On the morning the New England Patriots were slated to visit the White House to be honored for winning Super Bowl LI, former Patriot Aaron Hernandez was found dead in his prison cell from an apparent suicide.
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Related: Representatives for Aaron Hernandez skeptical of alleged suicide
The Patriots decided to visit the White House anyway, and longtime ESPN personality Bob Ley spoke out against the decision on Wednesday.
Ley said he is "stunned" the Patriots decided to attend the ceremony at the White House after hearing the news about Hernandez's death.
"There are two major stories today, unless, God forbid, something else tragic happens on the national scene," Ley said on SportsCenter. "They are the Hernandez death of apparent suicide and the Patriots' visit to the White House. And in light of everything we've talked about, they will forever be linked."
On Outside the Lines, Ley and a panel of guests discussed the Patriots visiting the White House and the same day Hernandez died.
Hernandez was recently found not guilty of committing a double murder, but he was still serving a life sentence for the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013. He was expected to appeal that verdict until his death.
Hernandez was a member of the Patriots from 2010 through 2012 before his arrest for the murder of Lloyd.
(h/t NESN)
MORE ON AARON HERNANDEZ:
Former Patriot says he was "pure evil."
The Massachusetts Appeals Court could make a stunning announcement in the Hernandez case
Hernandez's representatives skeptical her committed suicide
Aaron Hernandez's lawyer says he was the victim in the double murder trial
