Brown not concerned about Deflategate controversy

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FOXBORO -- It looked like a storm might be brewing

Dozens of reporters and close to twenty television cameras assembled for a photo opportunity with Patriots first-round pick Malcom Brown on Wednesday, and it seemed as though Deflategate questions would inevitably work their way into the proceedings whether they were directed at Brown or at Robert and Jonathan Kraft, who escorted Brown to the Gillette Stadium 50-yard line to meet with local reporters for the first time. 
 
As it so happened, the Krafts came and went without a single query thrown their way. Brown had to deal only with one question that dealt with how he's been prepared to handle controversies, like the one currently swirling, now that he's a member of the Patriots. 
 
"I really haven't been focused in, focusing towards that," he said. "Like I said, I'm just here to work. That's all I've been focusing on. Getting better everyday, learning the material and getting better and working hard."
 
It was a more than reasonable ask, and an equally reasonable answer for someone who only arrived to the team's facilities on May 7th. 
 
That was as close as anyone got to Deflategate on Wednesday, but here are a few more of Brown's answers from his back-and-forth with reporters that were worthy of note.
 
On the reaction to his draft-night comment that he'll be the best pick in Patriots history:
"There's a lot been going on with all that, but I just can't focus on it. I'm not really trying to. Like I said, I'm just trying to work hard, contribute to the team and do whatever I'm asked to do."


On if he's caught any grief for the comment:
"Not really. Everybody's just really focused. There's a lot to learn. There's a lot going on right now with OTAs. Everybody's just trying to learn, get better and work hard."

On if Tom Brady, a Patriots sixth-rounder in 2000, had anything to say about the comment:
"No I actually just walked up to Tom, shook his hand and we just went to work. Everybody's just trying to work right now. It's easy to learn right now because you're doing everything stage by stage. Everybody's really focused and trying to get better for next year."

On his first impressions of coach Bill Belichick:
"Great guy. He's my new coach now. He shows everybody a lot of love...tough love. And sometimes we need that."
 
On walking to the field with the Krafts:
"It was great. It was guys at the top of the food chain. It's great being around those guys. They sign the pay check, and it's fun. It's fun when you have somebody like that and not somebody who's just stuck up in the office and they won't talk to you. They're there to talk to you."

On being in New England, a long way from Texas:
"It's great. Foxboro is a great place to be. Quiet country. You know I'm from the country so I'll adapt to this area real well."

On how changes to the Texas coaching staff prepared him to learn a new system as a professional:
"It's just reality now. I talked to some guys before I came in, they were like, 'You can be here one day and gone the next.' That goes for anybody in the building. It's really not just one person that's safe. You just gotta keep your mind open and be adaptable to what's thrown at you."

On if there's been any talk of last year's Super Bowl run:
"A lot of the guys, they're just guys like us. They're here to work everyday. And they want us to have the right mindset going into next year. Nobody's really talked about last year. They're talking about the now and the future. They want to work hard and try to get forward and get better for next year."

On if his family -- Brown is married and has two daughters -- has joined him in: 
"They're back in Texas. Whenever we have time, I'll get them up here and we'll start looking for houses and stuff. But as of right now, I'm just trying to work and focus on what I'm doing."

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