Ignoring the noise is a big part of what it takes to succeed in professional sports. It's a message that resonated with the Patriots during their 20-year reign atop the NFL, and new head coach Mike Vrabel appears to be passing that message down to his players.
Even though New England rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson burst onto the scene in a big way this preseason - starting with his 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Washington - he isn't letting the success go to his head.
Henderson came from a program in Ohio State that preaches the same formula that the Patriots do, so it was relatively easy for him to settle into New England's program and not let the outside noise go to his head.
In an era where some players are just as present on Instagram as they are on the field, Henderson's attitude is a refreshing change.
“I don’t really pay attention to all the social media stuff,” Henderson told MassLive's Mark Daniels. “The biggest thing I know, people praise me now because I have this success. But I feel like it doesn’t come from true love. At the same time, people see me as a football player, so if things come crashing down, I know that love turns into hate. The biggest thing is I keep my eyes on God and focus on what he sees in me… That’s what I keep my focus on.”
TreVeyon Henderson knows preseason stats mean nothing
While the preseason and training camp are vital aspects of a team's development, especially for rookies and guys fighting for roster spots, the stats are nothing more than a mirage. They're wiped clean as soon as the gun sounds on the final preseason game.
As electrifying as Henderson's kickoff return against the Commanders was, it doesn't go into his official books.
However, opposing coaches and defensive coordinators are taking full note of Henderson's talents. Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores was one of them.
For now, Henderson is sharing the Patriots' backfield with veteran Rhamondre Stevenson. Does he have the talent to be the team's lead back in the future? Absolutely. But Henderson isn't forgetting his roots and approaching things one snap at a time, and that's a refreshing attitude to have, especially for a rookie.
Even though Henderson has flashed, he's still getting a grasp on the Patriots' playbook and settling into life as an NFL rookie. But the fact that he's already turning heads is an indication that Eliot Wolf hit a grand slam in finding him in the second round.