FOXBOROUGH – True to form, newest Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins stepped up to the podium in the media work room barefoot on Friday afternoon.
After just signing his contract, Hollins met with the media for about 10 minutes. The group gathered as well as fans watching live on social media or those that will check it out later on tonight got the full, authentic version of Hollins right off the bat.
After originally starting barefoot training six or seven years ago with trainers from Australia that he flew out to Philadelphia, Hollins simply takes the ‘why not?’ approach to it now.
“They showed up and the way ya’ll look at me is the way I was looking at them walking around barefoot in Philly,” Hollins explained. “I was like, I might have sent the wrong guys out here. But, that was their philosophy. Being barefoot and getting back to original ways of movement. That grew into me training barefoot all the time for about two years, three years.
“Probably in the last two years I went to the ‘what’s the point?’ One less thing to pack. Now the bag’s under 50 lbs. Like, I’m saving money. It’s really…it comes all together.”
Hollins did say “below 35, I’m barefoot but I’m not a dummy,” when it comes to wearing something in the cold, but we’ll cross that bridge in November and December.
Hollins – like all of the free agents so far – has been brought here as a culture shifter. It’s a role he’s ready to embrace having been on five teams in five years. Hollins also talked about how he’s not afraid to push his teammates even if they may not always like it.
It’s a new attitude in the wide receiver room that desperately needs one.
“Every room is different and every guy is different,” he said. “It’s helped me learn how to adjust to different guys. Hey this guy likes this way of conversation, this guy likes to get pushed in this way, likes to practice this way or recover this way…probably sometimes to a fault, I am a big believer in break it and build it back better. That’s how I was raised. I will push guys to their limits, for sure.
“I’ve learned over the years how to not push them too far. I think when I was younger I’d push guys too far. I would like, relish breaking people. I’ve kind of learned over the years that’s not always the best. Now, there are some guys that need that. Like, when we’re working out and practicing, to be in their head the entire time and they’ll have the best practice ever. And there’s some guys that’ll shut down from it. Those are things I’ve learned. But, yeah, pushing guys is something I enjoy because I know not only will it make them better, but it’ll make me better because if I ever stumble, they’ll be like ‘oh, you talking all that and now here you go.’
“It’s kind of a two way street.”
Patriots fans can also be encouraged by the fact that Hollins and Maye have an immediate connection.
They’re both UNC Tar Heels.
“I know he made a good decision on colleges, you know, Tar Heel guys are just a little bit better,” he joked when asked for his impressions of Maye. “But no, I actually know his brother Luke. We were in school together and their family is great. I think that’s important at any position, but especially quarterback. There’s so much more on the shoulders of quarterbacks, especially in today’s game.
“He was raised well, but then he’s a fierce competitor, just from watching him and playing against him I know that. I’m excited to get opportunities to play with him and catch balls from him.”
Mack Hollins isn’t a diva receiver. He’s basically the new Tristan Casas of the New England Patriots and should provide both on-field and off-field leadership to a team in severe need of a culture shift.
Even if it means a lot less shoes in the locker room.