd had misgivings about the meeting and sent text messages to his family. 

"Did you see who I am with?" he asked. Then he responded, cryptically, "NFL," the prosecutor said.

Mobile phone records show that the last time Lloyd used his phone was to text his sister at around 3:23am.

He added the foreboding line, "Just so you know."

At the moment the text was sent, Hernandez's car was caught on camera going down a gravel road to the industrial area where Lloyd's body was found before returning four minutes later, at 3:27 a.m.

Aaron Rodgers doesn't take kindly to being confused for murder suspect Aaron Hernandez

Aaron Rodgers took to his Twitter account after he was confused for accused murderer Aaron Hernandez during a live segment on ESPN Wednesday. Reporter Jeremy Schaap referred to Aaron Hernandez as Aaron Rodgers during a breaking newscast.

Rodgers' dismayed tweet:

Not funny ESPN
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) June 27, 2013

Reportedly, it was Rodgers' first tweet in five days. So it doesn't seem like Rodgers saw Schaap's mistake happen live, though. The slip up happened around 4:15 p.m. ET and Rodgers didn't tweet about it until over five hours later.

As soon as Rodgers did tweet about it, though, Schaap was quick to respond about his mental lapse:

@AaronRodgers12 funny, no. But I did correct myself, right then, which of course the clip does not include.
— Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) June 27, 2013

You'll be glad to know everything is all well and fine in the NFL once again

Trending 'Hernandezing' craze becomes the new Tebowing

Aaron Hernandez's arrest at his home by police Wednesday has already launched a disturbing new meme called "Hernandezing."

The New England Patriots tight end was led out of his house in handcuffs — with his hands awkwardly handcuffed under under a white T-shirt — and the odd armless look has spawned another Internet craze.  The trend might be in poor taste considering that Hernandez was picked up on the charge of murdering 27-year-old Odin Lloyd.

There is even a new site called Hernandezing.com which is posting photos of various people mimicking the pose in white tees and dour expressions.

Who ever thought one day we'd happily be saying Bring back Tebowing.