Stephon Gilmore addresses media at Gillette, explains how Cyrus Jones gave him No. 24

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Cornerback Stephon Gilmore has a new home with the New England Patriots, but he will don the same jersey number as the past few seasons.

Thanks to fellow cornerback, Cyrus Jones, Gilmore will be able to wear No. 24 for the fourth straight season. Jones will now sport No. 41.

During a break from Phase 2 of the Patriots’ offseason program, Gilmore addressed the media and explained how he was able to acquire No. 24 from his teammate.

“I just asked him, ‘Could we do it?’ We just came to the conclusion that we were going to switch,” said Gilmore, “I already knew him from previous years, and we just made a decision that we were going to make it happen.”

He said that the number has a lot of significance to him because players he looked up to like Jonathan Joseph, Sheldon Brown, Champ Bailey, Darrelle Revis and Ty Law all wore it before him.

Gilmore also mentioned that he’s looking forward to building relationships with his teammates and exploring his new city.

“It’s been fun,” said Gilmore, “The first thing I notice is guys welcomed me, and some great teammates. The secondary welcomed me in. They said if I had any questions to ask. I’ll hit the ground running and do whatever I can to help the team.”

“Just trying to go around and see my surroundings because it’s a new city. I didn’t have much of this the previous place I was at. I always go with my teammates, so that’s building a relationship with them, talking at the games and going out in the community. It’s been good.”

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