New England Patriots fourth-round tight end Aaron Hernandez was the only rookie to be shielded from the media during the Patriots' rookie mini-camp, reports Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald.

Earlier this week, Albert Breer of the Boston Globe reported that the reason Hernandez wasn't chosen until the final day of the NFL's new three-day draft was due to the 6-2, 245-pound tight end failing multiple drug tests while at the University of Florida.

Hernandez, through the Patriots' public relations department, responded to the Globe report on Tuesday, admitting to one failed drug test.

Breer stood by his report.

Regarding Hernandez's bypassing of the media, Rapoport writes: "...the goal would be not to pile on or get him to say the same thing he said, but merely to understand how he’s handling such an issue while also undergoing the usual stresses of being a rookie trying to fit in and be successful as a professional. A pretty valid concern, if you ask me."