Kony Ealy meets with New England media for the first time, talks about a fresh start

Jeremy Brevard | USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots newcomer Kony Ealy is fitting in with his new team very well.

The 25-year-old defensive end was traded from the Carolina Panthers to the Patriots this offseason, and today was the first day he met with reporters at his new home stadium.

Ealy made sure to let everyone know that he’s focused on what’s happening right now – getting better, helping his team and working his way into becoming a big part of the defense. No, he doesn’t want to talk about his breakout Super Bowl 50 performance in which he recorded three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble, or his subpar performance last season where he only posted five sacks. He’s just focused on the now.

“That Super Bowl game is over, man,” Ealy said, “I really don’t like to talk about the past. My job is to come in here and buy into the system and make the most of my opportunity here, period. And let everything lie where it may. Don’t worry about the future right now. Talk about the present.”

His first impressions of the Patriots organization include how well the team, players and coaches pay attention to detail, claiming that “just the way they do things are totally, totally different, but it’s a good kind of different.”

“I’m very excited,” Ealy continued, “I love it here. I love the people, the program, as far as how coach Belichick runs it. Everybody buys in. You can see the difference between that…so I love it here, and I’m going to continue to work my butt off and try to get better.”

Ealy will compete for snaps with veterans Trey Flowers and Rob Ninkovich and rookies Derek Rivers and Deatrich Wise, and he says that the competition will bring out the best in each of them.

“It motivates guys to do better,” he said, “Not just beat each other out but to kind of work together and push going forward. I think if you take that approach to the process, everything will come out the way you want.”

A fresh start and new beginning seems to be exactly what Ealy needed.

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