As the New England Patriots opened their voluntary offseason workout program on Monday, linebacker Anfernee Jennings opted the stay away.
The 25-year-old instead delayed his arrival to support his hometown in light of a recent mass shooting, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Jennings was born and grew up in Dadeville, Alabama, where a massacre at a birthday party on Saturday left four dead and 28 injured.
The four victims were aged 17 to 23, with at least two attending the local high school Jennings also went to.
“It’s still fresh. It hasn’t sunk in that this is really happening.