FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Today was a bit of a change-up on the Patriots beat, as I participated in a charity "locker room luncheon" hosted by Patriots left tackle Matt Light and Sports Illustrated's Peter King. Second-year Patriots receiver Julian Edelman was also part of the panel.
Seeing Light in that environment reinforces what has been apparent over his 10 years in New England: He has a charitable heart.
Money raised from the event goes to the "Light Foundation" as well as the Greater Boston Food Bank (King has been working tirelessly to raise funds for the Food Bank).
About 30 generous fans came to Davio's at Patriot Place -- one all the way from Chicago -- and it was a behind-the-scenes discussion of all things Patriots over a terrific lunch.
I enjoyed hearing Edelman recall draft day as he got the phone call from Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
"We don't know what you're going to play," Belichick told Edelman at the time. "But we know you can play football."
Light also recalled his first visit to New England after being selected in the second round of the 2001 draft, joking that he had no idea where New England truly was. He told the story of visiting owner Robert Kraft's offices in Boston and how he was impressed that Kraft was championing "Meals on Wheels", and that was one reason that he decided he wanted to become more involved in charitable endeavors.